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Blacksploitation

Blacksploitation

BLACKSPLOITATION

Paige Tittman THTR 3611 of Diversity Blacksploitation

Before 1970, black citizens were only seen as things like train porters, waitresses and shoe- shine boys. This stereotype started changing with the release of blacksploitation . Blacksploitation also known as is a of movies that began appearing in the in the 1970s. The genre is an ethnic subgenre of exploitation films.

The flicks were originally created exclusively for an urban black audience. However, the audience quickly began appealing to a much larger audience of different races and ethnicities. Blacksploitation

The term blacksploitation, black and exploitation combined, was coined by the head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Junius Griffin in the early 1970s. Junius was also an ex- publicist.

Among many other reasons this genre was ground breaking due to the facts that it regularly included soundtracks of and and that the movies had predominantly black casts. Most blacksploitation films got bad reviews from critics. However, they were typically commercially successful. Characteristics and Qualities

Blacksploitation films that were set in the Northeast or West coast generally took place in poor neighborhoods. Ethnic slurs aimed against whites like the terms , cracker and womb as well as offensive white characters were common elements of blacksploitation flicks. Many white characters had to play the roles of corrupt cops, drug dealers, gangsters and pimps.

If the pictures were set in the South or the Wild West slavery and were common elements. While blacksploitation is a subgenre of exploitation films there were also many subgenres of blacksploitation itself including / , comedies, coming-of-age/courtroom , crime, horror, musicals, nostalgia and westerns. The soundtracks to these films featured funk and soul jazz tunes. The blacksploitation soundtracks were complex and they were unique from funk songs that were heard on the radio during the 1970s.

As blacksploitation grew in popularity other of film began to feature black characters who played stereotypical blacksploitation roles. Many blacksploitation movies provided mainstream producers a cinematic way to show plantation slavery including all of the brutal racial controversies and inconsistencies about things like sex and rebellion. Controversy

In the United States the way that blacksploitation explored and shaped race relations became controversial. Some people thought that the films were a token of black empowerment but other thought that they perpetuated common stereotypes that whites had about black people.

Groups like the NAACP joined together to form the Coalition Against Blaxploitation. Due to the influence they had the demise of the genre came about during the late 1970s. American Cinema

American cinema has been immensely influenced by blacksploitation films. is a perfect example of someone who has referenced blacksploitation in his own movies. There is a long list of movies that span across decades that feature pop culture hints to the blacksploitation genre including in Goldmember, , Inglorious Basterds, , Kill Bill, Superbad and . These are only a few movies that touch on ideas about blacksploitation there are many more as well as a number of TV shows and . Hip-hop culture and Blacksploitation

Not only has blacksploitation affected cinema but it has also made an impact on contemporary hip-hop culture. artists including , Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, , , and many artists from YMCMB took on the pimp persona that was predominant in many blacksploitation films.

Many hip-hop artists have shown this persona through their lyrics and their lifestyles. They embrace scantily-clad women, bling, luxury cars or “” and money. Conclusion

The combination of angst caused by civil rights movements, the culture of the 1960s, war fear during the 1970s, the undeniable popularity of bright colors and the excessive drug use of this time period created a genre of film that is truly unique and can never be recreated. Trouble Man (1972) “This is T, Chalky is dead. Now I’m coming to get you’re honky ass.”

ž Starring , Trouble Man is about a malicious private detective named Mr. T. The film takes place in South Central LA. Mr. T had adversaries in the police as well as the mob due to his arrogance so he must take justice into his own hands. ž The film mixes all of the elements that were known to make a typical blacksploitation film. Racist white criminals avenged by a rebellious black character. The film is famous for its soundtrack by . ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_K5IEqmrUio&feature=player_embedded The Legend of Nigger Charley (1972) “Somebody war the west. Nigger Charley ain’t running no more.”

ž Possibly one of the more mutinous films of the genre. The Legend of Nigger Charley is the story of three blacks who have escaped slavery in the West. Charley is one of the token empowering black characters. He is openly opposed to slavery and he gets retribution on racist white characters. His character represents the defiant struggle of living in a world dominated by racist whites that all black men know of. He proudly calls himself a nigger despite the fact that most of the time nigger was used by whites as an insult against blacks. This film was one of the highest grossing pictures in 1972 and was followed by two sequels, The Soul of Nigger Charley and . ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=yy0DqQ4NqTA&feature=player_embedded Boss Nigger (1975) “He’s Black. He’s Brutal. He’s Boss.”

ž Written, produced and starred ex-American Football player . The sequel to The Legend of Nigger Charley, Boss Nigger was a very popular blacksploitation . This film is about two black bounty hunters who pursue an infamous fugitive though a white town in the Wild West. ž The town has no sheriff of its own so Boss Nigger assumes the position. The two bounty hunters shake down racist locals and women all while waiting to catch the main fugitive. ž http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i- Fig_LoBy4&feature=player_embedded Coonskin (1975) “Natural black Jesus is the reverend’s cousin, too. He gives people the strength to kill whites.”

ž A cartoon about an African American rabbit, fox, and bear that climb their way to the top of the organized crime ranks in . They come across shady law enforcement, con artists and the mafia. The film received mixed reviews and wasn’t as commercially successful as most other blacksploitation films. However, it is a remembered film of the genre because it is one of the only animated blacksploitation pictures. ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=LdfcKBuKjY0&feature=player_emb edded (1972) “He’s ’s soul brother! Deadlier even than he.”

ž This film is possibly the most bizarre horror pictures ever. Blacula was the inspiration for other blacksploitation horror films like Blackenstein and Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde. However, no other blacksploitation film was at popular as Blacula. The film is about an African prince who while visiting gets turned into a by Dracula. He is sent back to America in a coffin where he then takes off on a blood- sucking rampage. Blacula won the first Saturn Award for Best Horror Movie. A sequel was released in 1973 called ! ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=26jvG4THLIE&feature=player_embedded Blackenstein (1973) “To Stop This Mutha, Takes One Bad Brutha.”

ž With the main concept based on ’s , Blackenstein attempted to cash in on the blacksploitation success. It is about a black Vietnam veteran who after DNA surgery he turns into a monster similar to Frankenstein. He then goes on a killing rampage. It didn’t reach quite the success it had hoped for in comparison to other blacksploitation horror films. If being known as the worst and least scary horror film of all time is what they had hoped for then it was successful. ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=iREWNIHoUKA&feature=player_embedde d Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976) “A monster he cannot control, has taken over his very soul!”

ž Starred ex-American Football player . Similar to Blackenstein Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde is loosely based off of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The film is about the lift of a scientist who accidentally produces a serum that turns him into a prostitute killing albino vampire. ž When taken the serum turns his skin from black in color to white. The director Henry Crane has cited that the film was made to faintly confront the negative effects of drug addiction. ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=a6lztwNQLDY&feature=player_embedd ed (1973) “You better put that down before I make you eat it!”

ž Starred Tamara Dobson. Cleopatra Jones is a fast-paced . This marks the beginning of the new black female roles in trendy action films. Cleopatra Jones replaces the long-established white male action with a authoritative and confident black heroine. The film was very successful and well liked by critics. It was followed by a sequel, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975). However, this sequel didn’t quite live up to the reputation of the first Cleopatra Jones. Foxy Brown (1974) is a similar blacksploitation film that was very popular. The character of Foxy Cleopatra from the Austin Powers sequel is based off of both Cleopatra Jones and Foxy Brown. ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=6OyH0RZMdBM&feature=player_embedded (1973), Foxy Brown (1974), and Friday Foster (1975)

ž All starring who was a blacksploitation icon. Before these films she had roles in trashy women-in- prison movies by . After these flicks she was known as a sexy kick-ass goddess. These movies features switchblades, hot cars, and guns. ž Pam Grier was known for her , wearing big sunglasses and bodysuits. Pam also had a role in Quentin Tarantino’s film Jackie Brown (1997). Coffy (1973), Foxy Brown (1974), and Friday Foster (1975)

“No one sleeps when “You tell me what you “You treat a person like they mess with Coffy” want done and I’ll do the a person... and a hell out of it” woman like a woman.”

ž http://www.youtube.com/ ž http://www.youtube.com/ •http://www.youtube.com/watch? watch?v=qiei7QnFfZ8 watch?v=erD0pCe0S5Q v=SNg1XLaTBdo Mandingo (1975) “This is just as much our land as it is yours, and after you hang me… kiss my ass!”

ž One of the few big budget blacksploitation films in history. It is based on the explosive novel written by Kyle Onstott. Mandingo is a slave who is bought by a prosperous plantation owner. The plantation owners begin having furtive sexual relationships with the slaves eventually resulting in violence and bloodshed. The film shows many truths of slavery and how black slaves viewed the typical white person. ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=1priqpSfjvY&feature=player_embedded (1971) “The mob wanted Harlem back. They got Shaft up to here!”

ž Stared Richard Roundree. It is said to be the first and best of the blacksploitation genre. However, the director never considered the film to be an . The movie is known for having a badass attitude featuring a tough black cop, dishonest white cops and a lot of funk and soul. The film is about detective as he tracks down the daughter of a mob boss from Harlem who has been kidnapped. ž There are some similarities between which was released around the same time. Both have a unruly detective for the leading role. Shaft’s Big Score (1972) and (1973) are the two sequels and there was also a remake of the original in 200 by starring Samuel L Jackson as Shaft’s nephew. ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=zkq2zsf6_ag&feature=player_embedded Superfly (1972) “Never a dude like this one! He’s got a plan to stick it to The Man!

ž This film is not commonly remembered however the title is commonly compared with many of the blacksploitation characteristics and it had a soundtrack by that is the perfect example of a great soundtrack from the genre. The film is about a cocaine dealer who wants to escape from the mob life because he fears that his life will end soon if he keeps doing what he’s doing. ž He comes up with a plan to make his biggest deal ever and running about with the money to start a new life. However, if the mob finds out about his plan they will kill him if he doesn’t keep selling for them. ž http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=fOIWNBtpgvM Sources

ž http://witneyman.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/a-brief-history-of- blaxploitation/ ž http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/16/entertainment/ca-41409 ž http://seattletimes.com/html/entertainment/ 2001860267_blaxploitation19.html ž http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/11/entertainment/ca- blaxploitation11 ž http://www.blaxploitationpride.org/p/these-are-some-resourceful- links-for.html?zx=57cf371113a1253a ž http://www.blaxploitation.com/st-intro.html ž http://www.blaxploitation.com/st-influence.html ž http://www.daveyd.com/blaxploit.html ž http://www.crimetime.co.uk/features/blaxploitation.php ž http://listverse.com/2011/09/19/top-10-memorable-blaxploitation- films/