Malcolm X - University Lecture

[jrock]

This scene is lifted from a real event in Malcolm's life. From his autobiography. 

"I never will forget one little blonde co-ed after I had spoken at her New England college. She must have caught the next plane behind that one I took to New York. She found the Muslim restaurant in Harlem. I just happened to be there when she came in. Her clothes, her carriage, her accent, all showed Deep South white breeding and money. ...Anyway, I'd never seen anyone I ever spoke before more affected than this little white college girl. She demanded right up in my face, "Don't you believe there are any good white people?" I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I told her, "People's deeds I believe in, Miss -- not their words."
"What can I do?" she exclaimed. I told her, "Nothing." She burst out crying, and ran out and up Lenox Avenue and caught a taxi."

He later expressed contrition on this interaction:

"I regret that I told her she could do 'nothing.' I wish now that I knew her name, or where I could telephone her, and tell her what I tell white people now when they present themselves as being sincere, and ask me, one way or another, the same thing that she asked."

[NoName-ituu]

"Having a baby doesn't make a father"...it's sad how is this still very relevant to this day

[charleslennon]

If you actually read "The Autobiography of Malcolm X." and the [lost] notes of Alex Haley, you would learn that one of Brother Malcolm's wishes before the government assassinated him was that he could locate the woman who in 'real life' approached him (which was dramatized in this scene) and guide her toward an honest and heartfelt reconciliation of unity towards Afro-Americans and the USA's governing population, as a whole. He felt regret for giving such a curt comment to her. It irked him until his dying day...

[eliezersevere]

Denzal Played Malcom x so well, I started believing he was Malcolm x.

[javier]

If you ever wondered why white liberals will talk about Malcolm X but never talk about his ideas this scene should be a perfect explanation

[MorrisB]

Malcolm X is hands down the best Denzel Washington movie. Talk about seeing someone evolve. I've seen it 100 times, 3 hours and I get sucked in every time. Lmao. How it didn't get Best Picture much less Best Actor is a crime. ❤

[kaityson]

Truth in every word he said. The word father means responsibility for your wife and children. Like you said anybody can go out here and make a baby which would mean that you just a dad and not a father if you don't want to take responsibility for your family

[ligmasugma]

“Nothing” one word and but it had so many meanings. 💯

[rlittlejohn]

Blonde was working for J Edgar Hoover.

[lionkingfan]

I liked how he talked about how education and Elijah Muhammed helped him get ahead.education is very important for people in general

[thegolden]

The book takes away from these scenes for me because it doesn’t happen like he says but great movie

[neekkanhon]

And on that day, Emily took the #blm out her bio

[steen]

The Oscars are agenda based for lifetime achievement and comeback narrative. Pacino was great in Scent of a Woman and also won the Golden Globe, but had been better when he'd been screwed by the Oscars in younger days. Also Denzel lost votes to Robert Downey Jr as Chaplin who won the UK Oscar equivalent since 1947, British Academy BAFTA, but Denzel won N.Y. Film Critics, KC Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics, Boston Film Critics, Dallas - Fort Worth Film Critics, Southeastern Film Critics and the 20/20 awards for 2013, which are film industry members you use the benefit of time and hindsight to reevaluate the Oscars

[MxLee]

Memorable scene, short but multifaceted in interpretation. The problem however, can be found in the comments of people misusing it for their own ends against ignorant people who haven't researched Malcolm Xs life and views through his years as an activist. Best to read biographies, also not to take the autobiography, something politically calculated, as the only truth.

[coreyjackson]

This is the speech that harmed the movie the truth always the truth

[nikrose]

There are truly good white people in this world. I have seen it myself. Many black people must confront their inherent racism and learn that we must unite with the good white people against systemic racism and create a truly equal society.

[andrewdangelo]

i do not mean to insult anyone.. but it seems to me the black community forgot the words
of Malcolm x

[italianozuzu]

We as people shouldn't be judged by why our ancestors did in the past... Imagine judging All German people for 2 nd war or Rome for the atrocities they did..

[September]

Roger Ebert made a good point about that first scene.

The camera stayed on the white girl instead of following Malcolm because Spike Lee wanted us to sympathize with the girl and not identify with Malcolm in that moment.

[ShahidAli-ysum]

Half of the movie is not even close to the way they trying to portrait M, X they have taken some of the speeches he made in some interviews .Even if they who made the movie say that it is 100% those that know him will tell you otherwise.Just like other movies they made like American sniper . again even that movie is not 100% all the movie s they make is that they like to add things to make it much of that which for the Americans benefits, I'm sure those people who have more knowledge in-depth will agree with me who know how Hollywood works-{, M,X is only 50% true.}