Good column. Really good movie. I loved it as a teenager, but saw it again recently and was surprised by how well it holds up.

I think another thing that saves this from being a typical message movie is that Endicott has nothing to do with the murder. It has nothing to do with race. It's actually a small, petty crime, and (as you point out) Tibbs desire to make a statement is thwarted by the truth. This is also true, of course, of the filmmakers: they chose truth over message, which is rare.

Another "liberal message movie" that is stirring (rather than preachy) is the great NORMA RAE.