calmAlways looking for a good movie that is biographical and/or historical, I watched the 1992 film "Malcolm X".
The two key elements of the storyline I found interesting were Malcolm's spiritual journey and the rise of the Nation of Islam during Malcolm's intereacts with it.
Malcolm grew spiritually during two seprate times in his life. First, when he was in prison and learned of Islam. Second, on his prilgramage to Mecca. Both showed how he learned to deal with his past and purppse in life.
Seeing the rise of the Nation of Islam through Malcolm's viewpoint was a new aspect of African American history to me. It grew from a fringe religious sect into a powerful political and social force. It recruited and trained new leadership for the civil rights movement.
What I took away from the movie is how Malcolm X was more than the sterotype of "the angry black man". He was a reformed criminal, deicated father and husband, spiritual guide, a leader of a social movement and above all just man trying to make the world a more peaceful and just place for everyone.
