Betty Shabazz

Date of Birth: May 28, 1934

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: June 23, 1997

Biography

Betty Shabazz, born Betty Dean Sanders, was an American educator and civil rights advocate best known as the wife of Malcolm X. Born on May 28, 1934, in Pinehurst, Georgia, she had a tumultuous childhood marked by foster care placements. She pursued nursing and eventually met Malcolm X, marrying him in 1958. Betty Shabazz was a steadfast supporter of her husband’s work with the Nation of Islam and later, his broader civil rights efforts. After Malcolm X’s assassination in 1965, she continued to advocate for social justice and education, earning a doctorate in education administration and serving as a professor and administrator at Medgar Evers College in New York. Betty Shabazz tragically passed away on June 23, 1997, from injuries sustained in a fire set by her grandson.

5 Interesting Facts about Betty Shabazz

1. Betty Shabazz met Malcolm X while she was a nursing student in New York City.

2. She earned a doctorate in education administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

3. Betty Shabazz was a close friend and confidante of Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.

4. She raised her six daughters as a single mother after Malcolm X’s assassination.

5. The fire that led to her death was set by her 12-year-old grandson, who was later placed in juvenile detention.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Betty Shabazz

1. “I wish you power that equals your intelligence and your strength. I wish you success that equals your talent and determination. And I wish you faith.”

2. “We can’t afford to pretend that our history began with slavery.”

3. “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.”

4. “I am not afraid of anything or anybody. This is the price of freedom.”

5. “We must learn to rise above the things that divide us and work together to achieve the goals that benefit all.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Betty Shabazz’s net worth was not publicly disclosed, but her contributions to education and civil rights have left an enduring legacy far beyond financial measures.