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Malcolm X film can’t find a distributorDocumentary stirs controversy with its allegationsBy Lewfs BsaksNew York Doily NewsNTAV YORK — Two wftckx Ago. TV reporter Uabe Prejwnar. showed the widow of Malcc-lm K. Hetty Snabnzz, a clip from a new documentary. Jt showed a IfJHS speech in which Nation of Islam head Louis Farrakhan, re/ forcing to Maicolm X’s 19fif as-sassi nation, declared: Was Malcolm your i rat Lor, or ours? Arid if wc* dealt with him like a nation deals with a traitor, what Ih« hull business is it of yot.rs?'1Shabazz’s response to thiifootage wi'.5 to note that ■'everybody Lalked about Farm khan's •alleged roS? in her husband’s death, that it was considered a badge of honor. This comment was picked up hy -•vi-i y maior merlin out I el in Amevica and resulled in a dffa-nia;ion sui. by the Nation of Islam, seeking $4.4 hiStion from the* New V«rk J’ost, in response to a -lack New field column sbout the documentary and its charges.Despite ill this aLtention, the film that mused rhis chain if events haft yet to find a distributor Hr other Min; ste r. t ho A ft -nation of i'A Hfijj- MnJiK Shall fizz Malcolm X, has already been turned down by a dozen filir. coms»a»ies. TV networks and agents.They tell us, ’Nobody cures about Malcolm, bcausc the {Spike Lee) uiuvIc'k already out.' says Jack Baxter, the film's director, They say the picture's main audience is African American, and they don't go t.o documentaries. They’re worried they’re going to have lt;handle I'Trr q1 than coming out after them. Or they say, ‘Wait till r.ext Hlack History Month/ Though it has had only two public screenings, Brother Minister has touched off a fiie-srnrm of ainl.rover.sy. The movie allege;; thut Uic FBI, New Verlt Police Department and Nation of Islam — ied by Farrakhan, who was rben head of the Naliun uf Islam's Boston mosque — it-tempted to undermine Malrolm X follnwhg his split, from Nation • f l«;lji m foi in Her FI i.jn n Muhamm.iri.As par: of this campaign, the film asserts, death threats were issued by Naliun of Islam leaders; Malcolm's now political organization waa infiltrated by under wvdi* police operative*, and the KHJ sent fake letters to the Nation oflslam. attempting to ian the paranoia.Responding to these allegations. Farrakhan spokr.sircinConrad Muhammad is blunt. The story behind the documentary Is i he fact that the Jewish people arc barking it. lie says. It is also seeking to serve a purpose of inising Che dead to Cum-bar t ho living Louis Farrakhan. which will never work. Brother Minister has three 1 producers, one is Christian, one ati Orthodox Muslim, and the third, Lewis Keaten, say a religion iso’: the issue here.The 4.-year-old Baxter is an Irish-American with a background as a documentary filmmaker, private investigator and free-lance producer for A.Cur rent Affair.Haxto” hit pay dirt ivh*m he trained up with Jefri .Aalmu-hamniod. who worked os a consultant O'. Lee*' film about Malcolm. A aim u ham rued helped vrirh the-historical and theological aspects of the film, cn-wrote it and convinced Khalil Islam, rijiu of the convicted miircerers {who was released fruiu prison in 1937) to sil for the caneras.Jiwys Haxter. who Is upset. by the reaction to the picture: The film is trying to say that if thesehard-ColO Fruit of Islam Unyscan charge and repent, of their past dec:1s. then why cant everybody vise?”Mixrn /)*Easter BuffetDinner seating 4pm • 6pmAdults S4 G.95 Ctild'uo lu 10 S?-95A -*ocs; O' oaov 11'* y rorirl ?ng d shcs. ndudng our carving sidiion ra. *npr.. ana desserts nor/HOW TO?CONVERT YOUK EXISTING MORTGAGE TO A DIWFFKLY PAYMENT AND SAVE THOUSANDS IN INTEREST CALL FOR A FREE ANAYLSISQF • YQUH MORTGAGE500-7700 COLORADO MORTGAGE REDUCTIONLOCALRESIDENTSAVES$8,492| ON LIFE INSURANCE PREMIUMS! How Much Can }[gy Save?
Newspaper Details
Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Sun, Apr 03, 1994
Page 28
Full Page
Clipped by
Library O.
USA 07 Feb 2022
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