“We Have Our Own Black Heroes”: British Black Power and the Figure of Michael X as Represented in Who Needs a Heart? (1991) by Black Audio Film Collective

Abstract

Black Power is often associated with North American figures such as Malcom X, Martin Luther King, and Stokely Carmichael, whose influence extended globally, including in Britain. Black Power also had a presence in Britain, with leaders like Michael X, founder of the Racial Adjustment Action Society (RAAS). Despite its significance, British Black Power—and Michael X’s role—tends to be overlooked. This article examines Michael X’s impact on Black British Power through the lens of cinema. The film, Who Needs a Heart? By Black Audio Film Collective, reconstructs Michael X’s fragmented biography, interweaving fictional narratives with historical events and Michael’s life. Drawing on theories from cultural memory, media studies, and postcolonialism, I analyse the film’s role in contextualising British Black Power and Michael X’s impact. Finally, I explore cinema’s function in preserving overlooked narratives and configurating cultural memory.