Six episodes about one of the most seismic and shocking moments in US history. Perfect weekend viewing.
On 21 February, 1965, Malcolm X was murdered in New York City and within days, the NYPD had three suspects in custody. Those men were subsequently tried, found guilty, and sentenced to prison.
However, only one of those suspects ever confessed to the murder. The other two men insisted they were innocent of the crime.
In Netflix’s new documentary Who Killed Malcolm X?, activist Abdur Rahman Muhammad documents why he has always been unsettled by this case and its unanswered questions.
After years of pursuing the case, Muhammad stands on the brink of uncovering who may have fired the fatal shot that killed the civil rights icon. Aside from this, new links are revealed about the Nation of Islam, the New York police department, and the FBI.
In 1946, at the age of 21, Malcolm Little (soon to be Malcolm X) was sent to prison on a burglary conviction. While in prison, he encountered the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam.
Six years later, Malcolm is released from prison and becomes a loyal minister of the Nation of Islam in Harlem, New York.
In contrast with other civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X advocated self-defense and the liberation of African Americans “by any means necessary.”
In the early 1960s, Malcolm X developed a more outspoken philosophy than that of Elijah Muhammad, whom he felt did not sufficiently support the civil rights movement.
On March 8, 1964, Malcolm X leaves the Nation of Islam as he makes a pilgrimage to Mecca. He returns to America as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and in June 1964, he creates the Organisation of Afro-American Unity, which advocated black identity and believed that racism, not the white race, was the greatest foe of the African American.
As the new movement and ideology gained followers, El-Shabazz’ (Malcom X’s) more moderate philosophy becomes increasingly influential in the civil rights movement.
On February 21, 1965, one week after his home was firebombed, Malcolm X was shot to death by Nation of Islam members while speaking at a rally of his organisation in New York City.
In terms of its narrative approach, the six-part documentary series will highlight why there was a lack of police on the day of Malcolm X’s assassination. Prior to the assassination occurring, the NYPD had sufficient evidence that the civil rights icon was the target of death threats.
Who Killed Malcolm X? will also feature never before seen interviews and archival footage from the Malcolm X’s life and for the first time since being released from prison in 1985, one of the three men convicted of Malcolm’s murder shares his story.
Take a look at what’s in store.
Clip via coffee & tv
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