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Malcolm X's daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, is working with Sony Pictures Television's Tristar to keep her father's legacy alive and well. Shabazz has reportedly partnered with the television studio to develop a series highlighting the activist's life and work. Their joint venture will be guided by two books written about the activist, X: A Novel and The Awakening of Malcolm X. X: A Novel is co-written by Shabazz and it highlights her father's earlier years in Omaha as well as the pain of losing his parents as a young age. The book comes to an end with a look at the civil rights icon's arrest and prison sentence. The second book that will guide this series, The Awakening of Malcolm X, is also co-written by Shabazz. It highlights his transportation in prison, time with the Nation of Islam, relationship with Muhammad Ali and his assassination.
Shabazz will not be the first person to bring her father's life into the limelight. Most notably, director Spike Lee highlighted the activist's life in the 1992 film, Malcolm X. Malcolm X also appears in other films like One Night In Miami, Ali, Selma and Roots: Next Generation. As for television, he is currently being represented by the actor Nigel Thatch in the popular series, The Godfather of Harlem.
In addition, Shabazz is working to honor her mother, Betty Shabazz, and her father through a newly launched scholarship fund. Through the Shabazz Center, the rising television producer will also award three college students with grants of $10,000 each. With this effort, she hopes to continue her father's legacy by helping underprivileged students pay for college and other educational endeavors.
“My father, Malcolm X once said that, ‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today," Shabazz said about the scholarship fund.
"The opportunity to support young developing leaders and change-makers through the Scholly Scholarship in partnership with The Shabazz Center is such a rewarding investment that equally honors the lasting legacy of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz.”
Shabazz is expected to work with Scholly to launch the scholarship fund for the upcoming school year. Meanwhile, there is no projected debut date for the television series as of yet.
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