All language subtitles for Genius (2024) - S04E06 - MLK-X - The American Promise.ro

KING JR.:
Previously on Genius.

RUSTIN: Powell is a bully.

And when a
bully threatens you,

you don't walk away.

You ball up your
fists and you swing.

WILLIAMS: Well, I guess I'd
look pretty stupid right now

if I'd let myself believe
last night was real.

CLYDE X: The police
assaulted Brother Hinton.

He's in bad shape.

MUHAMMAD: Why didn't
you consult with me first?

OFFICER: Boy, come on.

KENNEDY: And I was calling
to see how you were holding up.

CORETTA: Thank you, Senator.

If you could take a look
into Martin's situation,

I would really appreciate it.

KING JR.: Corrie, that
phone call probably changed

the course of the election.

MALCOLM X: The Honorable
Elijah Muhammad teaches.

SHABAZZ: It's Betty and Malcolm.

Not Betty, Malcolm, and the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

MALCOLM X: We achieved what
everyone thought impossible.

Now it's time to
take on the world.

THURMOND: There's
nothing those people hate

more than a racist.

So why not give them
one to focus on?

EVERS: We'll be demonstrating
here until freedom comes.

These are stores
that help to support the

White Citizens' Council,
is dedicated to keeping

you and I
second-class citizens.

KENNEDY: This is an
extremely comprehensive bill.

It bans racial discrimination
in public accommodations,

eliminates federal funding for
programs that exclude Negroes,

and gives the Justice
Department broad powers to

desegregate schools.

Gentlemen, this bill is the
strongest piece of legislation

for Negro equality in a century.

WILKINS: We appreciate
everything you're trying

to do here,
Mr. President, but.

KING JR.: But we've
been down this road before.

If you don't have the votes,

the bill will be
gutted like in '57.

ABERNATHY: With
all due respect, sir,

you won't even have the
support of half of your party.

RANDOLPH: Thurmond and
his Dixiecrats will die

on this hill.

KENNEDY: Which is why I need
your help to drum up support.

We're all on the same side here.

LEWIS: It hasn't felt like the
Federal Government was on our

side these past few months in
Birmingham and Mississippi,

while we were being bombed,
arrested, fire-hosed,

attacked by dogs, and murdered.

KENNEDY: I wanna put an
end to this unrest as much

as you do, Mr. Lewis.

WILKINS: We all do,
which is why we should focus

on finding solutions.

KENNEDY: So, what do
you think, Doctor King?

KING JR.: This country
must realize that

this is not a
Southern issue,

but an
American issue.

Which is why
we've called for a

March on
Washington.

KENNEDY: This bill will have
a much better chance without

Negroes taking to the streets.

RANDOLPH: Negroes are already
in the street, Mr. President.

KING JR.: How many more
martyrs does our cause need?

How many more fathers and
sons have to be slain for

America to say
enough is enough?

Medgar Evers fought in
World War II and came back

to be assassinated
in his driveway,

in front of his family.

He believed in what
this country stands for,

but remains to be seen is,

does this country
believe in him?

Giving Negroes their full
citizenship is long overdue.

MALCOLM X: Last Friday night,
seven innocent,

unarmed Black men were
shot in cold blood by

Los Angeles Police at
Muhammad's Mosque 27.

One is now dead,
another paralyzed.

Five others in
serious condition.

How can this crime against
innocent human beings occur in

America with no public outcry?

It's because Chief Parker has
misused the press to camouflage

this inhuman atrocity.

But no more.

No Negro in America is gullible
enough to eat their story.

REPORTER: Minister, are
you accusing the LAPD chief

of targeting Muslims?

MALCOLM X: Yes, sir.

And now he's trying to make
the Negroes in the community

think that we are
not Negro and that they

should be against us too.

REPORTER: Malcolm, the
police report states that it

was the Muslims
who attacked first.

MALCOLM X: As Muslims, sir,
we are not allowed to have

weapons in our home,
much less upon our person.

I'll say this,

if someone throws
a rock through the window

of a synagogue or a church,
everybody's up in arms.

Yet here are the
police department

shooting up our mosque.

Now, this is
Brother Ronald Stokes.

He fought for this country
in Korea and returned home

to be murdered by police.

He was shot through the heart.

But they weren't satisfied.

While he lay on the floor,
a bullet hole in his chest,

they put a hole in his
head with their clubs.

Now as Muslims,

we are in fact
allowed to defend ourselves.

And that is precisely
what we intend to do.

(overlapping questions)

MUHAMMAD: I trusted you
had more sense than to start

a war with those devils.

MALCOLM X: Sir, what
would our brothers think if we

do not follow
our own doctrine?

If we take the desecration
of our temple laying down?

MUHAMMAD: And what do
you propose we do, brother?

MALCOLM X: The Los Angeles
Fruits have the home addresses

of the guilty cops.

On your word, we will
ensure these brutes never

abuse Muslims again.

CLYDE X: I fear the sorrow of
our brother's death is blinding

you to reason.

MALCOLM X: So we do nothing?

You know, a brave man
was treated like a dog.

Worse than a dog.

How are you not angry?

MUHAMMAD: I have always
admired your fire, Malcolm.

But you must put your
trust in the Just One, who,

in his infinite wisdom,

will find a way to
avenge this atrocity.

Could you give me your
word you will leave it

in Allah's hands?

MALCOLM X: If that
is what you wish.

MUHAMMAD: We're in agreement.

Now, you understand
Muhammad Speaks has lost its

bearing and needs a new captain.

MALCOLM X: And you've
found your man.

MUHAMMAD: Brother Clyde
has been by my side for a

very long time.

He will take over
the publication from

this point forward.

I trust you will
not defy me again.

MALCOLM X: No, I will not.

MUHAMMAD: Good.
Now for the foreseeable future,

you will solely
concentrate on recruiting.

May Allah keep you wise
and away from politics.

MALCOLM X: And you
in good health, sir.

ANNIE: For your journey,
Brother Minister.

MALCOLM X: I see my wife called.

Thank you, Sister...?

ANNIE: Annie.

MALCOLM X: I'm the new
secretary to the Messenger.

Do you know what happened to
the Sister who used to be here?

ANNIE: I don't like to gossip,

but I think Sister Evelyn's
fallen on hard times.

The MGTs use her as
a cautionary tale.

ANCHOR (over TV):
And coming up next,

special announcement
from Reverend...

SHABAZZ: Malcolm, dear,
I was wondering if you

could look over my article?

ANCHOR (over TV): But first,
we ask residence if they are

concerned about the city,

about some of
the incidents that happened in

connection with them.

Let's hear what
some people think.

MALCOLM X: Well,
congratulations, Betty,

but I think you'd be better
served to pass this along

to Brother Clyde.

He's the new editor now.

SHABAZZ: What happened?

MALCOLM X: Best interest
of the nation, I guess.

KING JR. (over TV): So it's with
great urgency that we call for a

March on Washington for Jobs
and Freedom on August 28th.

In the Centennial of the
Emancipation Proclamation,

it is time for this Nation
to fulfill its promise to its

Negro citizens.

MALCOLM X: Kennedy's shrewd.

He has the good doctor doing
his bidding to protect his

legacy on civil rights.

If he has that many Negroes
parading and the bill passes,

the fight will be over.

Even if nothing changes,
it'll look like a win.

SHABAZZ: What are you
going to do about it?

MALCOLM X: I'm gonna make
sure they don't sell out.

LEWIS: I'm running out of ways
to convince the students to

stay the course and be
patient when we have so little

to show for it.

WILKINS: Well, a procession of
volatile students storming the

streets with a tinge of
Harlem won't help our cause.

KING JR.: That's why we
need to mobilize a crowd of

at least 100,000 to Washington.

WILKINS: Are you mad, 100,000?

KING JR.: That's the
bare minimum if we wanna

be taken seriously.

John's right, we
need a show of force.

RANDOLPH: Now, we're talking.

ABERNATHY: That's four
times the largest crowd

we've ever been able to gather.

WILKINS: We'll lose Kennedy and
any chance this legislation has.

KING JR.: No one bill is
gonna solve the problems

we're facing in the South.

We need to hold
everyone's feet to the fire

and demand more.

WILKINS: But without
time to prepare,

this march'll blow up
in our faces.

RUSTIN: Not necessarily.

Randolph and I have been
working together on a plan.

WILKINS: Really?

And who's gonna
be paying for it?

RUSTIN: Is a March on
Washington worth the cost

to the NAACP?

WILKINS: Not when someone
else gets the publicity.

KING JR.: Roy, we're gonna
go ahead with the march.

It would mean a lot to
everyone here if the NAACP

is on board.

But it will mean more
to history if it isn't.

ABERNATHY: Let's take five.

RANDOLPH: John.

ABERNATHY: You think
he'll come around?

KING JR.: Frankly,
I don't care anymore.

How long does he
expect us to wait?

Will those kids who are
getting arrested all over the

South see the
fruits of their sacrifice?

Or will they have to
wait another generation?

ABERNATHY: You know
he'll join us in the end.

I think he's just jealous
you and Kennedy are

thick as thieves.

COTTON: If it isn't
the civil rights twins!

ABERNATHY: He wishes.

COTTON: Your car is here,
Martin, right through this exit.

KING JR.: Thank you, Dorothy.

COTTON: Did you reconsider
what we discussed?

About getting security.

KING JR.: Ah.

Well, students all over
the South don't have anyone

protecting them from the
police or the Klan, so.

COTTON: And they are
brave for what they do.

But you know it's different.

KING JR.: I don't
wanna be a hypocrite.

COTTON: Yeah, but after
what happened to Medgar...

If something would
happen to you.

KING JR.: Nothing
is gonna happen to me,

or any of us, all right?

(camera shutter clicks)

ASST. MINISTER: Welcome
to DC, Brother Minister.

MALCOLM X: Happy to be here.

ASST. MINISTER:
President made some remarks

about your arrival.

MALCOLM X: Well,
he's right to be worried.

Brother John.

LEWIS: Brother Malcolm,
what are you doing here?

MALCOLM X: I just came to
get a quick bite of cream,

that's all.

I didn't expect to see you here.

LEWIS: There are at least
three other parlors within

a six-mile
radius from here.

Things like that don't
happen by coincidence.

MALCOLM X: Well, I
guess you could say I didn't

wanna be late to the party.

Now, things are shaping
up pretty well out there

for your march.

LEWIS: Well, it's a
good reminder of what

we're fighting for.

MALCOLM X: Uh-hmm.

LEWIS: What we all
should be fighting for.

MALCOLM X: I agree.

And that's why you should be
attending my rally in Harlem.

I'm inviting all Negro leaders.

I think we should be able to
submerge our minor differences

to seek a solution to
our common problem with

our common enemy.

LEWIS: Not sure Dr. King
and the others think our

differences are so minor.

MALCOLM X: Don't let
them dilute your message.

The students have been at
the forefront of this fight and

are its future.

LEWIS: And we get to benefit
from the battles fought by

those who came before us.

MALCOLM X: That's what
they want you to believe so

that you look up to
them and they can keep

you in check when really,

they should be
looking out for you.

John, you know, it's
not too late to invite the

Honorable Elijah Muhammad
to speak.

LEWIS: That would be something.

MALCOLM X: Uh-hmm.

And he would ensure that
those so-called Negro leaders

don't turn you into
Kennedy's puppets.

LEWIS: The President wasn't
the biggest fan of the march.

We've already...

MALCOLM X: But he is now,

now that he's
pulling all the strings.

Listen.

Don't let the March on
Washington turn into the

March in Washington.

WILKINS: All I'm saying is,

that if you're
giving the keynote address,

all the organizing
parties should get a say in it.

ABERNATHY: Well, it's not
like we get a say in yours.

Why would Martin's
be any different?

WILKINS: But his is different.

He's getting extra time,

which doesn't seem
fair because the NAACP is

footing the bill
for all of this.

RANDOLPH: Most of the people
are coming to hear him.

WILKINS: More reason to make
sure he speaks for all of us.

At the very least,
let us read it.

KING JR.: Bayard, are the
trains running on time?

RUSTIN: Trains, planes,
and buses coming from every

corner of this land.

KING JR.: What's
the frown about?

RUSTIN: Well, the
administration is concerned

about the possibility
of violence.

LEWIS: As long as they keep
their police dogs away from us,

there won't be.

RUSTIN: There will
be no canine units.

ABERNATHY: They don't
want a repeat of the images

coming out of Birmingham.

RUSTIN: On the flip side,

they have agreed to
let us park on the Mall,

which has never
been done before.

So long as we're out by sundown.

LEWIS: God forbid we
got Negroes walking the

streets at night.

KING JR.: Kennedy wants
the same as we do,

a peaceful show of force.

LEWIS: Really?

Because I thought the
purpose of this march was

to let the politicians
know what we want.

KING JR.: Well, isn't
that one and the same?

To bring about real change?

WILKINS: John, compromise
is the only way to

get legislation through.

KING JR.: Which is why we wanna
work with the administration

and abandon all plans
for civil disobedience.

LEWIS: When did the
March on Washington become a

March in Washington?

Malcolm X is right.
We're just Kennedy's puppets.

KING JR.: Think about the
symbolic power of 100,000

Negroes demanding
freedom at the foot of

the Lincoln Memorial.

The world will be watching.

LEWIS: Yeah.

And they'll watch us bow
to the pressure from men

who wouldn't sit next
to us on a damn bus.

KING JR.: Well, isn't
this a pleasant surprise?

I thought you was
arriving tomorrow?

CORETTA: Ooh.

I thought you might
be happy to see me.

KING JR.: Yeah.

Hmm, an answer to my prayers.

CORETTA: I saw a copy of
the schedule on your desk and

I noticed there are no
women on the list of speakers.

KING JR.: There's
a tribute to women.

CORETTA: Where they
don't get to speak?

KING JR.: It's a
packed program, Corrie.

CORETTA: Oh, Martin.

Women have been the backbone of
this movement since Montgomery.

I'm sure the crowd wants to
hear what they have to say and

not just celebrate them.

KING JR.: Not you too.

CORETTA: Excuse me?

KING JR.: I have enough to do
trying to keep this march from

falling apart without having
to also please my wife.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Why don't we try putting
some comfortable shoes on and

going for a walk outside?

Give me a chance to start over?

CORETTA: I think
that's a good idea.

KING JR.: These last
few months, I've,

I've felt like an impostor.

Insisting non-violence is
the answer when we're met

with so much brutality.

CORETTA: You can't mean that.

KING JR.: But many do.

They call me a hypocrite,
a sellout.

And maybe I am,

preaching love and unity when
we can't even agree ourselves.

CORETTA: Leading is not easy.

Not when the stakes are so high.

If anyone can bring
people together, it's you.

KING JR.: I haven't written
a single line in my speech.

I don't even know
what it's supposed to be,

where it begins.

Everybody has an opinion,
an agenda.

How am I supposed to
rouse the people to action and

not antagonize the politicians?

CORETTA: God is in your heart.

Let Him speak through you.

And don't try to
appease anyone else.

What's wrong?

KING JR.: I just don't
know how I got so lucky.

CORETTA: Boy, c'mon, stop.
Let's go.

KING JR.: I'm serious, Corrie.

Every bit of strength I have
comes from being your husband.

Thank you for choosing me.

CORETTA: Come on. Let's go.

CLYDE X: Thank you.

SHABAZZ: Brother Clyde,

I was wondering why my
health column did not appear

in the latest issue
in the paper.

CLYDE X: We ran out of space.
Sorry, sister.

SHABAZZ: Will it appear
in the next one, then?

CLYDE X: If it's
deemed relevant.

SHABAZZ: What could be
more relevant than ensuring

the health of our
next generation?

CLYDE X: Modesty, perhaps.

SHABAZZ: Isn't envy a lack
of modesty by another name and

a cardinal sin?

CLYDE X: You have
a point, Sister?

SHABAZZ: Only that it sure
seems like a show of envy to

refuse to cover the excellent
work that Minister Malcolm is

doing in Washington.

All the other papers
seem to deem it relevant.

THURMOND: Mr. President,
I rise to call the attention

of my colleagues
to Bayard Rustin,

or as he is
referred to in the press,

"Mr. March-on-Washington
himself."

Mr. Rustin was sentenced to
28 months during World War II

for dodging the draft.

He was also convicted
in 1953 of sex perversion

after being arrested with two
other men and pleading guilty.

He traveled to the Soviet
Union and upon his return,

became secretary to
Dr. Martin Luther King.

I have previously warned
of the Communist connection

in these civil rights groups.

It is now an urgent matter
because of the position of

prominence Mr. Rustin
commands in the

Negro March on Washington.

Many people across this
country are not satisfied

with the Attorney General's
efforts to whitewash the

question of
Communist involvement in

these Negro demonstrations,

which have been
turning into race riots.

Congress needs to conduct a
thorough investigation before

any action is taken on the
civil rights legislation which

was sent at Capitol Hill,

as a direct result of
these demonstrations.

(overlapping chatter)

REPORTER: Malcolm.

Minister, are you here
because the Black Muslims

support this march?

MALCOLM X: The
Honorable Elijah Muhammad is

glad to see Black
people waking up and

demanding their rights.

REPORTER: Wasn't
your sect apolitical?

Forbidding members from voting?

MALCOLM X: Our religion
believes that civil rights are

God-given rights, not
something we need to beg for.

REPORTER: Were you
invited to participate?

MALCOLM X: I wouldn't
wanna take part in this

farce on Washington.

REPORTER: Will you attend
the march tomorrow?

MALCOLM X: Excuse me.
Brother Bayard.

RUSTIN: Good to see you outside
of a debate stage, Malcolm.

MALCOLM X: Are you
having a little picnic or

something tomorrow?

RUSTIN: Ah, something like that.

MALCOLM X: Must have made
your job easy having Kennedy

telling you how
and when to arrive,

where to assemble,
and how to march.

Did he give you
instructions on when to faint?

RUSTIN: Is that why you're here?

Hmm, to faint?

MALCOLM X: I'm just
here to see you succeed.

You know, you've done
most of the legwork.

I want to make sure that the
message doesn't get diluted now.

I have some thoughts.

COTTON: Mr. Rustin,
we have a problem.

RUSTIN: Sorry, Malcolm.

I hope to see you
tomorrow at the march.

In light of Senator Thurmond's
remarks to Congress,

I'm afraid that I have
to offer my resignation.

RANDOLPH: That bigot.

That's a low blow, even for him.

WILKINS: This is the
excuse the Dixiecrats have

been looking for.

RUSTIN: I didn't come
back into the fold to let my

past tarnish this march.

Best for me to step down.

KING JR.: I won't be
bullied into losing the brains

of this operation.

Not this time.

RANDOLPH: I'll make a
statement to the press.

KING JR.: I need to
go finish my speech.

We are all each other's
brothers and sisters.

We must band together
against our oppressors now.

We must know that
with love and faith,

we will find a way.

In a time like this,
we must have strong minds,

great hearts,

true faith, ready hands.

Injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere.

We'll be all right.

PROTESTERS: Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

Freedom now.
Justice now.

♪ We shall overcome ♪

♪ We shall overcome ♪

♪ Someday ♪

♪ Oh, deep in my heart ♪♪

JUANITA: Corrie,
over, over here.

CORETTA: Come on,
let's sit right here.

MAN: Yeah.

RANDOLPH: Let me
introduce to you the

moral leader of our nation,

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

(applause and cheering)

(applause and cheering)

(applause and cheering)

KING JR.: I am overjoyed
to join you today in what

will be remembered as the
largest gathering for freedom

in the history
of our country.

♪ I was cold in
the wilderness ♪

♪ I was lost and
could not see ♪

♪ I was lonely in
the darkness ♪

♪ I never
thought I'd be free ♪

♪ And the walls
were all around me ♪

♪ I didn't think I
had the strength, ♪

♪ But you heard my call ♪

♪ Kept me from the fall ♪

♪ Lead me out of night ♪♪

KING JR.: And the conviction
that there will be a better

future ahead when
Negros are finally free.

Free at last, free at last.

Thank God Almighty,
we are free at last.

♪ From the shadow ♪

♪ From the shadow ♪

♪ From the shadow
into the light ♪

♪ Glory, glory, ♪

♪ Glory I am home ♪♪

CORETTA: Oh, Martin,
did you see that crowd?

ABERNATHY: And that
was a whole lot

more than 100,000 people.

CORETTA: Oh.

ABERNATHY: I'd say at
least a quarter million.

KING JR.: Well...
ABERNATHY: And we did it.

JUANITA: Now, there
is no stopping us now.

CORETTA: Ooh. Oh.

I can't wait to see
what Kennedy says.

JUANITA: He's gonna
be thanking you for

putting him in office.

CORETTA: Uh-hmm.

KING JR.: But
wives aren't going.

CORETTA: Of course,
we are, Martin.

Where do you think
this car is headed?

KING JR.: Yeah.

Only the speakers are
invited to the White House.

CORETTA: But I've been
looking for an opportunity

to thank Kennedy for what
he did when you were in jail.

KING JR.: It's against
protocol, Corrie.

CORETTA: Protocol?

What are you
talking about, Martin?

I'm your wife.

KING JR.: And I love you.

But I can't bring you just
because you're my wife.

I'll see you at the hotel.

(knocking)

ESSIE MAE: I wasn't
expecting you.

THURMOND: It's your birthday.

HUSBAND: Here you go.

Looks good.

Who was that?

ESSIE MAE: My father.
HUSBAND: Your father?

♪ ♪

WILLIAMS: Malcolm.

(laughs)

Oh, my gosh.

I'm glad you reached out.

I thought about it many times,

but I didn't think you
wanna hear from me.

MALCOLM X: It's good
to see you, Evelyn.

And who's this?

WILLIAMS: Eva Marie.

MALCOLM X: Eva Marie.
May Allah watch over her.

WILLIAMS: Hmm.
I'm afraid he's forgotten us.

MALCOLM X: The
Almighty never does.

WILLIAMS: Things have been,

uh, difficult since my
expulsion from the Nation.

Everyone's turned
their back on us.

I thought he would
take care of us.

MALCOLM X: Men will
say all sorts of things

to satisfy their lust.

WILLIAMS: No.

I thought the Messenger
was different,

that he was above other men.

MALCOLM X: You can't
possibly mean the Messenger

is responsible for this?

WILLIAMS: Well, you
must've heard the rumors.

I'm not the only one,
there are others.

MALCOLM X: I don't give
credence to rumors.

WILLIAMS: Why are you
really here, Malcolm?

MALCOLM X: To make
sure you're okay.

WILLIAMS: No.
To ease your conscience.

MALCOLM X: Listen, when I
asked you to join the Nation,

I never wanted any
of this for you.

WILLIAMS: Uh-hmm.

MALCOLM X: I'm truly sorry,
Evelyn, for the pain I caused.

WILLIAMS: Then make it right.

Make Elijah recognize his
daughter and his other children.

MALCOLM X: You know
I can't do that.

WILLIAMS: Well, now,
you realize what kind of

man he really is.

So the question you
have to ask yourself is,

can you still devote
your life to him?

It's good seeing you,
Brother Malcolm.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

SHABAZZ: Are you
not coming to bed?

MALCOLM X: In a little bit.

SHABAZZ: Hey.
What happened in Washington?

MALCOLM X: I've always
prided myself on being a good

judge of character.

SHABAZZ: Because you are.

MALCOLM X: The Honorable Elijah
Muhammad has fathered children

with his secretaries
for years and I met one of

the babies myself,
and the mother is Evelyn.

SHABAZZ: When did you see her?

MALCOLM X: She's
lost everything.

Expelled from the Nation,

no means to provide
for her daughter.

She's despondent and the
Messenger has refused to help.

SHABAZZ: Malcolm.
When did you see her?

MALCOLM X: Does that
really matter, Betty?

SHABAZZ: Yes, it matters.
That's why I'm asking.

MALCOLM X: I saw her today.

SHABAZZ: You didn't
feel the need to tell me

about this beforehand?

Malcolm, I'm not upset that
you went and saw Evelyn.

But what does give me
pause is that you didn't come

to me and tell me first.

We are a team,
you and I, together,

and there should be nothing
we hold back from each other.

Now are you so upset
because of what Elijah did or

because he did it to Evelyn?

MALCOLM X: It's because of
what he did to the Nation.

What he did to us.

If this were to get out,
it would be the end.

The end of everything we spent
the last 12 years building.

Oh, how could I
have been so blind?

SHABAZZ: Because love
clouds our judgment.

I know this isn't about her,

this is about
your love for Elijah.

That's why it hurts so much.

This is a lot.

Promise me you won't
do anything rash.

MALCOLM X: We need to focus
our teachings on self-reliance

and shift away from the
more moralistic lessons.

CLYDE X: Is this
doctrine coming from the

Honorable Elijah Muhammad?

MALCOLM X: I haven't
had a chance to discuss it

with him yet.

But I will once he comes here.

CLYDE X: I'm afraid his health
is not robust enough for that.

He's asked that you
speak on his behalf.

But stick to his
doctrine for a change.

MALCOLM X: Well, I think he
will agree that our members

could use a reminder on the
stories of David and Lot.

CLYDE X: Flawed prophets?

MALCOLM X: Their inspiring
deeds outweigh their failings.

CLYDE X: What are you
getting at here, Minister?

MALCOLM X: Just trust me.

This is for the
good of the Nation.

CLYDE X: Good of the
Nation or your own agenda?

Because it seems to me,
Brother Minister,

that they are no
longer the same.

MALCOLM X: No one is more
loyal to the Messenger than me.

I'm aware I only fly because
of the wings he gave me.

GRANT X: Minister,
you need to turn on the

television right now.

KING JR.: Hey,
where are the kids?

I got some thumbprint
cookies from Henrietta's.

CORETTA: Doing their
homework if they know what's

good for them.

YOKI KING:
Daddy! You're home!

KING III: Did you
get peach cookies?

KING JR.: You kids
listen to your momma?

KING III: Of course,
we listened to momma.

KING JR.: Is that what
your momma will say?

KING III: Not true!
YOKI KING: True too.

ANNOUNCER (over TV):
In New York with a bulletin

incident that's just
occurred in Dallas, Texas

where President Kennedy
is visiting.

President Kennedy and
Governor John Connally of Texas

were both hit by a would-be
assassin's bullet as they

toured downtown Dallas...

(plate breaks)

KING JR.: Corrie, what is it?

ANNOUNCER (over radio):
President Kennedy was shot just

as his motorcade
left downtown Dallas,

both the President and the
Senator were hit by the bullets.

And has come in, the President,

his limp body cradled
in the arm of his wife,

was rushed
to Parkland Hospital.

And we are awaiting
further word on his condition.

CRONKITE: From Dallas, Texas,
the flash apparently official.

President Kennedy died at
1:00 PM Central Standard Time,

2:00 Eastern Standard Time,
some 38 minutes ago.

CRONKITE (over TV):
President Johnson...

MALCOLM X: This
is a sick country.

CLYDE X: The Honorable
Elijah Muhammad won't want us

commenting on Kennedy's death.

KRONKITE (over TV):
He will be taking the

Oath of Office shortly.

REPORTER: Malcolm. Malcolm.
Mister X! Mister X!

What do you have to say?

REPORTER: In your lecture
today and previously,

you have criticized
President Kennedy.

What are your thoughts
on his assassination?

MALCOLM X: The President
twiddled his thumbs at the

killing of South Vietnamese
President Ngo Dinh Diem and

Congolese President
Patrice Lumumba.

He did nothing when
Medgar Evers was shot outside

his house in Mississippi,

and there has been no action
from the federal government

against the systematic
brutality of police

against Black Americans.

I guess Kennedy never foresaw
that the chickens would

come home to roost.

And being an old
farm boy myself,

chickens coming home to
roost never did make me sad.

REPORTER: Mister X,
are you saying that you're

happy that Kennedy has passed?

Just one more word, Mister X.

Mister X, please, can you
elaborate more on that?

KING JR.: President Kennedy's
assassination is not an

isolated event but the result
of a climate of hatred born of

deeply entrenched
systemic inequality.

All Americans are complicit
in this assassination.

The clergymen who
remain silent in the

face of racial injustice,

politicians who prioritize
their own re-election above

servicing the
people who elect them,

and those who silence the
outspoken voices that oppose

them by labeling
them as Communist.

CORETTA: Martin, come watch.

KING JR.: America's failure
to reckon with the cancer of

racial injustice will
inevitably lead to our moral

and spiritual doom.

MUHAMMAD: Brother Minister.

MALCOLM X: I'm glad you're
finally in good health,

I wish I had known of
your impending arrival.

MUHAMMAD: There was no need
for advance announcements.

Please sit.

It's only natural for the
young to think they know best,

to defy their fathers.

Especially one in your position,
who is admired by so many.

But don't be fooled.

There is wisdom
in experience and

there is also responsibility.

MALCOLM X: Sir, everything I've
done has been on your behalf,

to grow your Nation.

MUHAMMAD: The poison about
a President who's beloved

by so many of Brothers
was not a wise choice.

MALCOLM X: I was simply
speaking the truth.

MUHAMMAD: Against
my instructions.

Do you no longer
trust my judgment?

MALCOLM X: Sir, your
wisdom is infinite,

as you speak for Allah.

MUHAMMAD: And yet you act
as if this is your Nation and

not the one I built.

MALCOLM X: I would sooner
die than speak against you.

MUHAMMAD: Well,
that's not what I hear.

That's not what your deeds show.

You cannot walk through
the woods with a flame and

not start a fire.

MALCOLM X: I'm not the only
one who's made mistakes.

MUHAMMAD: Do you
accuse me of something?

MALCOLM X: The Qur'an
considers adultery as big

of a sin as murder.

MUHAMMAD: You know nothing
of what you are talking about.

MALCOLM X: I know
Evelyn Williams.

I've known her since we
were teenagers and I have

seen her embrace
the Nation and I have

seen her life destroyed.

MUHAMMAD: Having a child out
of wedlock is against our rules.

MALCOLM X: Allah forgives
those who repent because

Allah is merciful.

She has repented.

But the man who put
that child in her womb is

not taking responsibility.

She now has to care
for that child on her own.

The only one bearing
the consequences.

Except she's not the
only one, is she?

MUHAMMAD: Allah himself
has made me his Messenger.

The good I've done
outweighs the sins of my flesh.

MALCOLM X: But what about
the women and the children?

MUHAMMAD: What is
one life against the

thousands I've saved?

I pulled you out of bondage,
gave you a voice,

treated you like a son.

MALCOLM X: I have also
looked to you as my father!

I allowed myself to
trust you as my father!

MUHAMMAD: And I still am.

MALCOLM X: My father
would never lie to me.

My father was true and honest.

MUHAMMAD: You give me no
choice but to silence you.

You are suspended from the
Nation and all communication

with members is forbidden.

You may please exit.

Now!

♪ ♪

♪ Old man,
let me wipe your eyes ♪

♪ I've never seen you cry ♪

♪ Old friend, in
our own sweet time, ♪

♪ We'll share a good goodbye ♪

♪ All my life, I know by now ♪

♪ All these memories,
too much to lose ♪

♪ No one ever leaves you ♪

♪ I don't need faith,
I don't need truth ♪

♪ No one ever leaves you ♪

♪ Everybody, raise a glass, ♪

♪ Oh, here's to a good goodbye ♪

♪ Oh, everybody,
raise a glass, ♪

♪ Oh, and all these memories, ♪

♪ Too much to lose ♪

♪ No one ever leaves you ♪

♪ I don't need faith,
I don't need truth ♪

♪ No one ever leaves you ♪

♪ I don't need faith,
I just want proof ♪ ♪