The mission of The Department of Afro-American Research Arts and Culture to identify the global significance of the creative contributions pioneered by an international diaspora of Blackness
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Showing posts with label Documentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Documentary. Show all posts

Friday, December 8, 2023

Wattstax (1973)







































"Wattstax" (1973) is an iconic documentary about the legendary concert known as Wattstax. Stax Records organized the event on August 20, 1972, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts riots. This multilayered film is strong in black culture, idealism, politics, music, style, fashion, language, art, dance, and beauty. Richard Pryor is the host of the film, and there are several excerpts from actors and everyday folks discussing life as a Black American post-Civil Rights.

The music in the film was nothing short of amazing. The concert was six hours long, but the film only showed parts of the entire show, including performances by Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Carla and Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Jimmy Jones, Rance Allen, Albert King, The Emotions, Little Milton, Luther Ingram, and more! Jesse Jackson also delivered his famous "I'm Somebody" speech, which Kim Weston followed by singing "Lift Every Voice."

This movie is one of the richest experiences of black culture. It was a moment when black people united for a common cause and celebrated with each other. Very few films can capture the essence of the black experience, but "Wattstax" did an excellent job of displaying the most profound aspects of Black Americans—comedy, music, dance, soul, and love.

Director: Mel Stuart

Starring Richard Pryor, James Alexander, Rance Allen, Raymond Allen, The Bar-Kays, Andre Edwards, The Emotions, Isaac Hayes, Luther Ingram, Jesse Jackson, Erik Kilpatrick, Albert King, Ted Lange, Little Milton, Richard Pryor, Mavis Staples, Roebuck 'Pops' Staples, Johnnie Taylor, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Kim Weston, Jimmy Jones, William Bell

Storyline
In 1972, at the Los Angeles Coliseum, director Mel Stuart captured the performances of the Watts Summer Festival. Stax Records organized the festival as a gathering of musicians and entertainers from the black community, brought together to remember the Watts Riots from seven years prior. Key performances include comedian Richard Pryor and singers Isaac Hayes and Luther Ingram. Stuart also presents shots of the Watts streets, community, and festival footage.

Saturday, September 18, 2021

Right on! (1970)




























Starring:
America's cities were caught up in a whirlwind of social protest, turmoil, and change. And on the hot streets of New York, a trio of young black performers, THE ORIGINAL LAST POETS, were creating a hip new form of guerilla poetry woven of soul, jazz, the blues, and gospel. Plus, something new all their own. 

Words syncopated and comic, crackling and potent, set to the very beat of the streets, the works of the Poets, Gylan Kain, Felip Luciano, and David Nelson, are today being credited as the tap-root of Rap. 

RIGHT ON!, the single film of the 60's to have captured the visionary brilliance of their work brings it all forward, from its award-winning bow at the Cannes Film Festival to the video audience of the '90s. Set on the streets, rooftops, and back-alleys of the Lower East Side, the film presents The Original Last Poets in the full range of performance from whiplash satire and power to tenderness and affirmation.