Words with Spike Lee

Making Malcolm X, says director Spike Lee, was a way to bring the slain leader's message to a new generation

Q. Why was making this movie so important to you?

A. Well, Malcolm is very important to me, and the reality is that young people -- not just black but white kids also -- don't read anymore. They get their information from movies, television, radio. So this is going to be a history lesson. This is going to open up the history book.

Q. Malcolm is revered by many young African Americans. Why is that?

A. I think that Ossie Davis put it best when he said, "Malcolm is our shining black prince, our black manhood." There's a void in that...

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