Explore Black History

2009; printed 2019

A black-and-white photograph of Malcolm X’s Daughters, by Platon. Shown from left to right are five of Malcolm X’s six daughters including: Qubilah Shabazz, Gamilah Lumumba Shabazz, Malaak Shabazz, Attallah Shabazz, and Ilyasah Shabazz. All of the sisters are depicted from the knees up, looking directly at the viewer, and with serious expressions on their faces.. Malaak stands at the center with her four sisters gathered closely together in pairs on either side of her. She is wearing a floral-patterned caftan and bracelets on both wrists. Her long, braided hair has cowry shells woven in. Her thin braids at the top of her head are pulled up and back and the lower half drapes over her shoulders. Her chin is slightly lifted, and her fingers are laced together and held loosely at her waist. Standing behind her proper right shoulder is Qubilah on the far left and Gamilah Lumumba directly behind Malaak’s shoulder, just left of center. Gamilah Lumumba is wearing a dark, uniform-style jacket with a standing collar and trimmed with light tone, braided buttons and closures down the front center. Her hair is pulled back and she has her proper right hand curled around Malaak’s right bicep. On the far left is Qubilah. She is standing partially behind Gamilah Lumumba, with her chin resting on Gamilah Lumumba’s proper right shoulder and her right arm wrapped around her sister’s waist. She is wearing a medium tone, patterned, woven shirt with thin black bands at the shoulder and cuff and black trousers. Standing behind Malaak’s proper right shoulder is Ilyasah on the far right and Attallah directly behind Malaak’s shoulder, just right of center. Attallah is almost completely behind Malaak, looking over her shoulder. She is wearing a leather kufi-style hat and a white collared shirt with swirl pattern embellishments at the collar. On the far right is Ilyasah. She is standing partially behind Attallah with her proper left arm wrapped around her sister’s proper left shoulder and her chin resting on top of her hand. She is wearing a black, long sleeve dress with sheer sleeves and a beaded cuff. The background of the photograph is white. The photograph has a thick white border. The edition number, [5/12], is printed in the bottom left corner. The photographer’s signature and date, [Platon 19], is handwritten in the bottom right corner. Inside the border, at the bottom center, is the photographer’s embossed mark: [PLATON ? / EDITIONED ? / PRINT ?[encircled between two bands of embossed dots]]. The back of the photograph is plain and white.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Platon

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2021.33.4

pigment prints
portraits

© Platon
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

pigment on paper

H x W (image): 17 1/16 × 24 in. (43.3 × 61 cm)
H x W (sheet): 20 × 24 in. (50.8 × 61 cm)
H x W (matted): 22 × 28 in. (55.9 × 71.1 cm)

Title • Malcolm X’s Daughters

nmaahc_2021.33.4

NMAAHC

MALCOLM X’S DAUGHTERS

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

2000s

Shabazz, Malaak • Shabazz, Qubilah • Shabazz, Gamilah Lumumba • Shabazz, Attallah • X, Malcolm • Platon • Shabazz, Ilyasah

New York City • United States • North and Central America

Photography • Women • Activism • Actors and actresses • Family • Black power

Muslims • African Americans

City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Portraits • pigment prints

Images

Limited Use