Heaven Allah-Davis

11/19/2020

Dr. Thomas

AFAM Studies

Betty and Coretta Movie Review

The movie starts off with narration by none other than Ruby Dee who narrates the lives

of Betty and Coretta and also the racism, poverty and war during those times. This

movie perfectly captures the sisterhood of the late Queens: Dr. Betty Shabazz and

Coretta Scott King. In this movie it brings the tragedies that both of the women endured

together. It also highlights their personal struggles like Betty trying to understand and

help her daughter Qubilah Shabazz who witnessed the assassination of her father and

how that trauma followed both her and Betty into their lives. The movie also briefly

touches on the marital problems that Martin and Coretta faced such as him possibly

having an affair. She goes on to say in the movie that “Martin was no Saint” and she

didn't let those allegations come between the greater cause that they stood for. Both

women reflect on the lives and untimely deaths of their husbands by saying “If they

worked together they'd be an unstoppable force”. The movie also highlights the

difference in opinion that King and X had regarding their cause. Malcom stated “We are

nonviolent with people who are nonviolent with us.” He also goes on to say “Concerning

nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant

victim of brutal attacks.” While King goes on to say that “In spite of temporary victories,

violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem; it merely creates

new and more complicated ones.” While meeting Malcolm for the first time “I don't know

what I expected. But he had such a gentle manner and he seemed very sincere and I

kept thinking, ah, you know I kept thinking about what he had said and the way he had

said it.” In the movie regarding the assassination of Brother Malcolm, Dr. King wrote a

letter to Betty. In the letter he states “While we did not always see eye to eye on

methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt

that he had the great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem”.

Both women officially meet during the Black National Political Convention. During the

convention Coretta spoke and here are some things that stuck with me : “We live in a

nation with 3 triple evils : Racism, War and Poverty &

Women are a powerful force and our nation's untapped source”. I found that incredibly

inspiring. Betty spoke on Malcolm’s legacy and to clear his name and to reinforce what

he stood for in regards to riots that went on in Harlem. Betty would continue to be of

service to her community by helping women, and children and even became a teacher

and would eventually meet Myrlie Evers Williams. Coretta would go on to become an

advocate for justice and continued to carry on her husband's legacy by getting him MLK

Day. Both women would continue to inspire and motivate each other with their causes.

Citations:

Robinson, Natasha S. “Betty and Coretta: An Untold Story of Friendship and Activism.”

Urban Faith, 22 June 2015, urbanfaith.com/2013/02/betty-and-coretta-an-untold-story-

of-friendship-and-activism.html/

Interview with Coretta Scott King. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://digital.wustl.edu/e/eii/eiiweb/kin5427.0224.089corettascottking.html

“Malcolm X.” The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute, 4 Aug.

2020, kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/malcolm-x.