"W declare our right on this
Earth to b a man, to be a human
being, to be respected as a human
bing, to be given the rights 0/
human being, in this society, on this
Earth, in this day, which we intend to
bring into existence by any means
neces ary. n -Malcolm X
From the moment M lcolm X
urst into the public's conscious­
ness, articulating his radical perspec­
tive on race relations and the status
of African-Americans in society, the
landscape of American social
politics changed forever. He turned
the table on white America's con­
ventional umption of its role in
ociety, by tating that Blacks were
morally, physically and intellectual­
ly superior to whites and would
therefore ume their rightful pI ce
t the top of ociety before long.
Thi tance from a Blac man in
time when many Blac were un­
ble to register to vote, ride in th
front of b ,or attend chool with
white children, w nothing less than
tounding - but it also fascinated
m ny Americans, BI c and white,
and Malcolm X oon became a fig­
ure of international regard.
Feared nd revered, Malcolm X
crystallized the hope and dreams of
Blacks, demanding human rights for
African-Americans during the ra­
cially tumultuou nd divi ive
decades of the 1950s and '60s until
his 1965 assassination in New York
at the age of 39.
Malcolm X (Denzel Washington) addresses an audience
of Harlem residents outside the leg�nday Apollo Theatre.
Rarely h man who lived uch
a brief time made uch a I ting im­
pression on both hi cont mporaries
nd the generations to follow. From
poor child to cheming criminal to
white-berating pok person for the
Nation of Islam to eloquent humanist
espousing harmony, decency and
truth in thi country and abroad Mal­
com X and his ide touched the lives
of millions and have continu d to do
o long after his death.
HIS FINAL, enduring message
to people around the world was that
people of all colors could work and
live together if they were of good
will. For bringing this belief to his
listeners, Malcolm X paid with his
life. But his words, his thoughts, and
his brilliance, passion and constantly
evolving humanism have endured to
inspire and enlighten ensuing
generations of all races.
Malcolm X's path took him
through as many different realities as
he had names: over the nearly four
decades of his life, Malcolm saw and
lived amidst rural poverty, urban
ghettos, criminal society, prison life,
religious enclaves, a warm and sup­
portive family, America, Europe, the
Middle East' s holy lands and the
limitless expanses of his own vision
and intellect. From obscure and grim
beginniags, Malcolm ·X. '
world renown before his life was ex­
tinguished in mid-sentence, hi�
words never to be forgotten.
Denzel Washington researched
his role meticulously before portray­
ing Malcolm. Portraying Malcolm's
wife, Betty Shabaez, is Angela' Bas­
sett; Al Freeman, Jr. is the Honorable
Elijah Muhammad, venerable leader
of the Nation of Islam and the man
Malcolm X revered as second only
to Allah. Delroy Lindo plays West
Indian Archie, the Harlem kingpin
who schools Malcolm on the tricks
of the hustling trade. Albert Hall is
Baines, a fellow prison inmate who
. introduces Malcolm to the Nation of
Islam. Theresa Randle is Laura, the
naive young Black woman who falls
in love with Malcolm, while Kate
Vernon plays Sophia, the adven­
turous young white woman who is
his cohort and lover during his
criminal years.
Betty Shabazz (Angela Bassett) and Malcolm X (Denzel Washington) share a tendermoment
after their wedding. (photos by David lBeftNarner Bros.)
. '- -
.!.J:r. ':lc:,� �v )
iT',
""of, , ... 11 ",.1'1 Ir '" I Tnn"
A Brief Background
Born in 1925 in Omaha, Nebras­
ka, into a racially divided society that
treated him and his family with
cruelty and indifference, young Mal­
colm Little lived in a series of foster
families after his father was mur­
dered and his mother was sent to a
mental instiution.
He was taught from childhood not
to "aim too high" in his aspirations.
When, at age 11, he told a teacher he '
wanted to be a lawyer one day, he
was informed that he should 'choose
something more realistic, like a car­
penter. Young Black boys didn't
grow up to become lawyers, he was
told.
What he did become, after
moving East to live with a relative,
was a teen-aged hustler on the streets
of Boston's Roxb� district, using
rcomplled by Kascene Barks
;1 SUNDAYJ NOV. 1 1
•
t� RAINBOWTALES-An eclectic
,collection of popular children's
t stories from around the world.
: Rainbow Tales runs thru Nov. 8. All
i proceeds benefit the Martin Molson
Scholarship Fund, which Is awarded.
:annually to an outstanding
• undergraduate theatre major. Call
: (313/577-2972) for performance
• times and additional Information.
� THE NINTH GUEST - A 1932
'whodunit by Owen Davis. A
-tuxurlous art dece penthouse
� replaces the usual creepy old
,mansion where guests are brought
'together by an Invitation to cocktails
, and dinner that becomes a summons
Ito murder. Runs thru Nov, 14.
I Performances are Fridays and
',Saturdays at 8:30pm. Sunday
matinees at 4:30pm. Nov. 8 A
f dlnner/theater package Is av. liable.
i Henry Ford Museum (313/271-1620
i ext. 382 for Information and
; reservations).
t
•
" 'EXHleITION -' -The Real
cCoy: African American Invention
nd Innovation 1619-1930, I
ontlnues at the MAAH, 301
rederJck o Oltgj ass , thru Thursday,
, . 8, A re�e'Ptlon to honor -The
, I MWoy e�I,bttlon Will be held,
,�pay, 5:�pm, to 7:30pm at the
eurn. -The Rea/. McCoy'
xffibJtton lncludes photographs,
ImlJes,.artlfacts and casework to
'lly fIIu trate the vast
ccompllshments made by
anonymou and often forgotten men
and women. To conflrm reception
attendance (833-9800). '
""" SUDE PROGRAM - The China
experience - An exotic trip Includes
TlanAnMen Square, Shanghai, Hong
Kong, the Great Wall, a cruise on the
River L1, and the terra cotta army of
XI'an. by Vera Jehnsen. 2pm.
Franklin LIbrary, 13651 E McNichols
(267-6561).
ITUESDAY, NOV. 31
* ANNIE - opens at the Fisher
Theatre, • Annie' tells of the plight of
America's legendary cartoon orphan,
Annie. and her mongrel, Sandy.
Runs thru Nov. 22. For more
Information call (313/872-1009).
* GREENFEILD VILLAGE -
Under �utumn's canopy of changing
colors, visitors can follow In the
footsteps of such famous Amertcens
as George Wa hlngton Carver,
Thomas Edison, and the Wright
brothers. Demonstrations of
traditional textile crafts Join pottery,
gla s-blowlng, printing and
tlnsmlthlng presentations.
(313/271-1620).
WEDNESDAY,
NOV. 4
(517/336-2000
1-800-WHARTON) .
ITHURSO:V, NOV. I
� OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD �
portrays the human spirit's ability to
persevere and flourish under the
most adverse conditions. Opens at
the Strand Theatre, 12 N. Saginaw
(downtown Pontiac). Runs thru Nov
15. For tickets or Information call
(3131875-8284) or (313/335-8100).
� FENCES - August Wilson's
Pulltlzer Prize winning drama will be
presented at The Attic Theatre's New
Center Stage from Nov. 5 thru Dec.
13. (AttiC, 7339 Third 875-8285).
FRIDAY, NOV. 6
� COLLECTION GALLERY -
Designs that have been cherished for
generations are on display In the
American Life Collection Gallery, a
showcase for furniture and
decorative Items reproduced from
the museum's collections. A dealer
resource center provides gallery
visitors' with special-order
Information and a list of available
sizes, colors and finishes plus the
names of retailers who sell American
Ufe Collection products near their
home towns. Henry Ford Museum
(313/271-1620) .
or
� PORCELAIN DOLLS - Create
your own reproduction antique doll
while Denise Hunter teaches you
,everything from preparation of the
unfired porcelain, china painting the
facial features, and adding the cloth
body, You must attend all three
sessions (Nov. 7, 14 & 21 from
1 0:30am to 2:30pm). Ages 14 & up.
Registration Fee: $25 Material Fee:
$25 (paid to Instructor at first class
session). OHM, 5401 Woodward
(833-1805).
� QUILTING - Romona Hammond
will teach the qullt-as-you-go
method. This workshop Is designed
for beginners or those with minimal
experience. You must attend both
sessions (Nov. 7 and 14, from
1 0:30am to 2:30pm). Ages: 14 & up.
Fee: $20. OHM, 5401 Woodward.
(833-1805).
� ROSCOE ORMAN - One of
television's mo t engaging
personalities brings the songs and
stories from his award-winning
I neighborhood' live to our age. Get
your voices and giggle ready to sing
along and enjoy the warmth of this
very special guest. For groups and
fam Illes with youngsters 3 y ars and
older. Youtheatre, 350 MadlsonAv .
(963-7663).
the name Detroit Red (referring to
his red hair and the time he spent in
a Michigan detention home) and
selling drugs and women until he
landed in jail.
There, after entering prison with
a disposition so threatening that he
acquired yet another name - Satan
- Malcolm was transformed when
he encountered and embraced the
Philosophies of The Nation of Is 1 an:t.
THE BELIEFS of this group
represented a complete change of
lifestyle for Malcolm: no drinking,
no coarse language, no sloppy or
casual dress, intensive study of
theotogy and philosophy, and, most
important, the belief that people of
color are God's chosen, the only
ones who can enter Heaven and the
natural superiors of the "white
devils" who sought to dominate them
in Westem society.
Malcolm learned to work for the
advancement and vindication of his
entire race, to assert the superiority
of Blacks and to demand that they
. assume their rightful role in Western
culture and society. In keeping with'
his new beliefs, he took the name
Malcolm X, signifying his rejection
of a "white man's slave name" and of
his past as a non-Islamic person.
By the time he left prison ill 1952 '
after six years of incarceration, Mal­
colm X had transformed himself
from an uneducated, venal criminal
into an erudite, polished and well
educated spokeperson for his
religion. He had experienced a
spiritual rebirth inspired by the
.words of Allah and the teachings of
Elijah Muhammad, the American
leader of The Nation of Islam, and
, J,.I, ... 1", I II, 'It t
, ,
was prepared to dedicate the re t of
his life to the service of his faith and
the betterment of his people.
Malcolm X's incisive mind,
polished. speech and sophisticated
wit raised him immediately to the
forefront of the NOI organize ti n,
making him a more visible p es­
man than even Elijah Muhammad.
His assertions that Blacks de erv d
and would assume equal treatment in
'America - "by any means ne
sary" - both shocked and fascinated
the country.
FOR WHITE, here was a
chance to see and hear a Black man '
who did not grovel, beg or seek to
placate whites; Malcolm X p kc
with the language of the most edu­
cated men of. any race, and with a
social vision as unsettling as it was'
new. He exposed racism in all
aspects of life and asserted the fun­
damental right of all men to be
treated with dignity and respect.
For Blacks, Malcolm's words
were a revelation and an inspiration.
Scores of Black men and omen
embraced The Nation of Islam on the
strength of Malcolm X's me sage'
and charisma.
Such-notoriety, however, had its
price - before long, Malcolm X wa
at odds with his former mentor,
Elijah Muhammad, which cul­
minated in Malcolm's e pulsion
from The Nation or Islam. At tills
point, Malcolm, who had married
and begun a family, travelled to the
Middle East to investigate the roots
of Islam for himself. He made the
sacred hajj, or religious pilgrima e
See MALCOLM X, 84
Jl RECORDS J;J
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* FINE ART - Music of the house.
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all come together In 'Juke Joints &
Jubll86 I 8pm In the Great Hall 01
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Reserved eatlngtlckets-$13, $10
for students and MSU Museum
ASSOciates are available.
I SATURO:V, NO�
THE PALACE
11-6 Detroit Pistons vs. Mllwaukee
Bucks 8pm, $25, 19, 16.50 and
$10.50 reserved.
11-7 Reba Mcentire wsg Brooks &
Dunn and Rob Crosby, 7:30pm, 20
reserved. Special Superfan aeatlng
also available. Groups 91 15 or mar
receive $2.50 off.
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