Spike Lee Talks Malcolm X at 100

Kevin Powell’s Newsweek cover story is a must-read tribute to Malcolm X at 100—artful, moving, and relevant.

This week, I had the honor of spending time with Ambassador Attallah Shabazz, Malcolm X's eldest daughter, as we visited Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark to present our book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, to graduating seniors.

In addition to receiving a copy of the Narrative, each student was gifted a copy of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written by Alex Haley. It was an emotional and timely visit, as this marked Malcolm’s birth week. On May 19, he would have turned 100.

This milestone has sparked powerful reflections from many, including my friend Kevin Powell. He has written a remarkable Newsweek cover story to honor El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, weaving together history, reflection, and reverence through the lens of Spike Lee’s film that introduced Malcolm’s voice to new generations, Malcolm X (1992).