BLACKSPLOITATION
Paige Tittman
THTR 3611
Drama of Diversity
Blacksploitation
Before 1970, black citizens were only seen as
things like train porters, waitresses and shoeshine boys. This stereotype started changing
with the release of blacksploitation films.
Blacksploitation also known as blaxploitation is
a genre of movies that began appearing in the
United States 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 Los Angeles National
Association for the Advancement of Colored
People Junius Griffin in the early 1970s.
Junius was also an ex-film publicist.
Among many other reasons this genre was
ground breaking due to the facts that it
regularly included soundtracks of funk and
soul music 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 honky, 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 miscegenation
were common elements. While blacksploitation is a subgenre of exploitation
films there were also many subgenres of blacksploitation itself including action/
martial arts, comedies, coming-of-age/courtroom dramas, 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 genres of film began to feature
black characters who played stereotypical blacksploitation roles. Many
blacksploitation movies provided mainstream Hollywood 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. Quentin Tarantino 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 Austin Powers in Goldmember, Death Proof,
Inglorious Basterds, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill, Superbad and
Undercover Brother. 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 parodies.
Hip-hop culture and Blacksploitation
Not only has blacksploitation affected
cinema but it has also made an impact on
contemporary hip-hop culture. Hip hop
artists including 50 cent, Big Daddy Kane,
Ice-T, Slick Rick, Snoop Dogg, Too Short
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
“pimpmobiles” and money.
Conclusion
The combination of angst caused by civil rights movements, the hippie 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.”
Starring Robert Hooks, 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 Marvin Gaye.
ž
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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.”
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 Boss Nigger.
ž http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=yy0DqQ4NqTA&feature=player_embedded
ž
Boss Nigger (1975)
“He’s Black. He’s Brutal. He’s Boss.”
Written, produced and starred ex-American
Football player Fred Williamson. The sequel
to The Legend of Nigger Charley, Boss
Nigger was a very popular blacksploitation
western. 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
chase women all while waiting to catch the
main fugitive.
ž
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFig_LoBy4&feature=player_embedded
Coonskin (1975)
“Natural black Jesus is the reverend’s cousin, too. He gives people the
strength to kill whites.”
A cartoon about an African American
rabbit, fox, and bear that climb their
way to the top of the organized crime
ranks in Harlem. 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
ž
Blacula (1972)
“He’s Dracula’s soul brother! Deadlier even than he.”
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
Transylvania gets turned into a vampire by
Dracula. He is sent back to America in a
coffin where he then takes off on a bloodsucking rampage. Blacula won the first
Saturn Award for Best Horror Movie. A
sequel was released in 1973 called Scream
Blacula Scream!
ž http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=26jvG4THLIE&feature=player_embedded
ž
Blackenstein (1973)
“To Stop This Mutha, Takes One Bad Brutha.”
With the main concept based on Mary
Shelley’s Frankenstein, Blackenstein
attempted to cash in on the blacksploitation
horror film 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
ž
Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976)
“A monster he cannot control, has taken over his very soul!”
Starred ex-American Football player
Bernie Casey. 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
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=a6lztwNQLDY&feature=player_embedd
ed
Cleopatra Jones (1973)
“You better put that down before I make you eat it!”
Starred Tamara Dobson. Cleopatra Jones is a
fast-paced action film. This marks the
beginning of the new black female roles in
trendy action films. Cleopatra Jones replaces
the long-established white male action hero
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
ž
Coffy (1973), Foxy Brown (1974),
and Friday Foster (1975)
ž
All starring Pam Grier who was a
blacksploitation icon. Before these films
she had roles in trashy women-inprison movies by Roger Corman. 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 afro,
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
they mess with Coffy”
ž
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=qiei7QnFfZ8
“You tell me what you
want done and I’ll do the
hell out of it”
ž
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=erD0pCe0S5Q
“You treat a person like
a person... and a
woman like a woman.”
•http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=SNg1XLaTBdo
Mandingo (1975)
“This is just as much our land as it is yours, and after you hang me…
kiss my ass!”
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
ž
Shaft (1971)
“The mob wanted Harlem back. They got Shaft up to here!”
Stared Richard Roundree. It is said to be the first
and best of the blacksploitation genre. However,
the director Gordon Parks never considered the
film to be an exploitation film. 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 John
Shaft as he tracks down the daughter of a mob
boss from Harlem who has been kidnapped.
ž There are some similarities between Dirty Harry
which was released around the same time. Both
have a unruly detective for the leading role.
Shaft’s Big Score (1972) and Shaft in Africa
(1973) are the two sequels and there was also a
remake of the original in 200 by John Singleton
starring Samuel L Jackson as Shaft’s nephew.
ž
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!
This film is not commonly remembered
however the title is commonly compared
with many of the blacksploitation
characteristics and it had a soundtrack by
Curtis Mayfield 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
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=fOIWNBtpgvM
Sources
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http://witneyman.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/a-brief-history-ofblaxploitation/
http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/16/entertainment/ca-41409
http://seattletimes.com/html/entertainment/
2001860267_blaxploitation19.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/11/entertainment/cablaxploitation11
http://www.blaxploitationpride.org/p/these-are-some-resourcefullinks-for.html?zx=57cf371113a1253a
http://www.blaxploitation.com/st-intro.html
http://www.blaxploitation.com/st-influence.html
http://www.daveyd.com/blaxploit.html
http://www.crimetime.co.uk/features/blaxploitation.php
http://listverse.com/2011/09/19/top-10-memorable-blaxploitationfilms/