Brief description of the most emotional segment of the film
The most powerful part of the film was when Malcolm X started his ‘Nation of Islam’ campaign in the streets of the ghetto. It took enormous courage to stop strangers in the street and tell them about Elijah Muhammad’s teachings. He appears to be quite passionate about his cause regardless of the passersby’s indifference to his pleas (Malcolm X). At this point, one wonders whether anything fruitful will ever come from the meetings because the faith’s membership base is quite small. In this scene – when Malcolm X hands out leaflets to the event – one can detect the sense of hopelessness held by people in this neighborhood. Malcolm’s energy and firm resolve oozes out of him. To some extent, it even contradicts his environment.
Perhaps the reason why this scene was central to the film was its portrayal of the protagonist. Mr. X has such an unyielding belief in the Nation of Islam that he is willing to sacrifice his economic or personal gain for the sake of the group. It was a full-time job for Malcolm to conduct membership drives, such as the one in the scene, so this was a clear sacrifice on his part. Mr. Little’s enthusiasm never waned throughout his involvement in the Nation of Islam.
He was a leader from the beginning and continued to show these leadership qualities until his death. The scene was packed with emotion for me because I saw the makings of a great man. Malcolm was a transformative agent in African American society as he was already firmly rooted in his own beliefs. It was from this abundance of faith that he could teach other people how to believe in themselves.
Analysis of the film’s meaning
The film intended on showing the transformative power of faith in society. Through the ‘Nation of Islam’, Malcolm was able to sensitize oppressed people (African Americans) about their state of affairs. He made them realize that they were valuable, and deserved better treatment. As such, Mr. X fought against the injustices of twentieth Century America. He also showed the predominant race that their racist ways were undermining the very principles that founded the United States of America.
I responded positively to this message because I learned how societal structures had failed the African American people. Many African Americans, including Malcolm X, had lost their parents due to this hate-inspired attitude. Furthermore, most of them were forced into criminal or anti-social activities owing to the glass ceilings intrinsic to typical sectors of the economy. Malcolm X became a bugler when he saw no other gainful opportunities for himself, as a black man. Through the film, I realized that there was a context to the African American community’s woes.
The movie illustrated that, through spiritual transformation, one does not have to become a victim of social unfairness. One can become a force for change rather than a product of society’s ills. Malcolm X slowly evolved from a criminal to a religious leader. Through spiritual mentorship, he developed into one of the most influential people in the black community. Religion helped Mr. X to conquer his undesirable habits (drug addiction, criminality) and to embrace a journey of righteous living. The meaning of this film was unmistakable and powerful.
Works Cited
Malcolm X. Ex. Prod. Spike Lee. NY: Largo International. 1992. DVD.