Growing Up X

By Bonita Lawrence

Book Overview

"Ilyasah Shabazz has written a compelling and lyrical coming-of-age story as well as a candid and heart-warming tribute to her parents. Growing Up X is destined to become a classic." -SPIKE LEE February 21, 1965- Malcolm X is assassinated in Harlem's Audubon Ballroom. June 23, 1997- After surviving for a remarkable twenty-two days, his widow, Betty Shabazz, dies of burns suffered in a fire. In the years between, their six daughters reach adulthood, forged by the memory of their parents' love, the meaning of their cause, and the power of their faith. Now, at long last, one of them has recorded that tumultuous journey in an unforgettable memoir- Growing Up X . Born in 1962, Ilyasah was the middle child, a rambunctious livewire who fought for-and won-attention in an all-female household. She carried on the legacy of a renowned father and indomitable mother while navigating childhood and, along the way, learning to do the hustle. She was a different color from other kids at camp and yet, years later as a young woman, was not radical enough for her college classmates. Her story is, sbove all else, a tribute to a mother of almost unimaginable forbearance, a woman who, "from that day at the Audubon when she heard the shots and threw her body on ours, never stopped shielding her children." This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 077481103X
• ISBN13: 9780774811033
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: University of British Columbia Press
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Breathtaking.....

I have always wondered about the life of Dr. Betty Shabazz and her daughters after the death of Malcolm X. And now I know Ilyasah's story...or some of it. I respect Dr. Shabazz and the way she raised her children. Growing up in this society is difficult. I can not imagine how she took on the task of explaining why their father could not come home or how to explain the impact he had on the entire country. Dr. Shabazz raised...

Intimate, Up Close and Personal...Must Read!

In 235 pages, Ms. Shabazz takes the reader on a compelling and intimate journey that has not been revealed prior to this book. She shares her personal coming of age story. Some of the details released were extremely sensitive, yet I imagine a "healing" came from revealing them.She humbly discusses the priviledged life that she and her sisters had. This consisted of attending predominately white private schools, socializing...

Highly Recommended!

This book is an opened door into what life was like for the widow and children of Malcolm X from one daughter's perspective. It answers the questions that I have wondered about for years. Though much is known about her father's legacy, I commend Ilyasah on shedding light on not only her mother's struggles after his passing, but her attempt to find herself. This is a remarkably enlightening and honest coming of age memoir...

Inspirational piece

This book brings back so many wonderful memories of childhood and growing up. Although this is a story told by Ilyasah Shabazz, I can somehow relate. I had to deal with various identity issues, sexuality and family dynamics, as a white middle class girl growing up in suburbs outside of Chicago. I would like to commend the author for doing such an amazing job of telling her story and allowing us to peek through her life as...

Growing Up X is a must read

Ilyasah Shabazz did a great job in chronicling the life of her family. The book offers an inside look at a great American family being headed by a strong single mother and living in the legacy of a dynamic father and husband. It is so captivating and allows the reader to experience various emotions. It is a fun read. A must read.