Estate Battle has Prevented Public from Learning Details About Malcolm X

The six daughters of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz have been fighting over Shabazz’s estate since she died in 1997. They’ve traded accusations of mental incapacity, irresponsibility, and fiscal mismanagement. The estate now owes more in taxes and penalties than it’s worth, and nothing has been resolved. As a result of all the fighting, the daughters have kept part of their father’s legacy from the public.

Ten years ago, Malikah Shabazz requested an accounting of her mother’s estate. It took two years and a contempt order to get the administrators to produce one, which has been revised at least four time since then. It’s hard to know exactly what was in Dr. Shabazz’s estate, and what was lost in the fire that took her life, but attorney McMillan suggested that there is material that will provide new glimpses into Dr. Shabazz’s life. He hopes that the family will settle soon and move forward with publishing deals. 

“We’ll be able to have these very important works curated and presented to the public worldwide,” Mr. McMillan said, “with the dignity and integrity that Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz deserve.”

John Eligon, Malcolm X Trove Hidden During Feud, N.Y. Times, Feb. 8, 2011.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this to my attention.