Who Played Me in "Malcolm X"? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Denzel Washington

Washington, born on December 28th, 1954 in Mt. Vernon, New York was cast as Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a civil rights leader who advocated the use of violence as justification for defense against institutionalized violence emanating from law enforcement agencies.

He was often seen attending places where he spoke out against the oppression against the African American community throughout the United States and promoting his views. Malcolm had his surname changed from "Little" to "X" as a reference to his opposing his biological surname as a "slave name". Malcolm X was seen discussing the teachings of Islam in several scenes in the film.

At the end of the film, Malcolm X was assassinated while he gave a speech in New York City. Washington starred in the films, "Cry Freedom", "Glory" and "Remember the Titans".

In 1993, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Malcolm X" but lost to Al Pacino for "Scent of a Woman". Other Oscar nominees for Best Actor in a Leading Role that year were Robert Downey, Jr. for "Chaplin", Clint Eastwood for "Unforgiven" and Stephen Rea for "The Crying Game".

Answer: Delroy Lindo

Lindo, a native of Eltham, London, England played West Indian Archie. West Indian Archie resided in the Harlem neighborhood in Manhattan and befriended Malcolm X. West Indian Archie got Malcolm X involved in criminal activity but the friendship did not last long since issues relating to money got in the way. West Indian Archie and Malcolm X got into a fight and it was after their fight that Malcolm went to Boston. Lindo guest starred on the TV series', "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", "Against the Law" and "A Man Called Hawk".

Answer: Tommy Hollis

Hollis, born in 1954 in Jacksonville, Texas portrayed Earl Little. Earl was Malcolm X's father and first seen at the beginning of the film, when Malcolm recounted his early years and mentioned his father. He stated that Earl was a preacher who was not afraid of the Ku Klux Klan. According to Malcolm, Earl believed in Marcus Garvey's opinion that respect and tolerance for the Black community in America could not be achieved and they should live in Africa. Malcolm continued to talk about his father and mentioned that Earl had six brothers, all of whom were killed by white men. Hollis had guest starring stints on the TV shows, "Now and Again", "Law & Order" and "Homicide: Life on the Street".

Answer: Lonette McKee

McKee landed the part of Louise Little, Malcolm's mother. Louise was first seen in a flashback when Malcolm spoke of his early years growing up in Omaha, Nebraska. Louise noticed a bunch of Ku Klux Klan members riding up to her home one night while she was pregnant with Malcolm's soon to be sibling.

She went out to talk to them and mentioned that her husband was not home and that she wanted them to leave her alone. Malcolm spoke about the day when Louise married Earl. He mentioned that she married him since he was very dark skinned whereas she was light skinned and therefore did not want to marry a man who looked somewhat similar to the group of people she most hated, the whites. Malcolm also spoke about how his mother had been raped by a white man. McKee had roles in the movies, "Dream Street", "Jungle Fever" and "He Got Game".

Answer: Spike Lee

Lee, born on March 20th, 1957 in Atlanta, Georgia played Shorty. Shorty was a friend of Malcolm's and first seen at the hair salon where Malcolm got his hair bleached. The reason Malcolm did this was he wanted to look sharp, as he and Shorty were going to a dance club that evening. Shorty was seen wearing a fancy suit at the club and a woman named Honey at the club dragged him onto the dance floor so she could dance with him.

When Shorty started to walk off the dance floor, Honey ran after him to keep him there. Shorty was seen throughout the movie hanging out with Malcolm. Lee also directed the movie, "Malcolm X".

He also starred in the films, "Summer of Sam", "Do the Right Thing" and "3 a.m." In 1990, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for "Do the Right Thing" but lost to Tom Schulman for "Dead Poets Society".

Other Oscar nominees for Best Original Screenplay that year were Woody Allen for "Crimes and Misdemeanors", Steven Soderbergh for "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" and Nora Ephron for "When Harry Met Sally".

Answer: Theresa Randle

Randle, a native of Los Angeles, California was cast as Laura. Laura was at a dance club once night when she noticed Malcolm there and asked him to dance with her. They had a nice dance on the dance floor and Malcolm was seen lifting her above his shoulders on one occasion.

After the dance concluded, Laura informed Malcolm that she had to use the ladies' room in order to freshen up. As Laura proceeded to the restroom, Shorty commented to Malcolm that Laura was very beautiful. While Laura was away in the bathroom, a woman named Sophia approached Malcolm and flirted with him but he ignored her advances for the time being (he later made out with her). Malcolm was next seen walking Laura back home. Randle played characters in the movies, "Beverly Hills Cop III", "Space Jam" and "Bad Boys II".

Answer: Albert Hall

Hall, a native of Brighton, Alabama played Baines. Baines met Malcolm X once he was sentenced to prison for his role in a burglary and the minimum sentence was ten years. While in prison, Baines spoke to Malcolm X about his roots as a black man and even mentioned to him once that God was black.

When Malcolm X went to the library one day with Baines, they looked at a dictionary and saw many definitions for the word, "black". Malcolm X noticed all the definitions were negative and told Baines this was due to the dictionary being published by a bunch of white men. Baines told him to read between the lines when it came to all those definitions and use those words against the white man.

It was revealed that Baines was in prison due to gang related activities. Hall guest starred on the TV series', "Private Practice", "Outlaw" and "ER".

Answer: Phyllis Yvonne Stickney

Stickney, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas landed the role of Honey. Honey was an overset African American woman who smiled at Shorty in one scene, while he was at a dance club with Malcolm X. Shorty told her that she was fat so she went over to him and persuaded him to dance with her.

After several minutes of fast paced dancing, she and Shorty rested up. Once Malcolm X and Laura got off the dance floor to rest, they went to go talk to Shorty and Honey. Honey was seen smiling right as they got beside her and Shorty. Stickney had guest starring appearances on the TV series', "Sex Chronicles", "New York Undercover" and "Law & Order".

Answer: Al Freeman, Jr.

Freeman, Jr. was cast as Elijah Muhammad. Elijah was a leader in the Islamic community and Malcolm X studied up on Islam while in prison and decided to write a letter to Elijah. Mr. Muhammad wrote back to him and it was while Malcolm X read the letter to himself that he envisioned Elijah was sitting right in front of him talking about issues relating to knowledge. Malcolm X described his vision of Elijah Muhammad as a man who wore a dark suit with plenty of wisdom on his face. During this vision which Malcolm X had, Elijah told him that the most dangerous thing in the world was a person who had nothing to lose. Malcolm X spoke of how he shared Elijah's teachings with many of his friends, including Shorty. Freeman, Jr. had guest starring stints on the TV shows, "Law & Order" and "The Cosby Show".

He is best known for his portrayal of Ed Hall on the ABC soap opera, "One Life to Live". In 1979, Freeman, Jr. made history when he became the first African American to win an acting Daytime Emmy for his role of Ed Hall on "One Life to Live".

He won for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series and this was also the first win in that category for "One Life to Live".

Answer: Angela Bassett

Bassett, born in 1958 in New York City, portrayed Dr. Betty Shabazz. Malcolm met Betty shortly after he was released from prison when she attended a speech he gave. When they spoke, Betty talked to Malcolm for a short while about Harriet Tubman, the famous abolitionist who helped freed slaves during the U.S. Civil War. Betty then asked Malcolm to excuse her while she went to go talk to someone else and Malcolm's friend, Baines, said she was "interesting". Betty was next seen having lunch with Malcolm X and he spoke to her about how the building of a nation for Islam began with a woman.

He informed Betty this was the case since the mother gave birth to a child and taught the child messages which the child could then tell the entire world. Betty informed Malcolm X that he made his point quite well on the woman's role in Islam. Betty fell in love with Malcolm X and they were seen getting married. Bassett starred in the films, "F/X", "Boyz n the Hood" and "Innocent Blood".