Hey—have you heard the one where two champions, a rock star, and a philosopher walk into a bar?
It’s no joke. In fact, it’s deeply satisfying. Watching Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X with their guards down, it feels like we’re getting away with something.
That’s because people speak more freely with friends. It’s catch-ups one minute, deep cuts another. Sure, you’re the best at what you do, but is your day job making the world a better place?
Some of the lines truly burn. But most of the movie is a more subtle sizzle. Even the slower pace and group imagery are saying, relax and celebrate while you can, but to be black in the United States is to return to a struggle.
There’s much to take away from this, and we each might take something different. The message, maybe, is that that’s OK. Our own experiences and talents can’t be denied. So if we disagree, let’s talk about it.