Maclolm X Film Review

Spike Lee’s adaptation of Malcolm X’s autobiography is to say the least a compelling, inspirational film, set during the American civil rights movement. Much like Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi,’ it tells the story of a man seeking spiritual enlightenment and influencing many in the process with his wisdom and insights.

We first see Malcolm Little in a barber’s shop in Boston, getting his hair styled with the “conk,” a slicked back look achieved by chemically straightening the hair, popular among the black men of that era. Throughout the first few scenes we get a sense of Malcolm’s life as a young man living in a time of white superiority and Negro discrimination. Flashbacks to his past as the fourth child of eight children create a background story for the viewer to understand the context of his character, and the hardships he had faced as a victim of racism.

His family had been attacked and targeted, as a result of Earl Little’s activist movement and tenacity, by white supremacists such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Black Legion. They were deemed responsible for Earl’s murder on a railway, but the police proposed the event to be an accident or suicide. Malcolm’s mother was then put in an asylum for being unable to take care of her children when Malcolm was thirteen, so they were separated into foster homes and orphanages.

Malcolm attended an elementary school where he was the only black kid in his class. His peers treated him as a pet or a mascot, even electing him as class president. As a young boy Malcolm aspired to be a lawyer, but was disheartened by his teacher, who told him to be realistic with his career choice, and settle for a carpenter. This demonstrates the discernment of white people over the Negros, underestimating them to be mediocre, rather than incredibly successful, as we later see Malcolm become.

Malcolm is portrayed as a lively, boldly dressed young man in the 1940s, known as ‘Detroit Red’ because of his red hair inherited from his Scottish grandfather. He walks the streets confidently alongside his friend Malcolm “Shorty” Jarvis. Falling for a beautiful white woman by the name of Sophia, Malcolm Little quickly becomes involved in the criminal underworld, stealing, gambling and doing drugs and sleeping with Sophia. We see Malcolm as a risk taker, as shown in the scene where he plays Russian roulette with his friends, bargaining with his own and others’ lives, claiming he was unafraid of dying. He rolls with the fast crowd, and a gang led by West Indian Archie, who threatens to shoot him after Malcolm lied to him, however Malcolm manages to escape.

After being convicted with burglary in 1946, the court sentences Malcolm, only 20 at the time, and his friend Shorty, 8-10 years in prison, primarily because he slept with a white women. The discrimination against blacks in the courtroom is distinguishable here, as their white girlfriends were only sentenced a year each in jail.

Malcolm’s time in prison is where the evolution of his character is most prominent. A man by the name of Brother Baines guides him to the light of faith and Malcolm becomes a Muslim. However, this is not an accurate depiction of what really happened. The film completely disregards Malcolm’s siblings, Reginald, Philbert and half-sister Ella, who played an important role in introducing him to Islam and the teachings of Elijah Muhammad through letters sent to him while in prison. Also, Malcolm’s prison mate was a man by the name of John Elton Bembry, who introduced him to Literature, not religion.

Malcolm’s new found faith made him a changed man when he was finally released in 1952. A new and devoted member of the Nation of Islam and loyal follower of Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm spreads his message of Black Philosophy. His open animosity towards the white race is what gains him the attention of the press, and thousands of supporters in favour of black rights. Not only was Malcolm reaching out to the Negro race, but he was preaching Islam and how it was a “religion for the black people.”

Religion was a recurring theme throughout the film, and Malcolm confronts a pastor in one scene arguing that Jesus was not a white man, but a Hebrew, so he was not blond haired and blue eyed. Christianity had been infiltrated by the belief that “God is white” and Malcolm spoke against this, saying Jesus was “not a paleface.”

Malcolm’s personality was constantly changing as he progresses through stages in his life of difficulty. He marries Betty Sanders, a teacher and civil rights advocate, and has six children with her. After quitting from the NOI when he discovers Elijah Muhammad’s numerous relationships with young secretaries, some which resulted in children, Malcolm started his own organization called the Muslim Mosque Incorporated in 1964.

The turning point of Malcolm X’s life in the film is when he embarks on a journey to the Middle East. On this journey he participates in Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The film failed to include that while there, Malcolm was often mistaken for Muhammad Ali, a famous boxer and follower of Malcolm.

Through his spiritual trip, Malcolm meets white men and people of all races who he could call his brothers. Once again, his character changes in accordance to external influences, and he returns to the United States with new ideologies to share. He now preaches of Islam being a religion that eradicates racial discrimination, and he believed all human beings should be respected, regardless of their colour.

Sadly, though, towards the end, Malcolm is assassinated before he could continue with his speech at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, New York on February 21^st, 1965. There was a scuffle between two men, one which released a fireball, causing great chaos and distress amongst the crowd. A third man rushed up to the stage and shoots Malcolm in the heart, and we notice that Malcolm does not attempt to hide, or run away. He accepts death, and doesn’t cower from it, a trait he had not let go of. Two other men join Talmadge Hayer in firing 16 shots at Malcolm’s body. Though accurate, the assassination scene is upsetting, as his family witnessed his death, and Betty’s cries are mournful and cut deep in the viewer’s heart. During the film, we had gotten the chance to get to know Malcolm as a real person with real ambitions, so his death felt like a painful loss, as if we had met him in reality.

In the end, they make the connection between Soweto, a black township symbolizing the political conflicts of apartheid in South Africa, starring Nelson Mandela as a school teacher. The children say “I am Malcolm” as they are all fighting against racial discrimination, just like Malcolm X had fought. Malcolm’s legacy continues, whether it is in Harlem or classrooms in Soweto.

Highly recommend you spend 3 hours watching this heart-wrenching, inspiring, true story of Malcolm X, or as he was last known, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, brought to life by an Oscar winning actor, Denzel Washington. It was entertaining, educational, riveting and emotional, and the best part of all was it teaches us a lesson about life, and self-actualisation. Malcolm had been in a dark place before he went to prison, and yet it was in his darkest times that he was able to find the light and change as a human being. His evolution of a personality can only be an example for us, how we are all capable of improvement, whether if it’s for ourselves or the benefit of others.

One thing I learned from this movie is that we can all make the world a better place if we treat everyone righteously as human beings, for we are all equal, no matter our race, sex or religion.