When I was a kid, my father took me to see the film Malcolm X by Spike Lee.

I had begged him to take me because I just read Malcolm X's autobiography.

And I can think of no other movie experience that had such a profound impact on me.

And there was one scene in it that I carry with me until this day,

a scene that never fails to give me goosebumps. It's

towards the end of the film.

The scene begins with a shot of five black men riding in a Cadillac. It's the 1960s.

Their faces look sullen and determined.

The song by Sam Cook, a change is going to come, provides the score.

Then it cuts to a shot of Denzel Washington as Malcolm X driving his own car.

His face is stoic as he stares into the distance.

He and the men in the other car are headed towards the Audubon ballroom in New York City,

towards a point where their timelines will collide.

When Malcolm X parks his car and gets out to walk to the ballroom.

Spike Lee uses his famous Dolly shot,

which makes him look like he's floating towards his doom,

almost like fate is pulling him magnetically.

For the entire movie he was defiant,

rebellious, and strong. But here in this scene, Malcolm X looks resigned and

heartbroken.

Malcolm Max never seemed afraid of the U.S. government.

What seemed to worry him was the threat from his own brothers and sisters in the nation of Islam,

...