Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
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Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali is a documentary based on the book written by sports historians Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith about the friendship between boxing champ Muhammad Ali and Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X from 1962–1965. One mission held by the two men is to confront systemic racism in the United States. References and images include archival footage and photos of the body of 14-year-old Emmett Till in an open casket with his mutilated face shown after a racist attack; media coverage of the Birmingham, Alabama, church bombing that killed four Black children; Malcolm's 1965 assassination; and smoking and the selling of bootleg whiskey and drugs. Language includes the "N" word, "s--t," and "damn." Other language references include "colored," "Negro," and "Uncle Tom preachers." Positive messages include courage in the face of adversity, confidence inspired from the shared wisdom of others, and compassion and empathy for human rights.
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What's the Story?
BLOOD BROTHERS: MALCOLM X & MUHAMMAD ALI is a bio documentary based on the book written by Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith about the three-year friendship between boxing great Muhammad Ali and Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X during the 1960s. The story of their relationship is shared through firsthand accounts from family, friends, and other resources. Malcolm and Ali, who was fresh off his win as an Olympic gold medalist in the light heavyweight division, met at a diner and launched their student-teacher union in which Malcolm shared his wisdom with Ali, who was 17 years younger. The two men soon became as close as brothers.
Is It Any Good?
Filmmaker Marcus A. Clarke provides a superbly crafted study of the relationship between two of the world's most charismatic and controversial leaders in history. In Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali, the influential pair are seen by some as the "freest of Black men in the 20th century," notes Cornel West, political activist and professor at Harvard University. "On the other hand, there's a cross to bear, a tremendous cost in being a free and loving person." The relationship extended to gatherings of their families. "For my father to take his wife and his babies and go to [Ali's] home, it meant that my father trusted him 100%," says Ilyasah Shabazz, a social activist, author, and daughter of Malcolm. As a credible teaching tool for discussions about the lives of two iconic African American men who set out to make a difference in the world of the 1960s, Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali is a must-see!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the communication between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X in Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali. How do they also demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
In what ways does the friendship between Malcolm and Ali appear to benefit them individually? Why are some individuals envious of their relationship?
Why do you think the filmmaker needed to share a number of archival photos and footage of racially motivated violence against African Americans? What was your reaction to seeing these images?
What reasons do you think are behind the underrepresentation of women in civil rights leadership roles and in workplace careers in the United States during the 1960s? In what ways are choices different for women today?
What is systemic racism? What may be the causes of its continued existence?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: September 9, 2021
- Cast: Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Cornel West
- Director: Marcus A. Clarke
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism, Sports and Martial Arts, Friendship, History
- Character Strengths: Communication, Courage, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: disturbing images, thematic elements and some strong language
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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When We Were Kings
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Ali
Brutal fight scenes and frank racial issues.
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