READER’S GUIDE 2017 – 2018 Presented by MICHIGAN HUMANITIES COUNCIL GREAT MICHIGAN READ X: A Novel Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon GREAT MICHIGAN READ READER’S GUIDE | 3 WHAT IS THE GREAT MICHIGAN READ? Great Michigan Read: One title, one state, and thousands engaged in literary discussion WHAT IS THE GREAT MICHIGAN READ? The Michigan Humanities Council’s Great Michigan Read is a book club for the entire state with a focus on a single book – X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon. The program is intended for young adults to senior citizens with broad goals of making literature more accessible and appealing while also encouraging residents to learn more about our state and individual identities. CONTENTS WHY X: A NOVEL? HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE? 2-3 WHAT IS THE GREAT MICHIGAN READ? No life is set in stone. Malcolm was a Pick up a copy of X: A Novel and young man with boundless potential supporting materials at your local 4-5 X: A NOVEL AND AUTHOR but with the odds stacked against library, your favorite bookstore, or ILYASAH SHABAZZ him. Losing his father under suspicious download the e-book. Read the book, 6-7 X: A NOVEL AND AUTHOR circumstances and his mother to a share and discuss it with your friends, KEKLA MAGOON mental health hospital, Malcolm fell and participate in Great Michigan Read into a life of petty crime and eventually events in your community and online. 8-9 AUTHOR’S NOTE: ILYASAH SHABAZZ prison. Instead of letting prison be his Register your library, school, company, 10-11 CHRONOLOGY OF MALCOLM IN MICHIGAN downfall, Malcom found a religion, or book club and receive copies of a voice, and the podium that would 12-13 MALCOLM’S LANSING reader’s guides, teacher’s guides, GET CONNECTED & FOLLOW US! eventually make him one of the most Join the Michigan Humanities bookmarks, and other informational 14-15 A FAMILY OF ACTIVISTS prominent figures in the burgeoning Council Facebook group, or follow materials at no cost. Nonprofit @mihumanities (#greatMIread) Civil Rights movement. 16-17 SECRET SOCIETY OF THE BLACK LEGION organizations-including schools and on Twitter. The 2017-18 Great Michigan Read, libraries-may apply for discussion kits 18-19 MALCOLM AFTER X: A NOVEL X: A Novel, is a tale of reinvention which include free copies of X: A Novel. and redemption. Written by Ilyasah BACK ABOUT THE MICHIGAN HUMANITIES For more details, including a calendar COUNCIL AND ITS GENEROUS Shabazz, Malcom X’s third daughter, of events, additional resources, and SUPPORTERS and Kekla Magoon, X is a young-adult to register your organization, visit novel with a writing style and message www.michiganhumanities.org. that will appeal to readers of all ages. Join us as we work to explore the Michigan roots of one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century. A SPECIAL THANKS: The Michigan Humanities Council would like to give a special thanks to Jennifer Rosseter (Image Creative Group), Bill Castanier, Carol DeBoer, Maureen Derenzy, Sean Henne, Susan Patterson, Linda Pride, Cathy Seblonka, Terri Tomaszek, and Kay Wejrowski. GREAT MICHIGAN READ READER’S GUIDE | 5 X: A NOVEL AND AUTHOR ILYASAH SHABAZZ Q&A WITH ILYASAH SHABAZZ Why did you choose to make X: A for his activism when Malcolm was six Novel a work of fiction? years old, and his mom was placed in It was important for me to ensure my an institution when he was thirteen. Phillip Van Nostrand father’s young life was documented Despite the evident pain, Malcolm still © and accessible to a teen audience. excelled academically and socially. I wanted to shape my father’s When his favorite teacher advised Ilyasah Shabazz. adolescence into an inspirational story, that he shouldn’t aspire to be a lawyer to fill in the missing information and because he was just a Negro, his young provide a more accurate story of my spirit was crushed. When our children ILYASAH SHABAZZ: Ilyasah Shabazz, father’s youth. I also wanted to give are discouraged and indirectly told that third daughter of Malcolm X, is an Also by Ilyasah Shabazz credence to his parents for instilling their lives do not matter, they often live activist, producer, motivational speaker, specific values of compassion, care, their lives in a self-destructive manner. and the author of the critically acclaimed Growing Up X: A Memoir by literacy, and accountability that enabled Growing Up X and the picture book the Daughter of Malcolm X their son to grow into one of the What is the story’s most compelling Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to (2002) most brilliant human rights strategists lesson for today? My hope is that, like my dad, young Become Malcolm X. Malcolm Little: The Boy worldwide. Who Grew Up to Become people will be able to find the Malcolm X (2013) What events in your father’s life were individual power that each of us the most thought-provoking to write possesses to shed light on truth and about? justice. And I hope that smart, forward- My father was born from the loving thinking adults can understand the union of two young activists during the necessity of our roles in the village Jim Crow and Great Depression eras of of raising our children to live more our country. His family was separated purpose-driven lives. If there ever was a and torn apart—his dad was lynched time for us to come together, it is now. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON “You alone have the power ILYASAH SHABAZZ PLEASE VISIT: www.ilyasahshabazz.com to accomplish what you will. To accomplish every goal. Clear every obstacle. Win every challenge. You have the gift of an indomitable Spirit. Stay strong, focused, and determined.” ILYASAH SHABAZZ GREAT MICHIGAN READ READER’S GUIDE | 7 X: A NOVEL AND AUTHOR KEKLA MAGOON Q&A WITH KEKLA MAGOON How did you approach writing a book “In his own writings and with two authors? We worked to combine our strengths speeches, he emphasized to create the perfect balance of history/ that he didn’t come from Kerry Land © biography and novelistic storytelling. nowhere. He went through Ilyasah brought a deep familiarity with her father’s life story, and a clear trials, tribulations, struggles, Kekla Magoon vision for how his early experiences and doubts. For me it was could shape an inspiring narrative. As really interesting to get to the KEKLA MAGOON is the author of an accomplished novelist, I was well- eight young adult novels, including individual behind the legacy.” Also by Kekla Magoon positioned to help bring this vision The Rock and the River, How It Went to life. KEKLA MAGOON (excerpt from School Library Journal, January 5, 2015) Down, X: A Novel, and the Robyn Shadows of Sherwood (A Hoodlum Adventures series. She has Robyn Hoodlum Adventure) What kind of research did you do when writing X: A Novel? received an NAACP Image Award, (2015) What were the challenges in writing I read a lot of Malcolm’s own writing, the John Steptoe New Talent Award, How it Went Down (2014) a book about such a prominent including The Autobiography of Malcolm two Coretta Scott King Honors, Fire in the Streets (2013) historical figure? X. Ilyasah presented me with several The Walter Award Honor, and been 37 Things I Love (in No The main challenge is finding the of her favorite books about her father, long listed for the National Book Particular Order) (2012) balance between historical accuracy and and I studied them closely, in addition Award. She also writes non-fiction Camo Girl (2011) shaping a narrative. It was important to other biographical texts that discuss on historical topics. Kekla conducts to represent Malcolm’s true story, and Today the World is Watching his life and work. When possible, I school and library visits nationwide You: The Little Rock Nine yet also draw readers in with a strong studied archival videos and transcripts and serves on the Writers’ Council and the Fight for School plot and a compelling flow of action. of Malcolm’s speeches. I visited for the National Writing Project. Integration, 1957 (2011) We made choices about which periods several library and museum archives Kekla holds a B.A. from Northwestern The Rock and the River of his life to focus on, and when to that contained collections related to University and an M.F.A. in Writing (2009) make leaps in time to stay close to the Malcolm, where I viewed photographs from Vermont College of Fine Arts, relevant action. The novel’s opening, in and ephemera. All of these influences where she now serves on faculty. particular, flashes forward and backward helped me to draw closer to him as a in time, focusing on the moment when character. Malcolm leaves home to begin his “Malcolm spent his teen years running from that coming-of-age journey through trauma and toward self-discovery. history, but he eventually found his way back. He finally became the person he was raised to be. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON This book explores the time during which he was KEKLA MAGOON PLEASE VISIT: www.keklamagoon.com running, and it’s such a crucial piece of his story.” KEKLA MAGOON (excerpt from Diversity in Ya, 2015) GREAT MICHIGAN READ READER’S GUIDE | 9 AUTHOR’S NOTE FROM X: A NOVEL I am my father’s child. I consider it an honor and a privilege to tell the story of his life and work, and I proudly accept responsibility “for doing so, not because he is my father but because I believe that accurate information about him and his life’s journey will empower others — especially those fatherless children searching for I share this story to remind myself and their purpose and their identity — others that there is hope for each one to achieve their highest potential.” of us.