The Impact of Omowale Malcolm X in Film

The Creator Supreme is all-knowing and Afrikan souls of the world have been bestowed upon with superlative knowingness from the Ultimate Divine. Remembrance is an important part of knowing. For the Afrikan it is recollection and rejuvenation of spirit. For the Afrikan it is the bringing forth of the best s/heroes of the Afrikan pantheon. For the Afrikan it is key in the process for restoration of self. For the Afrikan it is honouring the best of the Afrikan self. For Afrikan it reconnects the soul to higher purpose. For the Afrikan it is profound learning. For the Afrikan it is a part of spiritual and cultural the life and example of this great hero. This great Heru. This great Ogun. From decade to decade and from generation to generation a vast array of films have been produced whether documentary or biopic on the life and experience of this great hero (some being holding more integrity than others). Many filmmakers, actors and actresses have been inspired by Omowale Malcolm X from Ossie Davis, Spike Lee to Denzel Washington and beyond.

Spike Lee: “Well, I think that Ossie Davis said it best in the eulogy, when he said, ‘Malcolm was our prince, our shining Black prince’. And he’s a great example of Black manhood… Malcolm is needed now more than ever before that’s why he’s so popular”.

Denzel Washington: “[Omowale Malcolm X]. Brave man, very brave man. When you think of the time that he lived in. Very brave man. A man among men”.

A multitude of actors have played the role of Omowale Malcolm X in cinema production whether as a central character or as cameo role including: James Earl Jones who also narrated on a documentary film and also starred in film: Road to Freedom – The Vernon Johns Story on earlier so-called 20th century activism in religion.  

A Great and Mighty Walk is a documentary narrated by Wesley Snipes in which Omowale Malcolm X’s friend John Henrik Clarke is the central feature of this film. In a profound and expansive discussion of the Afrikan world experience, Elder John Henrik Clarke also talks about Omowale:

“There was a voice loud and clear and analytical…It is was the voice of ‘big bad’ Malcolm X who had the national and international message”.

During the Omowale Malcolm X inspired Black Power era filmmakers continued to lift banner of Afrikan souls fighting for freedom through independent film productions:

Melvin Van Peebles recalls his experiences of the time, gives insights on cinema history and also includes a brief  excerpt of Omowale Malcolm X: “By any means necessary” and mention of the film Panther that he helped bring to fruition in 1995.

Sam Greenlee also made the film The Spook Who Sat By the Door in Black Power revolutionary era:

Sam Greenlee: “{Did anybody try to stop the production of the film?} No, they came later when they found out how far along we were. It was too late for them to interfere…When United Artists saw the final cut…showed it to five of six managers. Five of them turned it down. United Artists thought they had a ‘Blaxploitation’ film [so] they picked it up. When they saw the final cut they went up the wall. My reaction was, ‘Look, we got a contract. Put it out there’. So, they put it out on a cursory basis. {They didn’t like it?}. Hell no, they didn’t like it. Why would they like it? We talking about kicking their a**. So, they put it out on a cursory basis and it jumped off the charts. So, then they gave it a wider distribution…Then we start hearing that FBI agents were visiting theatres…And they were trying to get exhibitors to take it off the screen…Then, we learnt that the FBI met with United Artists and they promised to take it off the market once they’d earned back the ‘chump change’ they’d put into it…it was suppressed by the FBI in collusion with United Artists, that’s my allegation… I made a guerrilla style film on a guerrilla war…Well, I think that they had learnt from the murdering of people like King and Malcolm and certainly decided that if I died under ‘mysterious circumstances’ the film would have got even bigger…I write for the brother and sister on the block”.

The tradition of independent film making continued and Haile Gerima produced the film Sankofa. A challenging account of chattel enslavement of the Maafa. One of the actors in the film, Mutabaruka, said this about his own experience: “[A] Marcus Garvey we a read. We read Malcolm X. But yuh see Malcolm X now, yuh see da book wey name de Autobiography of Malcolm X…da book deh is a serious book, very serious book in terms of changing lives.  

There are multitudes upon multitudes of films, tv shows, sit-coms with references to Omowale Malcolm X either in dialogue or through imagery as Afrikan filmmakers, producers, actors and actresses do their best to reach Afrikan souls with a sign of inspiration even when restrictive alien controls or constraints apply.  For example, in the recent mainstream film Black and Blue starring Naomi Harris there is a scene with a large Omowale Malcolm X poster on the wall with the word ‘Freedom’ scribed upon it multiple times. 

As the spirit of Omowale Malcolm X continues to shine its light of brilliance throughout the world film drama, documentaries, imagery and dialogue continue to inform. Whether to answer questions of his martyrdom. Or,  to unveil the reality of his Afrikan-centred mission and Garveyite substance of being (so often rendered void in mainstream media content) the powerful legacy and inspiration of Omowale Malcolm X is ever living.   

In the approach to Omowale Malcolm X Kukumbuko, learning can become a progressive and purposeful mission. Time taken to learn can go a long way. Learn of Afrikan progressive mission and live Afrikan progressive mission is the becoming of vital Afrikan acumen.

Throughout the annual cycle of the spiritual and cultural calendar of the Universal Royal Afrikan Nation observance to observance, Afrikan life is endowed with the essential of living knowingness. For the Afrikan souls, being a part of an organ for mission ascendancy is key. The Universal Royal Afrikan Nation is a spiritually and culturally rooted organ for Afrikan ascension.

The Universal Royal Afrikan Nation (URAN) is an Afrikan-centred spiritual and cultural mission for ascendancy that embodies living spiritually and culturally rooted life. To find out more about URAN and its spiritual-cultural mission for liberty and nationhood click here. The exquisite URAN pendant can be obtained online by clicking here.

In his capacity as an Afrikan-centred spiritual cultural practitioner this author is available for further learning in this regard and also for the carrying out of ceremonies such as naming and name reclamation. For details please click here.

Afrikan World Studies programmes are an important forms of study in understanding the Afrikan experience. There are a range of subjects covered on these programmes including History, Creative Production, Psychology and Religion. To find out more about these learning programmes please click here. For the video promo for these learning programmes click here.

Also, in the approach to the important cultural observance of Omowale Malcolm X Kukumbuko, the text: From Ajar to Omowale – The Spiritual & Garveyite Journey of Malcolm X by this author is available to purchase online here. The trailer for this important text can be found online here. This publication provides detail on the life and example of this great hero. You can also visit the institution of Yemanja to pick up a copy.

At nominal cost, also consider acquisition of an a4 laminate poster of articulations by this author when visiting the Yemanja institution to enrol, consult, learn, gather or otherwise.

Also, visit www.u-ran.org for links to Afrikan liberation Love radio programme on Universal Royal Afrikan Radio online.