In part two of our season four finale, we unpack Spike Lee’s Malcolm X (1992), starring Denzel Washington, and examine how it compares to the real-life story of one of American’s most influential and controversial civil rights leaders. We break down the key moments from the film – Malcolm’s childhood, time in prison, conversion to Islam, rise in the Nation of Islam, and eventual split – and weigh them against the historical record. What did the film get right? What was left out or dramatized? And how do these creative choices affect our understanding of Malcolm’s legacy? Join us as we explore the man, the myth, and the movie.

Primary Source:

• Payne, Les & Payne, Tamara. The Dead are Rising: The Life of Malcolm X. Liveright Publishing Corporation (2020).

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