A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke

I recently watched Regina King's film, "One Night in Miami," and was blown away by it's acting, music, and screenplay. The film centers around one night, February 25, 1964, when Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke were together. Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston in Miami. Malcolm X mentored Cassius Clay and helped his transition to being Muslim; Muhammad Ali soon became Clay's name. Jim Brown broke records for the Cleveland Browns and broke barriers as an actor. I had known precious little about Sam Cooke till I saw the movie. Then I began to hear all the songs that Cooke wrote and sang. All four of these Black men were forces for Black lives. The film shows the diverse viewpoints and ways of fostering equity and seeking justice. 

Plus the movie was fun. I'd forgotten how brash and buoyant Muhammed Ali could be. I'd missed the human interactions of these iconic men. It was easy to overlook the variety of approaches they brought in the 1960s, but how their lives intersected. I think Regina King did a marvelous job with the film, which touched a nerve for me. Enough so that it led me to research more about these people.

There is a video of Sam Cooke's song, "A Change Is Gonna Come," from his estate. I thought it brought the 1964 hit through the years to show its impact. The video is from 2016, but eerily current. How does it strike you in 2021?

You can see the video here: A Change Is Gonna Come