Malcolm x is the first film about an african american to be given a blockbuster budget by a hollywood studio. His mother, louise norton little, was a homemaker occupied with the familys eight children. How do the myths of malcolm x reveal cultural biases. Rhetorical analysis of ballot or the bullet sppech by malcolm x 57 words 6 pages. The conclusion of the autobiography of malcolm x is not exactly a conclusion. Below the surface for the first half of the film, the. The movie malcolm x is mostly accurate to the real life events and facts of malcolms real life, although there are some minor details that were not accurately conveyed in the. Lees films always have an underlying fairness, an objectivity that is sometimes overlooked. While malcolm believed that women are naturally weak and submissive, ella, on the other hand, is described in his autobiography as a strong person.
Malcolm x is seen by some as a symbol of the enduring struggle for equal rights. Prior to this, hostilities between malcolm and the nation of islam had been mounting, the former having begun to receive death threats from the latter. Watching the movie which i already owned but, surprisingly, had never. The nation of islam characters in the movie say that whites are blueeyed devils, but never revealed to viewers is the doctrine about whites being eliminated in racial armageddon. During malcolm s younger years in boston and harlem, he maintained a conk hairstyle, which was a way of chemically relaxing naturally kinky hair. Summary plot overview malcolm x is born malcolm little in omaha, nebraska.
In this section of this movie malcolm x was the inspiring leader. Any film that does his story justice would have to be complex and controversial, and spike lees eponymous 1992 film, based on the autobiography of malcolm x and clocking in at 202 minutes, does not disappoint. Spike lee mutes polemics in study of slain black leader. Join the conversation and let us know your opinion on the film. Malcolm became a gangster, and while in jail discovered the nation of islam writings of elijah muhammad. Biograpical epic of malcolm x, the legendary african american leader. The nation sets up a mosque in a single room and their congregation quickly grows over the next few years. Malcolm x 1992, starring denzel washington and directed by spike lee, was largely based on the autobiography of malcolm x. We all know that malcolm x was assassinated, and the book ends with his prediction that he will be killed and vilified in his death.
Malcolm x is born malcolm little in omaha, nebraska. As one of the most proficient civil rights activist of the 1960s, malcolm x and his speeches were very influential but particularly one speech was highly esteemed. Malcolm x was born malcolm little on may 19, 1925 in omaha, nebraska. May 19, 1925, north omaha, ne his father was a baptist minister who had been influenced by marcus garvey who believed in separatism. In malcolm x, spike lee uses the medium of film to track the spiritual journey of this controversial and charismatic black muslim teacher, preacher, and activist. The film received oscar nominations for best actor denzel washington and best costume design. It is a biographical drama that depicts the life and legacy of african american civil rights leader, malcolm x. The movie malcolm x, starring denzel washington was based off of the autobiography of malcolm x. The film starring denzel washington almost didnt happen over opposition from the nation of islam and a lack of financial backing. She was a lightskinned woman and was ashamed of her white blood. Does the movie have an accurate historical representation of malcolm x. Washington was nominated for an oscar for best actor, but lost to al pacinos performance in scent of a woman 1992 a choice publicly criticized by lee. Critical analysis of malcolm x learning to read essay. Spike lees malcolm x is one of the great screen biographies, celebrating the whole sweep of an american life that began in sorrow and.
In a talk in whittier, the director is tough, humorous and defensive about his controversial film. Born malcolm little, his father a garveyite baptist minister was killed by the ku klux klan. In the 1940s, malcolm little denzel washington arrives in boston hungry to experience the adventures awaiting him on the citys street and in its dance halls. There was never any inbetween for the man who was initially. Malcolm x was assassinated on february 21, 1965, at the audubon ballroom in harlem, new york, by members of the nation of islam the religious group to which he had once belonged. Lee follows malcolm xs autobiography, a mythbuilding rewrite of the past that the film simplifies still further jacoby. On may 19, 1925 in omaha, nebraska, malcolm little was born to reverend earl and louise little. Malcolms family moves to michigan where they continue to experience persecution and violence. She thought of her white grandfather, probably correctly, as a rapist, and, more than her militant husband, she taught her children to value their blackness. The autobiography of malcolm x study guide from litcharts. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the autobiography of malcolm x by malcolm x, alex haley.
Based on the 1965 autobiography cowritten by malcolm and future roots creator alex haley, its a 202minute, continenthopping epic boasting a superbly. The autobiography of malcolm x summary supersummary. The the autobiography of malcolm x characters covered include. This interest reflected the growing relevance of black nationalism as a response to the conditions of most black people in the united states public enemy was on point. Malcolm x in the film malcolm x, spike lee misleads the viewer about the full nature of racism held by the nation of islam. Malcolms mother is depicted as a proud woman who was finally broken by white welfare people. The midwest, during this period, is full of discrimination and racial violence. The civil rights leader, as eloquently portrayed by denzel washington, emerges as an immensely likable human being a onetime black. The main premise of the film focused in on his adult life and his transition into the activist we consider him. Search streaming video, audio, and text content for academic, public, and k12 institutions. The symbol of the conk in the autobiography of malcolm x.
Both the film and washingtons portrayal of malcolm x received wide acclaim and were nominated for. Spike lees malcolm x is one of the great screen biographies, celebrating the whole sweep of an american life that began in sorrow and bottomed out on the streets and in prison before its hero reinvented himself. Frustrated and fed up with the oppression with which they were forced to live, influential people such as malcolm x, rosa parks, and martin luther king, jr. Malcolm x movie questions multiple choice identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. The style was popular among african american men from the 1920s to the 1960s, despite the risk of chemical burns and the high amount of care necessary to maintain it. One theme that i found to be very evident throughout this film is evolution. Fifty years after malcolm xs assassination and 25 years after the film was. Since that time he had been trying to find someone to make a feature film about malcolm x why do you think that it was important for worth that the story of malcolm x was also made into a feature film. What does malcolm x tell his teacher he wants to be when he grows up. Download file to see previous pages malcolm xs learning to read has several important points. Malcolm x lived a dozen different lives, each in its way a defining aspect of the black american experience from nightmare to dream.
That the film was made at all, much less as an epic, is primarily due to writerdirector spike lees history of producing controversial films that make money. Malcolm x is seen by some as a symbol of the enduring struggle for equal rights for all human beings. A revealing scene in malcolm x shows malcolm on the campus of columbia university, where a young white girl tells him that her heart is in the right place and that she supports his struggle. This is an excerpt taken from the 1992 spike lee film malcolm x starring denzel washington, spike lee, angela bassett with cameo appearances from bobby seale and nelson mandela. Malcolm x told his junior high school english teacher that he wanted to be a lawyer.
A tremendous resurgence of interest occurred in 1992 when director spike lee released the acclaimed movie, malcolm x. Why did the director decide to under or overrepresent certain interpretations. As a result, the debate took place and is now part of malcolm xs history. Alexander street is an imprint of proquest that promotes teaching, research, and learning across music, counseling, history, anthropology, drama, film, and more.
The producer of the film, marvin worth, had already made a feature film length documentary about malcolm x in 1972. Malcolm x returns to harlem and begins his life as a preacher for the nation of islam. The journey of the protagonist suffering for attaining an uneven and imbalanced state of. Spike lees epic film explores all incarnations of the civil rights icon and shows how and why he evolved. In 1992, spike lee directed denzel washington in the title role of his movie malcolm x. During a 1965 speech, malcolm x is shot and killed, reportedly by nation of islam members. Anchored by a powerful performance from denzel washington, spike lees biopic of the legendary civil rights leader brings his. The first of the three devices that are shown in the essay is imagery. A list of all the characters in the autobiography of malcolm x. Malcolm x biography, nation of islam, assassination. At one point, malcolm, while preaching a sermon, sees shorty in the crowd.
In addition to his narrative of how he got his education, malcolm xs essay also revealed how he came to be a leader of the black separatist movement that urged black americans to cut their political, social and economic ties with the white community. Malcolm x warns, it shall be the ballot or the bullet the 1960s were a time of battle for change. The literary techniques that malcolm x uses in learning to read are imagery, tone, and diction to explore his selftransformation by books. Rhetorical analysis of malcolm xs speech, the ballot. Malcolm x 2 and a half out of 5 malcolm x is a character driven feature that focuses on justifying the characters rather than rechecking the material twice or even a clock for that matter. Spike lees biopic is still absolutely necessary film. In the movie, malcolm x is portrayed by denzel washington. Little, who believed in selfdetermination and worked for the unity of black people. So the conclusion of malcolm xs story is kind of implied, but it doesnt really happen on the page. Analysis of malcolm xs ballot or bullet speech writework. Watching the film, i understood more clearly how we do have the power to change our own lives, how fate doesnt deal all of the cards. Academically, there was a surge of sustained interest in malcolm x in the late 1980s and early 90s, in the midst of which spike lee produced the film in 1992.
When malcolm and betty are in their living room discussing the rumors of elijah muhammads infidelities and the pending lawsuits, the newspaper article quotes muhammad saying in denying the charges, malcolm x instigated the suits in an effort. Anchored by a powerful performance from denzel washington, spike lees biopic of the legendary civil rights leader. The legacy of malcolm x has moved through generations as the subject of numerous documentaries, books and movies. Malcolm s family moves to michigan where they continue to experience persecution and violence. Much like the man himself, malcolm x has distinct phases. This video presents excerpts from a malcolm x speech on civil rights.
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