& Race Ethnicity 11-27-07 Blaxploitation: From Malcolm X to Superfly
Malcolm X "The Hate that Hate Produced" documentary, first aired in 1959 on CBS introduced many Americans to the nation of islam like dateline, 60 minutes, etc. Rodnell Collins- Malcolm X's nephew Wrote Seventh Son Said the documentary was slanted- film had two purposes Put fear in Americans Attempt to steer moderate African Americans away from the nation of islam Ella Little- collins's mother Presented fear (documentary) led to animosity Black Militant Idea that the black militant as the subject of a film could sell a movie Uptight (1968)- portrays black militants as enemies of the state, based on ideas taken from the IRA in the UK - Remake of a film from the 1930's The Informer - Plot and characters are the same, actors are different (black) The Lost Man (1969) Have to rob a bank in philly to fund takeover of city Starring Sidney Poitier Sweet Sweetback's Baadasss Song (1971) *first blaxploitation film* - made by Melvin Van Peebles, directed and main actor - plot: taken to station because of the public's need for a suspect for a crime, escapes from the police, goes on a parade of crimes - has many racial undertones, addresses sexual promiscuity, stereotypes - ending is controversial - Huey Newton defends this film, calls it the first truly revolutionary black film made by a black man. Believes it's the black community's retaliation - Lerone Bennet- speaks out against the film- 1971 Ebony articledenounced the film as nothing more than fantasy, and approach to poverty and crime. Images of ignorant men
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Haki R. Madhubuti- poet, member of black power movement, speaks out against the film, states it is limited, money making, autobiographical fantasy. It is not the black community, not at black all Film cost $500,000 to make, but made $10 million in its first year
Shaft (1971) *considered by many to be the first blaxploitation film Starring Richard Roundtree John Shaft is private detective in the inner city Gordon Parks directed it Used an exclusively black soundtrack- Isaac Hayes Black directed, shot, acted, scored, etc. Two sequels Superfly (1972) Gordon Parks Jr. director Scored by black musicians Different approach Enemy- now really is the white man, police, government Hero- Superfly (pimp and drug dealer) Young Blood Priest Allusions to immoralistic sexual nature, unsatisfied white women who turn their attention to Superfly Some believe it glorifies these stereotypes, fed revenge fantasies by young blacks Alex Hayes wrote the sequel Superfly TNT- also wrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X Newsweek said that these new films are profitable, take any genre or script, add something that relates to these blaxploitation films, and it will work... CORE- Congress on Racial Equality SCLC- southern Christian leadership conference Join together with NAACP and form group that fights against blaxploitation films CAB- Coalition against blaxploitation Junius Griffin- head of Hollywood NAACP- speaks out and says that we must stop exposing our children to these movies Weak plots, strong stereotypes Blacula (1973) Blackenstein (1972) Three the Hard Way (1974) Had many of the biggest blaxploitation stars of the time- Jim Brown- starred in it Plot: Must confront white supremacists that want to poison blacks with a special syrup through the water system in major US cities The legacy of Blaxploitation Recent renditions:
Urban poetry Iceberg Slim- street poet in 1970's, Los Angeles Austin Powers 3 Undercover Brother Are people laughing at or with these stereotypes?