This biographical drama which can be considered as the socio-political epic tells the story of the legendary, but controversial and discussions provoking personality of Malcolm Little, who became widely known under the pseudonym X. Former fraudster and prisoner, having come to Islam, became not only a religious preacher, but also a true fighter for the African American people. I need to mention that Spike Lee didn`t overcome the desire to glorify this ambiguous person in his most ambitious thematic movie “Malcolm X”. And he did it successfully – followers of Malcolm X received an opportunity to take a true and fair view at their spiritual leader and many people all over the world got many prerequisites to think about their place in the society and inter-ethnic issues.
Let me dwell on the way of life of Malcolm X that is delivered to us from the screen in the play of inimitable Denzel Washington.
Malcolm X represents a good example of a person who had not been able to find his way of living until he found the purpose and the meaning of the life. Malcolm, being a kid, was proud of his father and of the father's work – he was a Baptist minister who devoted his life to National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. But it cost much for his family – their house in Omaha (Nebraska) was burned to the ground by the kluxers. Later, his father was killed, and the family had to move to Lansing (Michigan). Having settled down in the new town, his family started living an ordinary life, Malcolm – went to school where he was one of the most diligent students. However, the willingness to study vanished when his teacher told him that the Negro should not even hope to become a lawyer. Malcolm`s life began to lose its meaning for him because of the racism that destroyed his ambitions. Soon he moved to Boston to his older sister and began to seek the pleasures of life.
In the new surrounding he looked only for entertainment, winning prestige among his peers and looking for amorous adventures. Eventually, he began selling drugs. At the age of 21, he became a cocaine addict and was imprisoned for burglary.
Behind the bars, Malcolm had to think about whether he wanted to overcome drug addiction and survive, or just die and stop his suffering. His spiritual unrest was placed aside when his brother persuaded him to become a supporter Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam, a religious movement gaining popularity those years. Having made an acquaintance with the doctrines of the organization, Malcolm developed a new life style, which met his basic needs and made his life conscious. He stopped doing drugs and turned to the basic values of life: honour, leadership, and social justice. He became a devoted Muslim and quickly was promoted to a senior position in the organization of the Nation of Islam.
Malcolm X, who gained fame after the adoption of Islam, changed radically. From masher he turned into a religious leader, from the addict he switched to the strict adherence to Islamic rules and regulations; irresponsibility in his life gave way to social care for people. However, in my book, the roots of these changes are pertinent to Malcolm`s childhood. He was always proud of his heritage and was concerned with issues of social justice of the African Americans. As soon as the Nation of Islam gave him the opportunity to meet his basic needs, Malcolm found the meaning of life.
The life story of Malcolm X shows us the difference between sensual happiness and value-based happiness. When the main hero longed for sensual happiness, his life was meaningless, and he was drowning further into a miserable existence. When he began to seek value-oriented blissfulness, he saved himself and regained his determination and a general feeling of well-being.
Spike Lee showed us that Malcolm X lived as a social misfit until he found himself and God. And, unlike his mentors, he decided to go to the end. At that time, when they betrayed their faith for the sake of money and power, he remained faithful to God and to the world. He rose through the ranks from being a criminal to a nationalist who accused all white people and finished his life journey being a “man of the World”.
Works Cited
Malcolm X. Dir. Spike Lee. Perf. Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman, Jr., and Delroy Lindo. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1992. Film.
