Original subtitles

I can't-I can't, I don't...

He was just a boy, Cash.

He was just a boy.

Why, Lord, why?

Hey, boys.

What happened, Dad?

♪ At the dark end ♪

♪ of the street ♪

♪ That's where we ♪

♪ always meet ♪

♪ Hiding in shadows ♪

♪ where we don't belong ♪

♪ Living in darkness ♪

♪ to hide our wrong ♪

♪ You and me ♪

♪ at the dark end ♪

♪ of the street...

♪ They're gonna find us ♪

♪ They're gonna find us ♪

♪ They're gonna find us...

Malcolm. Malcolm.

♪ Lord, someday ♪

♪ You and me ♪

♪ at the dark end of the street ♪

As-salaam alaikum.

Wa alaikum as-salaam.

We want to have just an off-the-cuff chat

between you, me, us.

We all agree tonight, all of the speakers agree,

that America has a very serious problem.

And not only does America have a very serious problem,

but our people have a very serious problem.

America's problem is us.

We're her problem.

And every time you look at yourself,

be you Black, brown, red or yellow,

a so-called Negro,

now, you represent a person

who poses such a serious problem for America

because you're not wanted.

Brothers and Sisters, we have a common enemy.

We have a common discriminator,

a common oppressor and a common exploiter:

the white man.

That's right.

He's an enemy to all of us.

I know some of you all think that

some of them are not enemies.

Time will tell.

Sometimes I'm inclined to believe that

some of our people

are using this word,

"revolution," loosely,

without taking careful consideration

of what the word actually means,

and what its historic characteristics are.

Look at the American Revolution of 1776.

That revolution was for what?

Land. Why did they want the land?

Independence. How was it carried out?

Bloodshed!

Yeah.

Was no love lost,

was no compromise, was no negotiation.

I am telling you, you don't know what a revolution is.

You haven't got a revolution that doesn't involve bloodshed,

and you're afraid to bleed.

I said, you're afraid to bleed.

As long as that white man sent you to Korea, you bled.

He sent you to Germany, you bled.

He sent you to the South Pacific

to fight the Japanese, you bled.

Oh, you will bleed for the white people,

but when it comes time to seeing your own churches being bombed

and little Black girls being murdered, oh, you haven't got any blood.

That's right, Mr. X! That's right!

Yes! Whoo!

Yes! Yes!

Violence is wrong in America,

violence is wrong abroad.

If it is wrong to be violent

defending Black women

and Black babies

and Black children and Black men,

then it is wrong for America to draft us

and make us violent abroad in defense of her.

Yeah.

And if it is right for America to draft us

and teach us to be violent abroad

in defense of her,

oh, then it is right for you and I

to do whatever is necessary...

I said to do whatever is necessary...

To defend our own people right here in this country.

♪ Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, yeah ♪

♪ I can't lose, I can't die ♪

♪ When I win, then I fly ♪

♪ For how long, I don't know ♪

♪ But I strive for that glow ♪

♪ That fleeting flash in time ♪

♪ when the whole world will know ♪

♪ My name is ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ My name is ♪

♪ Oh, my name is ♪

♪ My name is, my name is ♪

So, Cassius

is gonna be fighting for the title soon, right?

That is the plan, Pastor, as long as he stick to the plan.

Pastor Whidden, we sure do appreciate

you pushing my appointment ceremony back until the boys get home.

Mm, no problem, Sister Odessa.

Not at all.

People been calling off the hook wondering when Cassius is coming home.

Everyone is so very proud of him.

Mm-hmm.

And God...

He asked you to raise a champion.

A warrior.

A servant of the Lord.

And you did it.

You did it with class and grace.

The whole church commends you, Sister Odessa,

and they are overjoyed to be recognizing you

in a way that you most fittingly deserve.

Thank you, Pastor.

It means everything to me, truly.

Mm-hmm. Mm.

Why don't you mix it up a bit there, Cash.

Oh, look at you, Pastor.

Speaking my language now.

What you fancy, huh? What you want to hear?

Hey, you got "The Gypsy"?

-Oh, yeah. -Oh, mm-mm.

Mm.

You sure enough in luck, Pastor.

One gypsy coming up.

All right. Now, baby,

you know I love you...

but why don't you make pie this good?

Twenty million Black people

don't know their own name. Why? Because he took it away from you.

Twenty million Black people don't even know their own language.

Why? Because he took it away from you.

Twenty million Black people don't even know the history

of their ancestors. Why? Because he took it away from you.

-Cash. -And if you try to tell them

how thoroughly and completely

you've been robbed, he says you're teaching...

"Malcolm X Speaks."

What the hell?

I'm sorry, Pastor, I don't know what that is

and I don't know how it got in this house.

It's those Black Moslems.

They've been, uh, courting

our young, impressionable people across the country.

Oh, my goodness.

You got somebody looking out for those boys while they're in Miami?

Someone to keep it on the straight and narrow?

-Their trainer's a good man. -Well, maybe, uh,

it's just a joke, hmm?

I'm sorry, Brother Cash, but this is no laughing matter.

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing,

for they be ravening wolves."

As-salaam alaikum.

Wa alaikum as-salaam.

May I introduce Cassius and Rudy Clay.

Uh, let's grab some food at the counter, Rudy.

Okay.

Uh, Minister, the ceremony was amazing,

and your speech...

Well, let's just say

we never heard anything like it back in Louisville.

It's a real honor to meet you in person.

And-and what about you, brother?

When do you expect to be fighting for the title?

Soon.

Real soon.

Won't be the youngest heavyweight champion,

but I'll be the best.

Lot of folks already say so.

I imagine...

That level of success must come with a...

great deal of temptation.

Especially in a city like Miami.

Temptation don't mean nothing to me, Mr. X.

I don't drink, don't smoke or do any kind of drugs.

You got to live clean to be a champion.

You eat bacon with your breakfast?

We cut that out, too. Me and Rudy.

That's good.

I've seen the love of swine break more men than liquor.

So, Brother Cassius,

why do you want to join the Nation?

I want to help my community.

My race.

The things you say,

the things Captain Sam and the Prophet say in lectures...

I've been waiting to hear something like that since I was 13 years old.

Th-thirteen, specifically?

Yeah.

That's how old I was when Emmett Till was murdered.

Pastor at church kept talking about "turn the other cheek."

But I didn't want to turn the other cheek.

I wanted to do something.

And did you?

I thought about it,

but I didn't know who to fight.

Everybody told me and Rudy the best thing we could do

was mind our business.

My grandmother used to warn me...

you live too strong,

you won't live long.

Mr. X...

my whole life, folks told me to

"Keep your head down. Play it safe."

But I'm tired of keeping my head down.

I'm tired of being quiet when I know something's wrong.

I want to be a spokesman for the Nation.

Like you.

The thing is, Cassius...

Prophet sent me to turn you down.

Did he say why?

He didn't have to.

You're young. Brash.

You're a champion in a sport known for its violence.

Right.

Listen, there are plenty of celebrities

-who are just quiet members of the Nation. -Uh, Mr. X.

-Perhaps... -Mr. X.

I don't want to be a quiet member.

I'm sure there are plenty of potential spokesmen

who look like a better option than me.

Guys with more book smarts and quieter voices.

But those guys aren't the ones kids are looking up to.

It's my poster they got up on the wall.

-I'm sure that's true... -Yeah, I know it is,

because I'm just like them.

But when I'm heavyweight champion...

I can bring the Temple right into their living rooms.

I can bring the Prophet's message

to every little Black boy and Black girl

who needs to hear it.

Hey, Pop, you still got that Plymouth.

How you doing, Pop?

What's happening, Pop?

Man, it is good to be home.

Dundee's got us on a real tight ship.

-Workouts like crazy. -I bet.

Well, it's only crazy if you're lazy.

I'll beat all them fools good and still look pretty.

-Mm-hmm. -Check this out.

What you got? Mm, mm.

Bet I can't tell you shit now, huh?

Yeah, you right.

It's nice, yeah?

What, you don't like the suits?

Mm, suits are nice.

I was just wondering if you boys found a church home down in Miami.

Uh, we've been worshipping.

Yeah, well, speaking of worship.

You know, your mom and I had the pastor and first lady out

for dinner the other night.

Thought it'd be nice to listen to some music.

-Oh, yeah? -Mm-hmm.

You heard of "The Gypsy"?

The who? Uh, never heard of them.

Who is that?

Well, we should play some. What do you say, Odessa,

-should we play some? -Oh, yeah.

Put it on for 'em.

All right. I will.

Hmm.

There we go.

And then again, as we tell you that Negros are being hung on trees

or being shot down illegally, unjustly,

and those Negros should do something to protect themselves.

You say you're advocating violence.

The white man is tricking you, he's trapping you.

He doesn't call it violence when he lands troops in South Vietnam.

He doesn't call it...

Either one of y'all want to tell me how that record got in my house?

Um, it's, uh...

Look, it's the...

It ain't ours.

-No? -No.

No, Stretch came over with it and he-he was trying to mess with us, so...

He said he found it on Walnut Street and he thought it was interesting.

Do you find it interesting?

Mama, we barely listened to it.

Like I said, it was... it was just a joke.

Mm.

Man, been on the road all day,

and I'm feeling tired.

Rudy, you feeling tired?

Yeah, very tired. I had to drive back, so...

Mm-hmm. Yeah, reckon y'all should get some shut-eye.

Got to get up early and get your roadwork in before church.

You know, your mama got a big day at church tomorrow.

Yeah.

-Night, boys. -Good night.

What was that?

-Why would you say it was Stretch's? -Well, you didn't say anything.

You're just sitting there like a deer in headlights.

What if Bird calls Stretch's mama?

Huh?

-We should've just came clean. -To our mother?

The same woman who's been bringing us to Sunday school since we were in diapers?

You know what Bird has in the glove compartment of a car that you bought her?

A whole extra travel Bible, just in case.

She deserves to know the truth.

Not like this.

Gee, this Pastor's Aid position is the best thing that's ever happened to her.

You really want to go and ruin her big day?

-No. I-I just... -Gee.

We got the whole world.

Bird's got Pop, she's got her job...

Yeah.

-And the church. -Yeah.

I'm not gonna mess up the one good thing she's got going.

Not even for you.

Perry, listen to that.

-♪ I just got an invitation ♪ -Yeah? Okay.

-♪ Through the mail... -Perry, you're Ginger. Mark, you're Fred,

All right? Now, anticipate his next move.

-There it is. -♪ "It's formal, a top hat ♪"

-There it is. -♪ a white tie and tails" ♪

-Listen to the music. -♪ Nothing now could take the wind ♪

-Listen to the rhythm. -♪ out of my sails ♪

♪ Because I'm invited to step out this evening...

No, no, no, no. No, no. No.

Just let Fred go after Ginger.

Mr. Dundee, it's an interesting

choice of music you got there. I'm intrigued.

Uh, we got a fight coming up.

There's no reporters.

No, I'll be out of your hair in a few minutes.

I'm just looking for Cassius, all right. Is he around?

He's out of town.

You know out of town where?

He's in Louisville.

I've called over there several times now, nobody's picking up.

Pal, we don't allow reporters. We got a fight coming up.

Hey, Angelo, get in here quick!

Chris, we got a guest.

Hey, guys, that's... Take five.

You tell him no press?

Yeah.

Look, like I was saying,

uh, I got to talk to the Louisville Lip.

-It's important. -Kid's out of town.

He's on vacation.

I'm sure it can wait.

Yeah, sure, if you say so.

To me, personally, I think Cassius should have an opportunity to comment.

-Wh... -About what, exactly?

It's a picture of Cassius and his brother Rudy.

With the Black Muslims.

Guys, this is front-page news here.

I-I... I can't sit on this forever.

Please, tell Cassius, give his good friend Marvin Geller a call.

All right? That's all I ask.

You keep that, all right? I got-I got copies.

He's fishing.

He has to be.

If he had more than this picture, he would've run it already.

Guess why I yelled at you to get in here.

Go ahead, guess.

I don't feel like it.

Well, I thought we could celebrate.

I got Cassius the Cooper fight, Angie.

In London, with the commission's full support. Yeah.

But now that picture is enough to blow the whole fucking thing apart.

-Well, yeah... -Poof. Gone.

So it's not great, but Sonny Liston's a convicted felon.

I just sold Cassius to the commission as a goddamn All-American Boy Scout.

Not a Black Muslim.

They get wind of this, the Cooper fight's off.

No Cooper, no Liston. No Liston, no fucking title.

Okay. Okay, relax.

I don't want to fucking relax.

I should have someone go and whack that reporter prick.

Wh... I-I'm kidding.

Yeah.

But we got to do something.

When Cassius gets back, we invite Geller over

and we-we show him there's nothing to see.

Is there something to see?

He-he would've said something by now.

Look, this is just two kids away from home, spreading their wings.

They probably, you know, found out that the men and women don't sit together

and they never went back.

I'm taking the rest of the day off.

♪ Savior ♪

♪ I need You, Lord ♪

-♪ Hear my humble ♪ -♪ Yeah, my ♪

-♪ Cry ♪ -♪ Humble cry ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, oh ♪

♪ Oh, thank You, Lord ♪

♪ Nobody can help me ♪

-♪ Do not pass ♪ -♪ Do not ♪

-♪ Me by ♪ -♪ Pass me by ♪

Thank you.

Praise the Lord.

Many of us come to this place

to worship,

but only a few of us

are called to serve.

And even fewer still

answer that call with distinction.

Sister Clay,

we want you to know that your service

will not go unnoticed.

The Bible instructs us to be

humble servants to the Lord,

and I know

no more humble a servant

than Sister Clay.

That's why I am more than delighted

to appoint Sister Clay president

of the Pastor's Aid Committee.

Pastor.

Congratulations.

Thank you. Thank you.

Give a warm welcome

to President Sister Clay.

Thank you, Pastor.

Now, we're not done yet.

No. No, no, no, no, no, no, we're not done yet,

because we are happy

that we have

the Clay boys back home

from their travels to Miami.

Come on up here, Cassius, Rudy.

Come on up here.

Come on.

Come on up here. Come on, boys.

Here we can cover you in the Lord's blessing

before you travel back

to Miami.

Come on, let's hear it

for these sons of Louisville.

Welcome home. Welcome home.

Everybody, pray with me. Pray with me.

Father God, we humbly ask You to

watch over these young men as they

venture out into a world

much larger than Louisville.

We ask that You steer them

towards Your will,

and away from

the influence of false prophets.

Amen.

Amen.

Lord...

we know Your truths

uncover Satan's lies, so we ask

that You wash these boys

in the holy blood of Jesus.

We ask that You cleanse them

in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

That You fill them

with the truth of Your word.

For God is the power and the glory,

forever and ever.

In Jesus' name.

In Jesus' name.

Say it loud, boy.

With your whole voice.

In Jesus' name.

That's it. Lift your voice.

In Jesus' name. Say it loud with your whole voice.

In Jesus' name.

Say it loud, with pride, boy.

Raise your voice.

In Jesus' name.

In Jesus' name.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Hometown hero returns.

You making good on doing good?

How can you fight for civil rights in Jesus' name

when the Klan is lynching folks

under the same banner?

Damn. We got to get into all of that

at 10:00 in the morning?

Okay.

You know, I'm still here in Louisville, Cassius.

I get...

rocks thrown through my window.

Burning crosses on my lawn.

But I decided I ain't gonna let these heathens ruin Jesus for me.

So you never thought about going another way.

No.

I did get arrested at a fair housing protest

with a Buddhist and a Jew.

Sound like the beginning of one of those jokes.

Any... Nobody got to calling each other

any kind of false prophet?

And why would we?

Everything going on around us is hard enough.

Exhausting enough...

that each one of us deserves to find whatever lights us up inside

and hold on to it.

Then go out and set the world on fire.

♪ You walk around like everything is in control ♪

♪ Favor come with favors and you can't say no ♪

♪ Go out the way to make the coin...

Allah is the Greatest.

Allah is the Greatest.

Allah is the Greatest.

In the name of Allah,

the Beneficent,

the Most Merciful.

You alone, we worship.

You alone, we ask for help.

Guide us on the right path.

How you feeling?

Like Allah can see me hiding.

Gee?

Come help me get down the good dishes.

You know, I pray to God

for you and your brother's safety every time you leave the house.

Oh, yeah?

Didn't seem like enough to just pray in church anymore.

Mm.

Not after Emmett.

Nothing's gonna happen to us.

I'm sure all mothers worry about their children, even when they're grown.

-But Black mamas... -Worry twice.

I know.

You don't know anything until you've sent a piece of yourself

into the world, into the ring.

-Ma. -I've been worrying about you

getting knocked out, beat up, arrested.

I never thought I'd have to worry about you leaving Jesus.

It was only a record.

That's what the false prophets

-want you to think. -Come on, now.

The Lord has shielded you from every obstacle

and now you want to turn your back on His blessings?

I'm not.

'Cause if you turn your back on Jesus,

you may as well be turning your back on me.

No...

You turning your back on me, Gee?

I would never...

do that.

I appreciate you coming all the way out.

I know you're busy with training and appearances.

I appreciate you giving me and Rudy another chance.

This isn't me saying yes, Cassius.

Uh, the Prophet still has reservations about your youth,

your fame, your other commitments.

We're committed to the Nation.

All the way.

We don't want to do it in secret.

Cassius, when someone of your stature goes public,

you're representing the Messenger.

Now, every camera and every microphone in this country

will be turned your way.

They'll be waiting for you to slip.

I know.

And that's just the outsiders.

Our people will be watching, too,

wondering if you're faithful

or just another celebrity dabbler who got bumped to the front of the line.

We're not. We're in it for the long haul.

For life.

-And we won't slip. -I hope that's true.

'Cause I can guarantee,

if you make one mistake...

every paper and every news broadcast

will air you out.

You invite us all the way out here to talk me out of joining up?

I'm giving you the truth because I've been there.

They will find every skeleton in your closet.

It took me forever to learn how to read,

and I'm still not that great at it.

I accidentally asked two girls to prom.

Oh.

Oh, and my dad's a drunk.

That's all I got.

Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair?

Who taught you to hate the color of your skin

to such extent that you

bleach to get like the white man?

Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose and the shape of your lips?

What are you doing?

Somebody gonna lead my boys astray, I figure I should...

I should listen to what he got going.

To the soles of your feet?

Who taught you to hate...

Pop, we're leaving tomorrow.

You really want to get into this?

so much so that you don't...

you don't want to be around each other?

Okay.

-What do you think? -I don't get it.

Well, what part do you disagree with, exactly?

Think Negroes are treated fairly in America?

You think we deserve to be where we are?

What about you, Pop?

You think someone born with your talent as an artist deserves what you got?

I think life is unfair.

What if we could make it more fair than it is?

What if we could make it better?

Ooh...

So you think some riled-up Negroes running around in bow ties

gonna lead the revolution?

That what you think, son?

Mm. See...

you're just letting your brother drag you down another fool scheme.

No, I didn't follow Cassius.

I found the NOI, and I brought him in.

I know I didn't hear what... what I just heard.

Come again?

You heard me, Pop.

Rudy, why would you do that?

The Nation is trying to change something.

The Prophet's trying to teach us how to be strong Black men.

What would you know about being a man, huh?

Last I checked, you weren't even strong enough to fess up

to the fact that you brought that record up into my house.

Things are changing, Pop,

with folks like Malcolm and Cassius speaking out.

Aw, shit. Ain't nothing changing.

You can dress it up as sharp as you want.

All they're gonna see is a monkey in a suit.

As-salaam alaikum, Dear Holy Apostle.

Wa alaikum as-salaam.

These are the two that I told you about:

Cassius and Rudolph Clay.

Mmm.

-Looks good, baby. -Thank you, baby.

Let's say grace.

Eternal God, we thank you for this food we're about to receive

for the nourishment of our bodies.

And we thank you, Lord, for looking after our sons,

keeping them on a path of righteousness.

Did you know the slave master used to make their slaves

fight each other in the boxing ring?

Yes, sir.

They'd pick the strongest men,

but also the most rebellious,

the most dangerous to the institution.

If the man lost,

it was problem solved.

If he won,

the slave master would collect the prize.

It's my understanding that you're fighting

on behalf of 11 white men

down in Kentucky.

The Louisville Sponsoring Group.

I'm not fighting for them.

-They pay the bills, is all. -Hmm.

I'm fighting for me.

For us.

I want to glorify our people.

By beating another Black man bloody?

By winning.

Sir, all of my life, I've been told that everything good is white.

Mary and Joseph, Jesus, even the angels.

So, as a kid, I asked my mother,

"Where are all the Black angels and Black people in the Bible?"

She didn't have an answer.

So I told her, I said, "I guess, Bird,

then the Black angels must be back in the kitchen,

preparing all the milk and honey."

Milk and honey.

I made that one up, sir.

She'd cook a lot, so...

"Islam" means

"submission to the will of Allah."

Are you ready

to submit?

-We're ready. -We're ready.

There you go, son.

Little extra for you.

-Baby. -Thank you.

-That's enough for you? -Mm-hmm.

Okay.

There is no god but Allah.

There's no god but Allah.

I bear witness that Muhammad

is the Messenger of Allah.

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Islam will grant you

divine protection.

There is no place on earth...

where you will find a truer brotherhood.

Slave names will keep you enslaved

in the eyes of the civilized world.

But those who submit to Allah

are called by his names.

From this moment forward,

your name

is Cassius X.

What are you waiting for?

Dig in.

I'm sorry.

Guess I'm, uh,

really not that hungry.

Bird.

No. No.

Man, you wouldn't believe how happy I am to be back in Miami.

Shut the door. Shut the door. I got to tell you something.

So...

Chris got you a bout against Henry Cooper.

We're going to London.

London.

That old bum?

I'll whup him so bad the queen of England have to call me king.

Listen, you beat Cooper, it's a straight shot to Liston.

I like that.

-Yeah? -Okay.

Unless someone or something gets in the way of that.

Oh, ain't nothing getting in my way, Angie.

You know I'm training all day, every day. I'm committed.

I know.

What's that?

Where'd this come from?

-Marvin Geller. -Oh, can't be, man.

We're friends. I made his career.

Cassius, there's no such thing as a friendly reporter.

Whatever, man.

I mean, I'm-I'm-I'm still the same fighter I was yesterday.

-I mean, who cares where I go to church? -Yeah.

You care where I go to church?

No.

But I care a whole lot you didn't tell me the truth.

I'm sorry.

Cassius...

I'm not your father.

I'm not your minister.

I'm the guy who's got your back in the ring, no matter what.

When's the picture come out?

It doesn't. Chris made a deal with Geller.

What kind of deal?

An exclusive interview after the Cooper fight.

All questions on the table.

Okay. I mean, if that's what you think it'll take.

Am I gonna see any more pictures of you at the Temple?

I don't think so.

Cassius, let's just try to keep it that way.

Listen, Cassius. The commission will never

let a Black Muslim boxer win the title.

They won't even let him fight for it.

If you want to be heavyweight champion,

you need to keep your head down

and keep quiet about any past or future associations

with the Nation of Islam.

Cassius, you're one step away from the title.

You need to put all your focus on the fight with Cooper.

♪ Pressure keeps mounting, the doubt been whispering ♪

♪ Can't tell if I've been listening to that or my foundation ♪

♪ that put me in this positioning ♪

♪ Mama put it on my heart, a part of my conditioning ♪

♪ Born for the bright lights, I never did no auditioning ♪

♪ Being down and out wasn't something I was envisioning ♪

♪ Adrenaline is kicking in, my BPM is quickening ♪

♪ My mouth feels drier than drinking a cup of cinnamon ♪

♪ but I keep my composure, 'cause a warrior's my synonym ♪

♪ I'm battle tested, no weapons ever requested ♪

♪ Armor on my soul, my energy's been protected ♪

♪ Ten toes rooted, it's different when you're connected ♪

♪ to a higher power calling to tell you you've been selected ♪

♪ All the lessons I lived, all the tears I cried ♪

♪ I always knew I'd reach the peak as long as I tried ♪

♪ Standing in the mirror to find the fire inside ♪

♪ Always told myself ♪

-♪ I would never be denied ♪ -♪ I've been ready for war ♪

♪ I've been ready for war ♪

♪ I've been fighting too long ♪

♪ I've been standing too strong ♪

♪ They tried to hold me down ♪

♪ Nothing can stop me now ♪

♪ They tried to hold me down ♪

♪ Nothing can stop me ♪