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         Dr. Betty Shabazz

   Many people say a lot isn't known about Dr. Betty Shabazz' early life. What is known about this Detroit native is that she was born on May 28, 1936.  That she was raised rather sheltered by a middle-class family. After graduating High School she left Detroit to continue her education at Tuskeegee Institute (now known as Tuskeegee University) in Alabama.

Sister Betty never really experienced racism until she was attending school in Alabama. It was because of this new found intollerance that she decided to move to NYC and attend Brooklyn State Hospital School of Nursing. During this time, a friend invited her to hear Elijah Muhammed and Malcolm X speak at NOI Temple 7.  Betty's friend even offered to introduce her to Malcolm X after the speech. While speaking with Malcolm, Betty's experiences at Tuskeegee were discussed. He explained the causes and effects so she could better understand racism. By the time she graduated nursing school, she had become a member of the Nation of Islam.

It was as a part of the Nation of Islam that Malcolm and Betty were wed in 1958. After thier subsequent split with NOI, Betty dropped the 'X' from her name and took on 'Shabazz' as her surname. The decision, however was not directly due to the split.  It was actually a result of Malcolm's name change to El Hajj Malik El Shabazz.  A change he embraced after completing his first Hajj to Mecca. Prior to leaving NOI they had 3 daughters (Atallah, Qubilah and Ilyasah) their remaining daughters (Gamilah and twins Malaak and Malikah) were born after the split with the Nation.

After Malik's assassination Betty continued her education at Jersey City State College, acquiring a bachelor's in pulbic health education (in addition to her bachelor's in nursing she had recieved in 1958). By 1970, she'd recieved her Master's in public health education, from Jersey City State College. She graduated from University of Massachusetts at Amherst with her Doctorate's in education administration, spring of 1975. She became an Assistant Professor at Medgar Ever's College in Brooklyn, NY. Mainly, she taught health sciences while there, but eventually became head of public relations for Medgar Evers College. She's traveled all over making speeches on civil rights, racial tolerance, advocating African American self-determination as well as serving on several boards (including African-American Foundation, the Women's Service League and the Day Care Council of Westchester County, New York).

Through it all, Betty Shabazz was determined to making sure her and Malcolm's 6 daughters were well provided for. They lived in a large house in Mount Vernon and went to the very best of private schools. Betty also raised the girls very much in accordance with the Islamic faith.

Shabazz remained long silent about Malcolm's death, until 1994 when she spoke out against the NOI and linked Louis Farrakhan to her husband's assassination. A year later she reconciled with Farrakhan at a fundraiser he organized to raise legal fees for Betty's daughter Qubilah, who had been arrested on charges of conspiring to hire and have Farrakhan assassinated. Shabazz also spoke at Farrakhan's Million Man March that same year.

June 23, 1997 Betty Shabazz died from severe burns she sustained from a fire her grandson allegedly started on June 1, 1997.