When Denzel Washington took the role of Malcolm X in the play "When the Chickens Come Home to Roost", which dealt with the relationship between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, he admitted he knew little about Malcolm X and had not yet read "The Autobiography of Malcolm X". Washington prepared by reading books and articles by and about Malcolm X and he went over hours of tape and film footage of speeches. The play opened in 1981 and earned Washington a warm review by Frank Rich, who was, at the time, the chief theater critic of The New York Times. Upon being cast in this film, he interviewed people who knew Malcolm X, among them Betty Shabazz and two of his brothers. Although they had different upbringings, Washington tried to focus on what he had in common with his character; Washington was close to Malcolm X's age when he was assassinated, both men were from large families, both of their fathers were ministers, and both were raised primarily by their mothers.

Film

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