Historical Accuracy Of Malcolm X

How powerful can religion be? Does it have the potential to change someone from drug addiction to a moral, respected, powerful man? Malcolm X is a film that depicts the life of Malcolm X, an Afro-American Muslim minister, and human rights activist. This essay analyzes the historical drama Malcolm X. The evaluation is based on four criteria, historical accuracy, drama, theme, and plot. The historical accuracy of Malcolm X is questionably low, there are forged characters and events. However, the dramatical expertise shown makes the movie exceptionally convincing. Racism is the main theme of Malcolm X. The movie references the K.K.K. and also includes fragments of M.L.K.’s speeches. Furthermore, the setting is accurately produced. The police are

racist and Afro-Americans were constantly being discriminated against. Malcolm X opens with his pre-preaching years, back when he used to act imprudently. Malcolm Little is a country boy whose father was murdered by the K.K.K., and his mother sent to an asylum. Malcolm Little engages in sex with white strumpets and abuses substances. One day he vexes his boss, Archie, and flees to a town with his friend, Baines. In the new city, Malcolm and Baines are caught burglarizing a white man and are imprisoned for 6-8 years. In jail, Malcolm meets a Islamic follower, who manages to alter the way Malcolm perceives life. During the change, this opsimath gives up on alcohol, drugs, gambling, pork, and white women. Engulfed in Islam, Malcolm X quickly becomes popular and greatly expands the Nation with the assistance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. After a prodigious length of time, Malcolm X discovers that Mr. Muhammad had been having sex with teenage girls. Malcolm diverges posthaste from the Nation. The Nation made frequent attempts to have Malcolm killed. Unfortunately, Malcolm’s family witnessed the execution We recommend this film because Malcolm X is a shining pillar in the sea of American cinematic history. Malcolm X transcends in plot, drama, and its portrayal of its theme, prosecutes egregiously in regards to its historical accuracy.
With respect to historical accuracy, Malcolm X performs atrociously.

Spike Lee, director of Malcolm X sacrificed authenticity in exchange for theatrics. In Malcolm X, a character named Baines serves the unadulterated role of Malcolm’s siblings and prison friend. In reality, Baines is nonexistent. “His decision to join the Nation also was influenced by discussions with his brother Reginald, who had become a member in Detroit and who was incarcerated with Malcolm in the Norfolk Prison Colony in Massachusetts in 1948” (Mamiya). The movie delineates Baines as his friend that betrayed him in the Nation as this quotation from the movie will explain, “You want a new car? You want a new house? Is that it? It's the money, right (Lee)?”. Malcolm perceives the vast corruption that penetrates the Nation, the leaders have semi-consensual copulation with young secretaries and their opulent lives. Not to mention, the movie’s illustration of Malcolm’s life is veracious. In Malcolm X, it is shown with authoritarian assurance that the Nation of Islam is the primary perpetrator of Malcolm’s assassination. In reality, the guilt of Malcolm’s murder is

disputed.
On 21 February 1965, Malcolm rose to speak at the Audubon Ballroom in New York. A scuffle broke out between two men, identified as Talmadge Hayer and Norman 3X Butler. A third man, identified as Thomas 15X Johnson, opened fire with a sawn-off shotgun. The film recreates the scene accurately based on FBI reports and witness accounts, but is faced with a serious historical problem: intense controversy continues over who killed Malcolm X. (Tunzelmann)
The New York Times analyzed Malcolm X and stated this in regards to its derelictions of the truth.
The story of Malcolm X is fraught with pitfalls for any movie maker. Mr. Lee is creating a film about a man he admires for an audience that includes those who have a direct interest in the story, those who may not have an interest, but know the details intimately [sic] and those who know nothing or only parts of the story. It’s a tricky situation for anyone committed to both art and historical truth. (Canby)
In terms of drama, Malcolm X executed the roles of the characters to the extent that they are real; every character of Malcolm X were profoundly developed.

Elijah Muhammad is an elaborated character. In the beginning, Elijah was Malcolm’s mentor and friend. Elijah was portrayed as a holy prophet that had arrived to preach Allah’s (the Exalted) message. Due to the change, Malcolm is blind to Elijah’s lies. After a while, Malcolm discovers that Elijah, his idol is morally tainted. Malcolm and Elijah both take a full reverse in this movie. The character Baines also takes a full degree turn in this movie: Baines begins the movie successfully converting Malcolm to the Nation of “Islam”. Malcolm’s wife Betty Shabazz. Unlike other characters, she is underdeveloped. In summary, Malcolm X performs felicitously in the view of

drama.
The theme of Malcolm X, racism in American society is perpetrated by supporters and bystanders.
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection. (King)
Malcolm X vowed he would contest inequality for African-Americans. People may, misinterpreted the meaning of this. “The words ‘... by any means necessary,’ conclude Spike Lee’s racist propaganda piece, Malcolm X. The superbious Scott Holleran is very hypocritical in calling the Deedy Spike Lee’s Malcolm X prejudiced and bigoted when reading the rest of his barmecidal polemic.
The 1992 picture screened with an appearance by the writer and director at TCM’s Classic Film Festival on Hollywood Boulevard. Unfortunately, a dull, unexceptional interview was conducted and Lee never did discuss the essentials of Malcolm X’s experience in life, including Lee’s treatment of Islam and how Islam has manifested in today’s world. There was no mention of the Islamic terrorist attacks on America in 1993, 2001 or 2012, let alone at Boston or other recent acts of war, or the fundamentalist Moslem [sic] morality of persecuting the homosexual, the woman [sic] and the infidel. Lee did discuss Denzel Washington’s decision to stop eating pork and drinking alcohol, in observation of Islamic practices, and hiring an Islamic camera crew to film certain scenes. (Holleran)
It evident that Scott Holleran has a prejudice against Islam and its followers, the Muslims; also, it is clear that Islam is opposed to racism. “And among His wonders is this: He creates you out of dust, and then, behold! You become human beings ranging far and wide!” (Quran Ar-Rum 30:20).” This was clearly an important reason for Malcolm’s realization of the incorrectness of his hatred of crackers after going on his hajj. The criticaster Holleran’s floccinaucinihilipilification of Malcolm X for not criticizing Islam enough is ridiculous. Additionally, Holleran’s disrespect towards Afro-Americans’ struggle for freedom and equality within the United States is disturbing. Correspondingly, the oppression of the Afro-American is easily seen. Within Malcolm X, it is easily seen the oppression of the Afro-American. The penurious Negro and Gaberlunzie are kept in destitution and pauperism, the police are belligerent, to say the least, and the penitentiaries are rife almost exclusively with Afro-Americans.
In the perspective of Malcolm X’s plot, Mr. Lee has written a masterpiece. The pantagruelian scope that Lee needed to design were all completed with punctiliousness. The movie unfolds with a handsome and young Malcolm Little. Imprudent Malcolm likes white women, particularly sleeping with them..
It is full of color and exuberance as it tells of life on the streets in Boston and New York, but it grows increasingly austere when Malcolm is arrested for theft and sent to prison, where he finds his life’s mission. The movie becomes proper, well mannered and somber, like Malcolm’s dark suits and narrow ties, as it dramatizes his rise in the Nation of Islam founded by Elijah Muhammad. (Canby)
Malcolm X is a masterpiece in its plot design and writing, it unfolds as an epic and a masterwork.
Malcolm X, a blessing from God for his determination to help the Afro-Americans has created an eternal legacy. He stands as a larger-than-life figure, a monolith to look at with reverence. Malcolm X is a film that manages to balance the importance of presentation and intriguing information the viewer. Much of American cinema is racist propaganda for imperialism, such as American Sniper, however, this film truly cuts across the grain in its ruthless illustration of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.