Hell Up In Hollywood: Soul Cinema and the 70s (2003)

Great documentary on "blaxploitation" films of the 1970's, featuring clips and interviews with many of the original participants. Whether you believe that these films reinforced negative stereotypes, acted as vehicles for empowerment (on- and off-screen), or both, this is an excellent introduction to this oft-neglected film genre.

Deacons For Defense (2003)

"Deacons for Defense" (2003) was a made-for-television historical drama aired on Showtime. Bill Dukes directed the movie, and Richard Wesley and Frank Military wrote the teleplay based on the story by Michael D'Antonio. The film features an incredible cast starring Forest Whitaker, Ossie Davis, Paul Benjamin, Jonathan Silverman, Chris Britton, Gene Mack, and Tyrone Benskin.

The Deacons for Defense and Justice was an armed African-American self-defense group founded in November 1964, during the Civil Rights era in the United States, in the mill town of Jonesboro, Louisiana. The first affiliated chapter was in Bogalusa, Louisiana, where the film takes place. The Deacons for Defense consisted of World War II and Korean War vets dedicated to protecting their communities from violent attacks from the Klu Klux Klan. 

The movie offers a lot of historical context and does an excellent job highlighting the story of The Deacon for Defense and Justice. Bill Duke's incredible direction captures some of America's darkest moments and the perseverance of a group of people who would no longer accept injustice. I highly recommend this movie for viewing. It may sometimes be challenging to watch, but it's the truth of American history.

Director: Bill Duke

Writers: Richard Wesley, Frank Military, Michael D'Antonio

Starring Forest Whitaker, Chris Britton, Jonathan Silverman, Michael Deane, Ossie Davis, Gene Mack, Tyrone Benskin, Paul Benjamin, Mpho Koaho, Melanie Nicholls-King, Serena Lee, Khafre Armatrading, Adam Weine, Beau Starr, Paulino Nunes, Aaron Walpole, Boyd Banks, Timothy Burd

Storyline

In a nearly forgotten true story, "Deacon for Defense" is about a group of Black men who boldly took up arms against the Klu Klux Klan to protect their community during the Civil Rights era.

Baadasssss! (2003)

Starring:

• Mario Van Peebles
• Nia Long
• Joy Bryant

IMDB.com
Melvin Van Peebles stunned the world for the first time, with his debut feature, The Story of a Three Day Pass. Filmed in France and selected as the French entry in the San Francisco Film Festival, Melvin's film was awarded the top prize. Saying it was controversial would be an understatement. In 1968 for a black man to walk up to the podium and accept the top festival award for a film he had to go abroad to make--now that's how you make your mark. After his comedy, Watermelon Man, Melvin was determined to push the Hollywood boundaries with the groundbreaking, and even more controversial, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Turned down by every major studio including Columbia, where he had a three-picture deal, Melvin was forced to basically self-finance. Risking everything he had Melvin delivered to the world the first Black Ghetto hero on the big screen--whether they were ready or not...

Soundtrack Review
Various Artist - Baadasssss! (2003)