Blaxploitation Movies and Music Are the Story of the 1970s
Blaxploitation signaled the moment ghetto culture and the Black vernacular hit the American mainstream, paving the way for rap, hip-hop, disco, and modern sports.
blaxploitation
‘Shaft’ Helped Create the Archetype Black Action Hero of the 1970s
Gordon Parks’ classic blaxploitation film Shaft presents Richard Roundtree as a swaggering, controversial action hero in gritty, early ’70s New York.
‘Claudine’ Is a Sweetly Embroidered Drama of Class Struggle
John Berry's Claudine is a compelling watch featuring performances that leave impressions upon the heart long after the film is over.
Contemporary Urbanity and Blackness in ‘New Jack City’
Hood films are a jarring eviction notice for traditional Civil Rights rhetoric and, possibly, leadership -- in other words, "What has the Civil Rights movement done for me lately?"
Eddie Murphy Returns to Form (and Fun) in ‘Dolemite Is My Name’
Director Craig Brewer helms his breezy tribute to Rudy Ray Moore, the '70s Blaxploitation icon who influenced an entire generation of young Black performers, with Dolemite Is My Name.
The Reign of ‘Black Caesar’
Trading on the charm of its handsome leading man, Fred Williamson, Black Caesar is one of blaxploitation’s classiest entries.
The Value of Exploitation: Of Puppies and Pornography, Violence and Vixens
Guess which two characters appeared in the half hour trailer featured at E3 for Metal Gear Solid V? Diamond Dog and the Quiet. Guess why? You shouldn't have to guess.
‘Hammer’ Introduces One of Blaxploitation’s Most Popular Figures
Significant for its launch of Fred Williamson's career, Hammer is a typical entry into the blaxploitation fold, a cauldron of genre tropes that never really reaches a boiling point.
‘Cotton Comes to Harlem’ Has Quality Activism and Acting
Ossie Davis's directorial debut raises questions and statements about race and culture in America that resonate strong today.