Daughters of the Dust (1991) Thanks to Public Broadcasting, Julie Dash managed to raise minimal funding for this innovative, powerful evocation of three generations of free black women in the Peazant family who live on an island off the coast of Georgia. Narrated from the point of view of the Unborn Child, and spoken in … More Daughters of the Dust (1991)
Black Venus (2010) Yahima Torres deliveres a stunningly brooding performance as the abused and exploited “Venus Hottentot” in this film directed by Abdellatif Kechiche. Based on the real life of Sarah Baartman, Sawtche was bought from an Afrikaner farmer to nurse the children of a Dutch doctor who, seeing the body of his servant as … More Black Venus (2010)
The Harder They Come (1972) Penny Henzell directs Jimmy Cliff in this reggae crime drama, which became a breakthrough sensation in Jamaica for shooting on location using the local Creole dialogue. Roger Ebert wrote, “the movie’s ending is an exercise in plot; its beginning and its music deserve better than that.” The film made a … More The Harder They Come (1972)
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015) Liz Garbus made this stunning documentary about Nina Simone. It exposes the effect of American racial violence on this uniquely talented artist. Contains revelatory interviews with husband Andrew Stroud and daughter Lisa Simone Kelly, but it’s the accompanying footage of live performances that allows Miss Simone to leap off the … More What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015 DOCUMENTARY)
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995) Darrell Roodt, a South African director, brings James Earl Jones and Richard Harris together in this very faithful adaptation of Alan Paton’s groundbreaking novel against apartheid. This stunning narrative, that addresses issues of social injustice and capital punishment, has been adapted into several films and plays, most notably Maxwell … More Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
Silver Streak (1976) The first film to pair Gene Wilder with Richard Pryor is an homage to Alfred Hitchock’s train sequence in North By Northwest. Gene Wilder plays a publisher who is aboard the Silver Streak on a Los Angeles-to-Chicago train journey in order “to rest and get a lot of reading done.” Jill Clayburgh … More Silver Streak (1976)
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned (1998) Michael Apted directs Walter Mosley’s adaptation of his own novel, with Laurence Fishburne as Socrates Fortlow, an ex-con convicted for murder, who wants to set his life straight in Watts. One day at a time, picking up cans For recycled change, a recycled con Looking for any job he … More Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned (1998)
Sugar Cane Alley (1983) Euzhan Palcy directed this adaptation of Joseph Zobel’s novel Black Shack Alley that takes place in rural Martinique during the 1930’s. The film centers on a young boy, José, and his grandmother. Ma’Tine, as they struggle to rise in the world. The actress, Darling Légitimus, 76 years old, won multiple … More Sugar Cane Alley (1983)
Foxy Brown (1974) Jack Hill wrote and directed Pam Grier in this classic blaxploitation film about a woman who takes revenge on the mobsters who murdered her man. “Well who’s black and what is a black person?” – Pam Grier Beneath all the pop pizzazz, Jack Hill channels Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time … More Foxy Brown (1974)
The Black Garbo Nina Mae Back light turn you white And white’s way too tight. Nina Mae Whites don’t like color. Or sharing their power. Nina Mae Slay that “Dinah “ And steal Hallelujah! Call Harlem Seven-Seven-Eleven. See who still playin’ the dozens. Stereotype, all cotton is craps. Break to … More The Black Garbo
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