In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful...
..the one God to whom praise is due forever...
..the one who came to us in the person of master Farah Mohamed...
..we say: 'Salam-Aleikum'. - Aleikum-salam!
- Who do we want to hear? - Malcolm X!
- Are we going to bring him on? - Yes!
Let us hear itfor our minister Malcolm X with a round of applause.
Brothers and sisters, I'm here to tell you that I charge the white man.
I charge the white man with being the greatest murdereron Earth.
I charge him of being the greatest kidnapper on Earth.
There is no place where the white man has created peace and harmony.
Everywhere he's gone, he's created havoc and destruction.
I charge him with being the greatest kidnapperon this Earth.
I charge him with being the greatest murderer...
..with being the greatest robber and enslaver...
..with being the greatest swine eater...
..the greatest drunkard.
He can't deny the charges.
We're the living proof of those charges.
You're not an American, you are the victim of America.
He didn't say: 'Black man, come help me build America'.
He said: 'Nigger, get down in the bottom ofthat boat...'
'..I'm taking you to help me build America'.
Being born here does not make you an American.
You are one of the 22 million black victims of America.
You and I have never seen any democracy...
..we didn't see any democracy in the cotton fields of Georgia.
We didn't see any in the streets ofHarlem, Detroit and Chicago.
We've never seen democracy...
..all we've seen is hypocricy.
We don't see any American dream.
We've experienced only the American nightmare.
Malcolm! Malcolm!
Get thatspot! The spot!
Okay, speedy. That's fine.
Here. Come on, shrimp!
Charlie, where'd you get that number that you hit on?
My grandma gave me that number in my dreams: 3, 8, 4.
- You told me Sassy Frassy gave it to you. - No, she quit me.
She's no good to me at all.
- What happened? - I wouldn't buy hera diamond ring.
She had the indignation to call me, of all people...
..'a cheap black son-of-a-bitch'!
- Sassy Frassy? - Where's homeboy? - Little! -Yeah?
Your man's out here waiting on you.
Are you fixing to get your hairfried?
You'll be hot like hell.
Don't be scared, son, you're in the hands of an expert.
My hairwas just like yours. Look what he did for me.
You're like Heckle and Jeckle! Don't scare the man.
- Get his eyebrows shorter. - Who's doing this?
- You all heard that. - You heard that.
Tell me if it stings. This stuff could burn a hole through you.
- Keep youreyes shut. - I thought you said it would burn.
- It feels good, huh? - Yeah, real good. - It's all right.
- You'll feel better in a minute. - It stings a little now, Shorty.
- It's heating up. - You're looking betterand better!
- Hold on. - I am, but it's heating up.
- I've got to make it straight. - Okay. - That's what he told me too.
- I've got to get this out now. - Hold on.
- I'm holding! I'm holding! - Good, hold on.
- Charlie, give me a hand. - It's burning! - Hold him still!
- Put your head in the sink. - I'm burning! Put some wateron!
- More water! - Put it on yourface. Stay still!
How does it feel? If you can talk, it's all right.
- How did it go? - I don't know yet. - I'm not doing this again.
Let me dry it!
I can tell, it's laying down.
- Don't take it off yet. - Okay.
- It looks white! - And what white! - A real white! -A mean one!
Your hand.
That's it.
Whatfashion, dudes!
- Hey, girls! - Hi you all!
When my mother was pregnant with me...
..the Ku Klux Klan surrounded our house in Omaha, Nebraska.
They brandished guns and shouted for myfatherto come out.
Come on out, nigger!
My motherwent out and told them that my father was in Milwaukee preaching.
But the hooded Klansmen told herwe had to get out of town.
- We'll burn you out! Niggers! - Stop it!
- We warned you! - We don'twant you here!
Agitator! You'll payforthis!
They broke every window and rode off into the night.
They rode off into the moonlight as suddenly as they had come.
My fatherwas not a frightened negro as most were.
He was 6 feet 4, a very strong man.
He believed, as did Marcus Garvey, that freedom and independence...
..could never be achieved by the negro in America.
We must build a great nation in Africa.
Therefore black men should leave America and return to Africa.
My father saw 4 of his 6 brothers die violently.
Three killed by white men and one lynched.
There were 9 children in our family. My motherwas proud and educated.
She was very fair-skinned because her mother was raped by a white man.
She married my father because he was so black.
She wanted her children to have some color.
This had a profound effect on me back then.
Many of our sisters had been raped by the white man.
This is why the black man can't wait to get his hands on the white woman.
- Yes, Reverend! - Africa forthe Africans!
- Say 'Roseland'! - Roseland!
Show time! Show time!
Hi, Shorty!
- You're too big. - I'm going to come get you. - Oh, no!
- Come on, Shorty! I want to dance! - Go on...
..I've got your hat. You do the rest!
You're in charge, boy!
- Do you like what you see? - Wow!
- Shorty, get back here! - Over here, boy! - Save me!
Come here! Got you!
Come on, Shorty! I want to dance again!
Shorty!
Come here!
You're great, baby.
- Laura sure can go! - I'm going to freshen up. - Okay.
- You come on back. - All right, Malcolm.
- That chick is so fine. - Except that she lives up on a hill.
- She's got a grandmothertoo. - She's a church girl.
Want to dance?
Yeah.
So? What do they call you?
- Red. - Red?
- I'm Sophia. - How are you doing, Sophia? -Very well.
I have an idea, Red.
Why don't you take that little girl home and come on back.
What?
Just walk, don't run.
It'll be here when you get back.
- I'd better not come in. - I'm not stupid.
- It's late. - I know where you're going.
I'm not going anywhere, I'm going home. I've got to get up early.
You know, I've got to work.
- Can I call you tomorrow? - What for?
I'm not white and I don't put out.
Good night, Mrs. Johnson. I'll call you tomorrow.
Hey!
Am I the first white woman you've been with?
- No! I've had plenty! - Yeah?
- Yeah. - That isn'ta whore?
Well?
You.
Take your time. Sophia is not going anywhere.
- Remember, I told you to walk. Don't run. - Shh!
- I don't like women who talk too much. - Okay.
Who wants to talk?
- Yeah, Red! Bang! - You missed me.
Try this one!
- I ducked! - I got you right between the toes.
I'm tired of playing the cops, I want to be Bogart.
- You're too shortto be Bogart. - Not too short to be Cagney!
- Hey, you! - You pig! - Take that!
One more!
You got me, you stinking copper!
You used to be a big shot.
- There is nothing I can do. - He didn't kill himself!
- I'm sorry, you heard the verdict. - Do you think...
..a man bashes in his own head with a hammer and then lays on the tracks?
- We merely act on the verdicts. - Do you pay or don't you?
Read the policy, ma'am. It clearly states...
Come here, Sophia.
You're the man!
Sit down.
Are you one of those white chicks who can't getenough colored stud?
Kiss my foot.
Go ahead, kiss it.
Now feed me.
Yeah!
- That's yourstory. When are you going to holler rape? -Me?
Yes, you. You would if the time came.
Malcolm, let me feed you.
While they're hot.
I sure wish your mother and father could see you now.
I wish Laura could see us.
Please, Malcolm. There's nobody around.
- No, this isn't right. - Why?
- Because you... - It's because of the white girl, isn't it? - No.
- Folks say you're running around town with her. - It's not that.
Save it for mister right. Yourgrandmother is right.
I'm sorry she raised me that way.
- Is your mother alive? - Yeah, she's alive.
When I was a kid I thought that 'not for sale' was a brand name.
- I did knock. - Did you hear me say come in?
There's no point in fighting.
- May I sit down? - As you're nice enough to ask.
- Mrs. Little, since the death of your husband... - Murder!
You are not capable of raising these children on your own.
These are my children!
They're mine! There ain't no question.
Sometimes candor is the only kindness.
All of your children are delinquent and Malcolm is a thief.
- Get out. - You have no control over them. - Did you hear me?
- You will regret this. - Get out now!
We were parceled out, all of us.
The State Agency destroyed ourfamily.
I was sent to a detention home.
- This is your room. - I lived atMrs. Swerling's house.
Boys, this is Malcolm. We'll treat him like a brother.
I was the only colored kid in the class.
I became sortof a mascot, like a pink poodle.
I got called niggerso much that I thought it was my name.
They talked about me like I wasn't there, like I was invisible.
The importantthing in life is to be realistic.
We all like you here, but you're a nigger.
- A lawyer is no realistic goal fora nigger. - Why not?
I get the best grades in the class. I want to be a lawyer.
Think about something that you can be.
You're good with your hands, people would give you work.
Be a carpenter. That's a good profession fora colored person.
Wasn't your papa a carpenter? Jesus was a carpenter.
People like you as a person, you're doing real well.
Nothing succeeds like success. Let me hear it.
- Nothing succeeds like success. - As long as you're realistic.
It's not the end of the world, Malcolm.
I said: 'Don't let him give that boy no pig'.
It wasn't the end of the world for me, but itwas the end for my mother.
A right cross to the jaw by Louis. Another left cross!
He gives a strong uppercut to Conn's head.
Louis hits a left and a right to the jaw and Conn is down!
He's down! Quiet, it's the countdown.
4, 5, 6, 7... He's getting up!
9, 10! The referee says it's all over.
- What the hell is going on? - Nothing, Mr. Cooper.
- There are lots ofhungry customers. - The soup is done. -Yes, Charlie.
My name is Mr. Cooper, and don't forget it.
- Thug! - What's the matterwith you? Do you want to get me fired?
- Mr. Cooper is good white folk. - You are a young fool!
Damn!
There'll never be another one like that!
- Yeah! - He's got it! - He's done it!
- And still the world's heavyweight champion... -Joe Louis!
Ham and cheese here. I've got coffee! Lemon meringue pie!
- Porter, give me a ham and cheese. - Yes, sir.
- You're mighty pleased with yourself. - I aim to please.
- I like you, boy. - Thank you, sir.
- Keep the change. - All right, sir.
New York, here I come!
I'm here! Harlem!
And here'sJoe Louis back in Harlem.
They're celebrating, they're going crazy, they're dancing and cheering.
Everybody is out! Listen to them roar.
Joe! Joe! Joe!
Joe is a creditto his race, but he's also a fine American.
The brown bomber, Joe Louis!
- Hey, sugar! What's your hurry? - I ain't in no hurry.
- Let me show you something new. - No.
- I've got gold watches, diamond rings. - I don't need anything.
With a couple of these, you'll look good!
- My man! - The word is 'excuse me', boy.
- Excuse me doesn'tshine my shoes. - You should've stayed outof my way.
Old country nigger!
What are you going to do?
Go home to your mamma?
Don't you ever say anything against my mother!
- Come on, get up. - He screwed up my face!
Give me a whisky.
- I ordered a single, jack. - The double is on that gentleman,jack.
- Who is that? - West Indian Archie.
Yeah? What's his angle?
Some of this and some of that.
Come closer, I won't bite you. You look like you're new in town.
From what I see, you're pretty handy with a bottle.
- He had it coming. - Pull up a chair.
- What do they call you? - Red.
- And I ain't no punk. - You'd better not be.
- You have to stand up foryourself. - A man lives by his rep. -You bet.
- What do you do foryourself? - I work on a train, selling.
- Do you like it? - It keeps me out of the army. - Nothing keeps you out.
Not this boy.
- I hearyou're a good man to know. - Where? - Boston. - Kiss my neck!
- I've never been there. - Well, a man's rep travels.
How about that!
- Are you bullshitting me? - My fathertaught me neverto do that.
- Yourdaddy is West Indian? - My mamma. She's from Grenada.
Grenada!
I like this guy. I like you, country.
- Grenada! - Where did you get those finds?
- And those shoes? - Maybe we can do something.
- He's putting a hurting on my vision. - Relax now.
- How can I get a hold of you? - You can't. I get a hold of you.
- I'll write it down. - Don'teverwrite anything down.
File it up here, like I do.
If the men don't have any paper, they'll never have any proof.
Yeah! I dig!
Look me in the face. Did you just con me?
- Yes, sir. - Why? - Because I want in.
- And you're already there. - At least he ain't lying.
- I've gota run to make. - Let me make it with you, Mr. Archie.
I like your heart. I like your style.
You just might do unless you have to get back to yourtrain.
- I already told that man what he can do with that train! -When? - Now.
All right, come with me. I'm taking you shopping.
- Cadillac is the name. - Sammy, man.
- You ready? - Yeah.
One more button.
- You look good. - Yes.
- But you're missing something. Frisk me. - What? - Go ahead!
Nothing, right?
I'm still carrying it. This was my first gun. Now it's yours.
- Thank you. - You wear it...
..where it's up. - Right! The small bit in the back.
Now you're outfitted.
- Are you ready to tackle the streets? -Yeah, I'm ready.
Let us now turn to the Gospel according to St. John.
Chapter three, verse 23.
- 3, 2, 3. - John also was baptizing in Ennon near Salim...
..because there was much water.
Praise the Lord.
They came, and were baptized.
3, 1, 3.
- 255! - It's got to be 2, 5, 1.
I saw it in my dreams: 5, 5, 5.
What do you know? 5, 3, 0.
You're a lucky thing, you're on a roll.
- I told you, no trouble. - I'm working on it.
I keep all my numbers in my head. Remember that.
Yourturn.
Easy.
- Are you there? - lfl ain't, I'm next door.
Nothing in this world can give you that real deep cool.
The girl.
I'm as numb as I can be.
- Cool enough to kill. - I realize that.
- Easy, easy. - Stick 'em up!
Boom!
Hey, Archie...
Hey, baby!
Malcolm, you're so crazy!
Give me some money.
Okay.
Come on! The bitch moves too slow.
- Sometimes this guy has an ugly mouth. -What time is it?
- 8:21. - I like that, accommodate me.
821, 128, 218.
- You're taking the match in. - You bet!
It's time to reload.
Yes...
Say, Red!
Hi, Red!
- I thought we were going to the movies last night. - Really? -Yes.
- All right, I'm sorry. - I believed you.
Go on. Get me a pack of Lucky Strikes and a cognac.
- Anybody seen Daniel? - That's him there.
Hey, gorgeous. Have you been waiting on me?
Let me look at you.
- I've been missing you, Laura. - How are you doing, baby?
I'm all right, great.
- Did you work today? - No. You know what time I wound up.
- I need a five. - I gave you 10 this morning. - Give me the 5 dollars!
ljust wantto make sure you're okay.
I've gotto pay this guy back. I'll be right back.
- Like last time? - I swear, I'll be right back. Laura, I love you!
- You know that chick? - Are you a private detective?
- ljust asked a question. - I ask you the questions!
- Does she come here a lot? - Every other night. -With him? -Yes.
- Does she know he's strung out? - If she's got eyes, she does.
- She ain't hooking, is she? - Not yet.
But he'll turn her out any day now.
- You're stuck on her, huh? - Mind yourdamn business!
- Don't do that! I want to talk to you. - All right.
- Have a seat. - All right.
Come here.
- Don't pay him any mind. - All right.
- Are you all right? - I'm all right.
Buy yourself something nice.
Hi, baby.
Give me a light.
You're looking real uptight. What is the problem?
- No problem. - Are you sure? - Nothing. - So everything is okay?
- I'm thinking about my money. You owe me 6 big ones. -What?
- 8-2-1 hit, didn't it? - You didn't have 8- 2- 1.
You were high, but I told you to accommodate me.
- I'm telling you, you never had it. - Sophia was there.
- You remember, don't you? - What do you expect herto say?
- Don't do this, all right? - All right.
Skip it. But you're slipping, you done slipped.
Archie, wait...
Come on, Archie... Look... You want a drink? I'm buying.
- I ain't drinking no piss with you. - Archie! - All right?
Come, Sam.
I'll be right there.
In 22 years I've never known him to forget a number.
- First time for everything. - What are you talking about?
He'll go to the collectorto check. His rep is on the line.
And so is yours.
If you're lying, you're a dead man.
Dead! Dead!
Dead!
Go tell him that.
My man, Red... Good nightto you.
I don't understand, you had the number.
I told you neverto sit with your back to no door.
You know what? You're a damned liar. And so is she.
Were you figuring to take me? You bastard!
- Well, I'm taking you. - So it's you and me, right? -That's right.
- I'll give you back the 600. - I don't want your money. - I'm wearing.
There are three guns on you.
Just walk.
- So this is how I'm going out, Archie? Ashow down? -Yes.
- Let's go. - Why don't we let Billie finish first? - No.
Red...
Come here, Red!
Get him!
The window!
He's going down! Bastard!
Thank you very much!
Wake up!
There's somebody outthere.
Wake the kids.
- Quick! - Hurry up!
- Everybody out! - Mamma!
Come on! Get out!
- Wilfred, get out! - Wait!
Go!
Go! Come on!
- Hilda, come here! - It's a good thing we're all good Christians.
It's time for you to leave this town!
- We warned you about that preaching. - I ain't no boy, I'm a man!
A real man don't hide behind no bed sheets.
Take these bullets forthem sheets!
- Let's go! - Go!
Earl, I thought you were a bettershot than that!
You should've shotthem all dead!
I just wanted to scare them, they won't bother us no more.
They won't be here no time soon. I'm a man!
That'll teach you, nigger!
- Geta doctor! - He doesn't need a doctor, he needs a preacher!
Red, I'm glad we got you out of there. Your name's on the wire.
Boston is the best goddamned place foryou.
We'll take it easy. I've gota place fixed up for us.
We'll lay low for a while.
Don't you worry, I'll stake you. I've got my band.
I'm blowing great sax. You haven't even heard us play yet.
Like every hustler I was trapped.
Cats that hung together trying to find security found nothing.
West Indian Archie might have been a mathematical genius.
We were all victims of the American social order.
Until that time there were three things I was always afraid of...
..a job, a bust andjail.
I realized that I wasn't afraid of anything, I was an animal.
You don't look too good.
We're going to rob this town blind. Anybody want out, you say so now.
I set up the stake, all we need now is a driver. Any suggestions?
- How about Rudy? - Yeah. - Who's Rudy?
- I'm halfWop and half nigger, I'm notafraid of nobody. - Good.
- What do you do? - Name it, I claim it.
- He does catering to rich joints. - All right.
- Tell him about baldy. - Baldy? -Yeah!
He's a rich old motherfucker. I give him a bath...
..I towel him off, put talcum powder on him and put him to bed.
- He's like a baby. - So, what about him?
The guy's got jewelry, a coin collection, china, rugs...
- That might be all right. - I know they're stolen.
Who is this guy? Who put you in charge?
- You want to be in charge, Rudy? - I am in charge. - The head nigger!
- Yeah, the head nigger in charge. - The bighead nigger.
I'll tell you what we'll do. I'm a fair man...
..and I like bighead niggers like you.
We'll flip for it...
..we'll flip this.
- Come on, Red! - She loves me...
..she loves me not.
She loves me, she loves me not...
..she loves me.
I'll flip first.
- Cool it. Come on, baby. - Head man in charge, right?
Put the gun down!
All right, we believe you. We believe you!
- Red, stop clowning around! - Yourturn, Rudy.
Quit fooling around!
You don't want to flip? Let me show you again.
- Don't! - I've got to show him how. - Red!
Did you miss something? Look at me, Rudy.
You don't have to do this! Red!
That is really dumb!
- Yourflip. - That is so dumb! - You want to do it? I'll help you.
Red, don't!
Do you want me to shoot that Wop nose of yours off?
Is that the Wop orthe niggerside? I guess that's the Wop side.
- I'm not going to jail. - Are you ready, Rudy? - This is enough!
- One, two... Say goodbye, Rudy. - You got it... - Huh?
I think I heard Rudy say something. What did you say, Rudy?
When are you going to stop?
- I did two, so I owe you two. - You got it.
- What did you say? - You got it. - Rudy says I've got it.
Rudy, don't you ever try and cross someone who ain'tafraid to die.
All right, we're going to hit old talcum powdertonight.
Rudy will draw up the plans, everything that's in the house.
Peg and Sophia will go out and get those tools like I asked.
We're going to hit at night, some of us have high visibility in the day.
It's okay with you, right?
- Merry Christmas, Rudy. - We're one big happy family.
I love you.
Psss... Red!
- What happened to the bullet? Did you palm it? - What bullet?
The bullet.
You're crazy.
Shorty!
Ssshh!
Easy, Shorty!
Shorty!
- Red, my man... - What?
My man.
- When's Rudy due back? - Thirty minutes.
I'm almost finished.
The girls ought to be back here from casing thatjoint.
- They should be. - We did a good job. -Yeah.
We're killing them!
- They don't know what's hit them. - Yeah? - Let me get this.
- Let me get back in this kitchen. - You're getting in the kitchen?
- If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. - I'm getting these.
- Come on, it's starting to heat up. - Does it burn? - It's all right.
Put your head down.
- Come on, hurry! - There's no water.
This thing is shot!
Damn!
- Is it burning? - Hell, yeah!
God damn!
Take your head out of the shit bowl!
Get up slowly. Watch it, no funny business.
Red, the jig is up.
The average first offender gets two years for burglary.
- That's what Sophia and Peg drew. - Two years in the reformatory.
But our crime wasn't burglary, it was sleeping with white girls.
Burglary, count one, 8 to 10 years.
Count two, 8 to 10 years.
Count three, 8 to 10 years.
Countfour, 8 to 10 years.
Count five, 8 to 10 years.
Count six, 8 to 10 years.
Count seven, 8 to 10 years.
Count eight, 8 to 10 years.
Count nine, 8 to 10 years.
Count ten, 8 to 10 years.
Count eleven, 8 to 10 years.
Count twelve, 8 to 10 years.
Count thirteen, 8 to 10 years.
- And countfourteen... - 14 counts of 8 to 10 years.
All the sentences to run concurrently.
Shorty thought he had hit us with over one hundred years.
It meant a minimum sentence of ten years hard labor in Charleston.
The date was February 1946.
- Coming down! - Jackson! - A231549! - Coming down!
Coming down!
- A23549! - Coming down!
- Look at Satan. - I see him.
- He's about to bust. - He wouldn't give them the pleasure.
Little!
- State your number! - Little! -What?
- Give him a break, Barnes. - He's a new fish. -Okay.
- State your number. - I forgot it.
- State it! - I forgot it. - Read it right there, boy!
- Can't you read, boy? - Fuck you!
I forgot it!
- I forgot it! - Move!
Those fat bastards aren't going to break me down.
I won't let anyone break me down.
I'm in this situation... but I'm strong.
Time's up, Little. Now, state your number.
Suit yourself. Ten more days.
Water!
You want to smoke?
- Do you know what a friend you have in Jesus, son? -Afriend?
Then where is he? What has he done for me?
Some friend! I'll tell you what to do, you tell him to call me!
Call me and tell me what kind of friend he is.
What has he done for me? Where is he?
I know where he is! Tell him to call me, I'll straighten him out!
He ain't done nothing for me!
He ain't done nothing for me. What a friend you have in Jesus!
Tell Jesus to kiss my ass! Tell him that!
Little. Little!
State your number!
Come on, state it!
- A22... - What? - A228.
Come on.
I know how you feel, like you want to lay down and die.
- I brought you something. - Yes, but I don't need yourfavors.
It's nutmeg, you need something to get the monkey off your back.
It's not cocaine, but it'll help.
Drink it slow, thatstuff is strong.
- So, what's your hype? - I can tell you how to getout of prison.
Well, talk. This ain't bad. Have you got some more?
That's the last fix I'm giving you.
- So why did you give it to me? - You couldn't hear me without it.
- Getout of my face! - You've got more sense than any cat here.
Why the hell don't you use it?
You can't bust outof here like they do in the movies.
- Even if you getout, you're still in prison. -You ain't lying.
You're not using your brain, that's what the white man wants you to do.
Look at you, putting all that poison in your hair!
Everybody on the outside does it.