Time to pay tribute to those that have taken up the struggle - and looked damn cool doing it - In both fiction and flesh and blood.
Shaft
He's
a black private dick that's a sex machine with all the chicks. He doesn't
take orders from anybody, black or white, but he'd risk his neck for his
brother man. I'm talkin' about Shaft. Can you dig it? Damn right!
In 1971, America had just put the most violent and strenuous years of the century behind it. The civil rights movement had won equality under the law for black Americans. But equality in the real world was another story. Previously, the history of cinema had been played out in a government that had oppressed its black citizens as a matter of policy. Black actors had been relinquished to playing small parts that usually presented stereotyped images of the black race. The early 1970's saw a renaissance for black interests in the cinema, and blaxploitation movies like Shaft led the way.
We liked the remake with Samuel L. Jackson, but nothing comes close to the original. Why? Listen to these classic clips (wavfiles):
- Don't let your mouth get your ass in trouble.
- Don't jive me.
- Where the hell you goin'?...To get laid...
- What did you get?...I got laid...
- This cat is a bad mutha - Shut Yo' Mouth...
- Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine...
- Right on.
- Right now I gotta take care of some business.
- I just said up yours, baby.
- Don Pizzaro, the creator of what was probably the very first Web site dedicated to Shaft
- www.johnshaft.com
- shaft.go.to, the only non-porn site called "20 Inches of Shaft."
Marvin Gaye
Arguably,
the biggest R&B singer to take up the cause against the establishment
was Marvin Gaye. Unheard of at the time, he pushed The Corporation (Motown)
to release the controversial What's Going On album, in 1971.
He focused on the environment, racism, the Vietnam War, religion and the state of life in urban America. Featuring such Top 10 hits as What's Going On, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) and Inner City Blues (Makes Me Want To Holler).
Undercover
Brother
Funkadelic Lesson 101 on The Man is now in session. The DVD is coming out in January, so make sure you get Undercover Brother. The original lean, mean fightin' machine is gonna take on The Man. Get down, 'cause this brother's all about action!
Listen to Undercover Brother sound files and check out the trailer.