Elida Velado Salazar/Contributing Writer
Golden Globe-nominated One Night in Miami recreates the fabled meeting of four legends of the civil rights era in the aftermath of Cassius Clay’s victory 1964 over Sonny Liston in the World Heavyweight Championship.
Set in the Hampton House, a vital piece of Miami’s Black history, located right here in Liberty City. The establishment is the only segregated hotel of the Jim Crow era still in operation in Miami.
The four monumental figures, Cassius Clay before he was known as Muhammad Ali, Malcolm x, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown, chose this location to discuss the long-awaited change vital to the transformation of the segregated south.
Each of the four monumental Civil Rights Era figures brings a unique perspective from one another on their experiences towards life and how after leaving the hotel room, each individual will set forth a new foundation on what they want to contribute to their lives and the world.
Kingsley Ben Adir and his portrayal of Malcolm X set the character for a perfect ending on what will happen a year later with his tragic assassination.
Given the Black Lives Matter Movement’s tumultuous rise to power in 2020 and the ongoing outcry over racial disparities and injustice, the discrimination these legends faced are relevant now more than ever.
One Night in Miami is Academy Award-winning actress Regina King’s directorial debut it has been nominated for a golden globe with an ensemble of notable cast members named Leslie Odom Jr., Aldis Hodge, Eli Goree, and Kingsley Ben-Adir.
Sam Cooke and Malcolm X’s confrontation marks the film’s conflict on the “right” path in extremity towards the civil rights movement.
The confrontation stems from the differences in ideologies between Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X. Malcolm X confronts Cooke about utilizing his platform correctly, comparing Bob Dylan’s song “Blowin’ in the Wind,’ ‘an anthem that became popular in the Vietnam anti-war and civil rights movements, to Sam Cooke’s love songs that were generally romantic ballads.
Malcolm X notes how influential Cooke could be if he used his platform for political activism. He states how a white man is singing about African American struggles and why Sam Cooke can’t take that opportunity in singing about his own struggles instead of having a white man do it.
Both characters have different opinions when it comes to the approach to the civil rights movement. Malcolm X believes they should be outspoken in demanding equal rights and to be treated as human beings.
While Sam Cooke prefers to help his community internally without challenging the system. According to Malcolm X, he remains passive valuing economic freedom rather than brotherhood.
The film ends with Cooke closing out a TV segment by presenting an original song named “A Change is Gonna Come.” The influential civil rights anthem delves into Cooke’s own upbringing growing up in Chicago and the discrimination he has faced throughout his life, wishing one day black and whites are equal.
“On Night in Miami,” seems to mirror our reality with the prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Regina King’s choice in ending the film with “A Change is Gonna Come” resonates with the current political environment.
The film’s theme revolves around friendship and what it means to incite change in a world where every action is seen as a sign of resistance and violence.
Each conversation between the four men depicts the power of Black voices in America.
Although the film does not include scenes that show white supremacy, or the racial violence that was common during that time, there is the strong sense the threat of violence looms large, as if lurking in the shadows.
With four powerhouse performances and Regina King’s guise as director and Kemp Powers, the screenplay transforms this work into a masterful exhibition on friendship and the influence of others.
The film was released by Amazon Studios and is currently available with Amazon Prime.
About Post Author
