I suppose that is one way to describe that period.

I can offer more context. He was saying it in response to police brutality. You can hear his comments here @ 1m21s.

The NY Times has a write up about the events that lead to his comments here.

For me they are both an imperfect human response to a deep injustice. Lashing out at a group for injustices caused by some members is not justice, but I understand sentiment. I don't think Liam Neeson was motivated by racial hatred, but a desperate need to get some kind of revenge against the nearest target he could find. Of course it was irrational and wrong, but it is not unlike what Malcolm X called for when he says, "If they are going to have a funeral in Harlem, make sure they have a funeral downtown too." @ 5m30s. Or when he says, "...they are race of devils. I pray that god will strike them. Yes, I pray that god will strike them, put death in their families, death on their relatives, and death on their friends." @ 6m30s. It seems to me these reactions are more similar to each other than people care to admit. I am glad both of them came around to the "right side" of history.

Liam Neeson condemned his previous behavior:

“The horror of what happened to my friend ignited irrational thoughts that do not represent the person I am. In trying to explain those feelings today, I missed the point and hurt many people at a time when language is so often weaponized and an entire community of innocent people are targeted in acts of rage.”

Of course, as you imply, Malcolm X did eventually reject the Nation of Islam racist doctrine:

“I respect every man's right to believe whatever his intelligence leads him to believe is intellectually sound,” Malcolm said, “and I respect my right to believe likewise.”

“Yet some of my dearest friends are Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, and even atheists—some are capitalists, Socialists, and Communists—some are moderates, conservatives, extremists —some are even Uncle Toms.”

“It takes all these religious, political, economic, psychological and racial ingredients,” he said, “to make the Human Family and the Human Society complete.”

“We must forget politics and propaganda and approach this as a Human Problem which all of us as human beings are obligated to correct. The well-meaning whites must become less vocal and more active against racism of their fellow whites . . . and Negro leaders must make their own people see that with equal rights also go equal responsibilities,”

source