Thursday, November 19, 1992 KfltfiffajlTlllflftTlt
27 years and
X marks the spot!
Liam O'Mahon
The Collegian
Yesterday was the nation-wide
release of the long-awaited release
of Malcolm X, the epic film
based on The Autobiography of
Malcolm X as told by Alex
Haley. Twenty-seven and a half
years after the assassination of
Malcolm X, his life and ideas are
finally brought to the big screen.
The script has been in the mak
ing ever since his death, but ap
prehensions, funds, and contro
versies have delayed its produc
tion and release. Director Spike
Lee has stood his ground
throughout the production of
Malcolm X. This is his greatest
project, and has said this movie
tops all five of his previous
films.
He fought with Warner Brothers
for filming locations and over
budgeting. He eventually was
able to film on-location in
Africa, Mecca, and South Africa.
He also gained more funds
through donations from Michael
Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill
Cosby, and Oprah Winfrey.
The movie, which should help
to change much of white
America's view of Malcolm X
being a "racist, hate monger", is
receiving criticism from certain
organizations for "trashing
Malcolm's life". Nonetheless, the
3 hour and 21 minute film will
definitely have an effect on how
we all view and treat each other
as human beings.
This film should instill a sense
of tragedy, pride, and hope for a
positive outlook on the future; as
well as the prospect of the
destruction of racism in America.
Malcolm X, also known by his
muslim name El Hajj Malik El
Shabazz, and Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. were America's most
courageous leaders and eloquent
spokesmen for the rights and
pride of African-Americans.
Despite how the media and many
history teachers have depicted
Malcolm X in the past, he was
also a due hero and a martyr for
civil rights, and more impor
tantly human rights.
The movie, and ihc widely
attached publicity that has come
with it, will begin to change how
white history has portrayed
Malcolm's life. There have been
many new books written in the
past few years regarding his life
and speeches.
Clayborne Carson, a professor
at Stanford University, has writ
ten a book called, Malcolm X:
The FBI File. However, most of
the files will never be known to
the public; just as in the cases of
John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
These books will begin to work
their way into- high school cur
riculums across America. It’s a
shame it has taken so long for
our country to wake up from its
ignorance and still prejudicial
views towards African-Americans
and other minorities.
Malcolm X was bom Malcolm
K. Little, the son of a Baptist
minister, Earl Little. Little was
also a follower of Marcus
Garvey's Back to Africa move
ment in the late 1920'5. Racists
murdered Earl when Malcolm was
five, and his mother suffered a
nervous breakdown and was
institutionalized for 26 years.
All eight of her children were
split up into various homes to be
cared for.
Malcolm lived in a couple of
homes before moving to Boston
to live with his half-sister Ella.
He had dreams of being a lawyer,
but was told by his favorite
teacher, "That's no realistic goal
for a nigger." This act of
oppression greatly affected him
and it stayed with him the rest of
his life. Despite having great
grades, playing basketball, and
being voted Bth grade class
president; he would never return
to school.
He spent his teen years learning
the streets of Boston and Harlem.
He held menial jobs, shining
shoes, washing dishes, and work
ing on a railroad. He became a
hustler, pushed dope, played the
numbers, and peddled bootleg
whiskey.
His petty-crimcs eventually
caught up to him when he was
arrested for burgulary and larceny.
He received a six year sentence,
and while in prison he educated
himself, he read any book he
could get his hands on, and
participated in prison debates on
religion and history. A fellow
inmate converted him to the
Nation of Islam (NOI) and the
teachings of the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad.
After being paroled from prison,
Malcolm received his “X” from
the NOI. The “X” stood for their
unknown last names, and took
the place of the “slave” names.
In a span of two years he had
become the NOl's most
prominent spokesman and the
minister of New York City's
Temple No. 7.
He and his wife, Betty, were
married in 1958. Despite
Malcolm's busy schedule and
traveling around the nation and
Africa, they still had a tight
family unit with six daughters.
He appreciated his family's under
standing and sacrifices which
allowed him to do his work.
As a result of his experiences
with Malcolm X, Alex Haley
was inspired to research and write
the classic saga, Roots.
Malcolm X was often outspo
ken and very critical of the civil
rights movement, but he was al
ways sincere. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. and Malcolm only met
once, but they shook hands,
smiled, and had a high respect for
each other's work; despite their
different views.
"By Any Means Necessary"
was the maxim Malcolm X often
embraced. It must be realized he
didn't mean violence was the only
solution. In a 1964 interview he
stated, "Even I prefer ballots, but
I can't discount bullets. I'm not
interested in ballots or bullets;
I'm interested in freedom."
Malcolm X is played by Denzel
Washington, who has also
appeared in Glory , Mo' Better
Blues , and Ricochet , Betty
Shabazz is played by Angela
Bassett. Nelson Mandela delivers
Malcolm's most famous speech
for racial equality at the end of
the movie.
It is never too late to read The
Autobiography of Malcolm X ,
especially for those who decide to
sec the movie first. It is an
important piece of literature in
America's history depicting the
rise of a criminal to a courageous
leader of pride.
As more people begin to learn
what Malcolm stood for, hope
fully all humans will understand
and treat each other belter. There
will be no need for violence
amongst moviegoers, and the
media has already begun to feed
on that. Malcolm once said,
"The most frightening thing in
action is ignorance."
In regard to all humans he
said,"l believe in recognizing
every human being as a human
being, neither white, black,
brown, nor red. When you are
dealing with humanity as one
family, there is no question of
integration or intermarriage..."
Peace out everybody.
Wishing!, Well'
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V N E EN DSS I OTRS
HERE IS A PLEASANT LITTLE GAME that will give you a
message every day. It's a numerical puzzle designed to
spell out your fortune. Count the letters in your first name. If
the number of letters Is 6 or more, subtract 4. If the number
is less than 6. add 3. The result is your key number. Start at
the upper left-hand corner and check one of your key num
bers, left to right Then read the message the letters under
the checked figures give you.
THE INTERNATIONAL
CllOllCflCCr® CROSSNUMBER GAME
DIRECTIONS fa (.fas
Fill each square with a number, one through nine
• Horizontal squares should add lo totals on nght
• Vertical squares shoul
• Diagonal squares throi
total in upper and lowi
THEHE MAY BE MORE
THAN ONE SOLUTION
Today's Challenge
Time 7 Minutes
(} Seconds
Your Working
Time Minutes
Seconds
5 2 7 5
BM M J
46 4 7
5C E A
63 7 4
NA M F
©1992 by King Features Syndicaie
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