AAS Final
Diahann Carroll
(1935-October 4, 2019) Starring in Claudine Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore Julia
Shaft
1971 Starring Richard Roundtree Importance opens up the Blaxploitation era in Hollywood
Flip Wilson Show
1970-1974 Starring Flip Wilson as Geraldine Jones Awards: 2/18 Emmys nominated for won Importance: generated towards black and white views which opened doors for African Americans in TV
Jim Brown
(1936-2023) James Nathaniel Brown (February 17, 1936 - May 18, 2023) was an American football fullback, civil rights activist, and actor. He played for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one of the greatest running backs of all time, as well as one of the greatest players in NFL history,[1] Brown was a Pro Bowl invitee every season he was in the league, was recognized as the AP NFL Most Valuable Player three times, and won an NFL championship with the Browns in 1964. He led the league in rushing yards in eight out of his nine seasons, and by the time he retired, he held most major rushing records. In 2002, he was named by The Sporting News as the greatest professional football player ever.
Fred Williamson
(1939-....) also known as "the Hammer", is an American actor and former professional football defensive back who played mainly in the American Football League (AFL) during the 1960s.[2][7][8] Williamson has had a busy film career, starring as Tommy Gibbs in the 1973 crime drama film Black Caesar and its sequel Hell Up in Harlem.[2] Williamson also had roles in other 1970s blaxploitation films such as Hammer (1972), That Man Bolt (1973)[2] and Three the Hard Way (1974).
A time to Kill
(1996) Starring Matthew McConaughey Sandra Bullock Samuel L Jackson Kevin Spacey Summary When Tonya Hailey, an innocent little African-American girl is raped and beaten by 2 beer-guzzling rednecks, the town of Canton, Mississippi is shocked. Her father Carl Lee Hailey is outraged, and figuring he could not see those boys set free, decides to take justice into his own hands and kills them in the court house, in front of numerous witnesses. Now it's up to Jake Brigance to get Carl Lee off the hook. He has people that help him, but he is up against tough D.A. Rufus Buckley. Will he be able to prove that a black man can get a fair trial in Mississippi?
Set it Off
(1996) Starring Jada Pinkett Vivica Fox Kimberly Eise Queen Latifah Directed by F Gary GAry Summary Black women who pull off bank robberies. Facts Queen Latifah becomes a star as Cleo who is a take charge character with unapologetic sexuality.
Jackie Brown
(1997) Starring Pam Grier Directed by Quentin Tarantino Summary The middle-aged stewardess Jackie Brown smuggles money from Mexico to Los Angeles for the arms dealer Ordell Robbie. When she gets caught by the agents Ray Nicolet and Mark Dargus with ten thousand dollars and cocaine in her purse, they propose a deal to her to help them to arrest Ordell in exchange of her freedom. Meanwhile Ordell asks the 56-year-old Max Cherry, who runs a bail bond business, to release Jackie Brown with the intention of eliminating her. Jackie suspects of Ordell's intention and plots a complicated confidence game with Max to steal half a million dollars from Ordell.
John Singleton
Who was the first African American director nominated for an Academy Award?
Louis Gossett Jr
Starring In Roots(1977 tv)
Jungle Fever
(1991) Spike Lee Starring Wesley Snipes as Flipper Purify [2] Annabella Sciorra as Angela "Angie" Tucci Spike Lee as Cyrus Ossie Davis as The Good Reverend Doctor Purify Ruby Dee as Lucinda Purify Samuel L. Jackson as "Gator" Purify [3] Lonette McKee as Drew Purify John Turturro as Paulie Carbone Summary A successful and married black man contemplates having an affair with a white girl from work. He's quite rightly worried that the racial difference would make an already taboo relationship even worse.
Malcolm X
(1992) Starring Denzel Washington Angela Bassett Albert Hall Spike Lee Directed by Spike Lee Facts Spike Lee who wanted a $33 million budget to make film—Warner Bros. gave him $20, ran over budget by $5 million, Lee got support from Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Prince, Janet Jackson and others to finish film.
The Body Guard
(1992) Starring Whitney Houston Kevin Coster Facts Film grossed over $122 million in the U.S. and $247 million abroad, and positioned Houston to be next black female star. Summary it was a thriller/melodrama with romance as Costner plays a bodyguard for a black pop star.
Mississippi Burning
(1988) Starring Gene Hackman Willem Dafoe Summary Fictional account of the FBI's role in pursuit of the killers of Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner. Facts Did not examine race relations in town nor really look at SNCC, Civil Rights film with no major black characters.
Waiting to Exhale
(1995) Starring Whitney Houston Angela Bassett Loretta Devine Lela Rochon Facts/Summary Film examines relationships all four women have with men. Bogel argues that Whitaker failed to examine what drove the women individually.
Driving Miss Daisy
(1989) Starring Morgan Freeman Summary An elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta can no longer drive. Her son insists she allow him to hire a driver, which in the 1950s meant a black man. She resists any change in her life but, Hoke, the driver is hired by her son. She refuses to allow him to drive her anywhere at first, but Hoke slowly wins her over with his native good graces. The movie is directly taken from a stage play and does show it. It covers over twenty years of the pair's life together as they slowly build a relationship that transcends their differences
Glory
(1989) Starring -Matthew Broderick -Denzel Washington -Morgan Freeman Facts Denzel Washington who won the best supporting actor award, making him the 3rd African American to win academy award. Summary Film based on all 54th Massachusetts, first all black regiment recruited in the North after Emancipation Proclamation issued in 1863 during Civil War.
House Party
(1990) Starring Christopher "Kid" Reid as Christopher "Kid" Robinson Jr. Christopher "Play" Martin as Peter "Play" Martin "Paul Anthony" George as Stab Lucien "Bow-Legged Lou" George Jr. as Pee-Wee Brian "B-Fine" George as Zilla Robin Harris as Christopher "Pop" Robinson Sr. Martin Lawrence as Bilal Tisha Campbell as Sydne Summary Rather than miss the party of the year, Kid sneaks out while Pop is sleeping. However, the door closing behind Kid awakens Pop. On his way to the party, Kid is stopped by the neighborhood police and runs into Stab and his brothers, jumps over a fence where a fat man named Roughouse is having sex.
William Marshall
(1924-2003) was an American actor, director and opera singer. He played the title role in the 1972 blaxploitation classic Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream (1973), and appeared as the King of Cartoons on the 1980s television show Pee-wee's Playhouse and as Dr. Richard Daystrom on the Star Trek television series. He was 6'5" (1.96 m) tall and was known for his bass voice.[1]
Cicely Tyson
(1924-2021) Starring in Sounder (nominated for best actress for golden globes and academy awards) The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968) Sounder (1972) The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974) Roots (1977) A Woman Called Moses (1978) Bustin' Loose (1981) Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) A Lesson Before Dying (1999) Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) The Help (2011) The Trip to Bountiful (2014) How to Get Away with Murder (2015-2020) House of Cards (2016) Last Flag Flying (2017) A Fall From Grace (2020)
Melvin Van Peebles
(1932-2021) He worked as an active filmmaker into the 2000s. His feature film debut, The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1967), was based on his own French-language novel La Permission and was shot in France, as it was difficult for a black American director to get work at the time. The film won an award at the San Francisco International Film Festival which gained him the interest of Hollywood studios, leading to his American feature debut Watermelon Man, in 1970. Eschewing further overtures from Hollywood, he used the successes he had so far to bankroll his work as an independent filmmaker.
Paul Winfield
(1939-2004) Starring in Sounder (Academy Award Nomination) Sounder (1972) Trouble Man (1973)Gordon's War(1974)Conrack (1974) Huckleberry Finn( 1975) Hustle( 1976)High Velocity(1977)Twilight's Last Gleaming(1977)The Greatest (1977)Damnation AlleyKeegan1978A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a SandwichButler1981Carbon CopyBob Garvey1982Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanCaptain Clark Terrell1982White DogKeys1983On the RunHarry1984Mike's MurderPhilip Green1984The TerminatorLt. Ed Traxler1986Blue CityLuther Reynolds1987Death Before DishonorAmbassador1987Big ShotsJohnnie Red1988The Serpent and the RainbowLucien Celine1990Presumed InnocentJudge Larren Lyttle1993CliffhangerWalter Wright1993Dennis the MenaceChief of Police1994The Killing JarJudgeAlternative title: Trapped1995In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is KingPapa Joe1995In the Flesh [de]William Stone1996Original GangstasReverend DorseyAlternative title: Hot City1996Mars Attacks!Lt. General Casey1996Dead of NightVernon1996The Legend of Gator FaceBob1997Strategic CommandRowan1998Relax...It's Just SexAuntie Mahalia1998Assignment Berlin [de]Al Spector1999Catfish in Black Bean SauceHaro
Charles Fuller
(1939-2022) was an American playwright, best known for his play A Soldier's Play, for which he received the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2020 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play
Richard Pryor
(1944- Facts -Born in Peoria Illinois -made a number of records and live stand up concerts Importance comedian focused on racism and black culture Stars in -Lady Sings the Blues (1972) The Mack ((1973) -Silver Streak (1976) -Greased Lighting (1977) -The Wiz (1978) -Stir Crazy (1980) -and some other 50 or some movies - had a tv show but only aired for 4 episodes
Diana Ross
(1944-...) Stars in -Lady sings the Blues(1972) -Mahogany (1975) -The Wiz (1978) -Out of Darkness (1994) -Double Platinum (1999)
Charles Burnett
(1944-....) Starring Several Friends (short, 1969) The Horse (short, 1973) Killer of Sheep (1978) My Brother's Wedding (1983) Bless Their Little Hearts (1984) To Sleep with Anger (1990) America Becoming (TV documentary, 1991) The Glass Shield (1994
Laurence Fishburne
(1961-...) Starring in Boys N the Hood Cornbread Earl and Me Fast Break Apocalyspe Now Willie and Phil Death Wish II Rumbele Fish The Cotton Club The Color Purple Quicksilver Band of the Hand The nightmare on elms steet
Eddie Murphy
(1961-....) Starring -Saturday Night Live (1980- 1984) -48 Hrs (1982) (debut film) -Trading Places (1983) -Beverly Hills Cop (1984) -Coming to America (1988) -Harlem Nights (1989) -Boomerang (1992) -The Nutty Professor (1996) -Shrek (2001) (academy award for voice of donkey) -Dreamgirls (2006) Facts -his films have grossed $6.6 billion, $3.8 in U.S. -His net worth is $85 million.
Whitney Houston
(1963-2012) Starring in The Body Guard (1992) Facts -died of drug over dose -compared to the liking of Dorothy Danridge
Martin Lawerence
(1965-....) Do the Right thing House Party Talking Dirty After DArk House Pary II Boomerang You so Carzy Bad Boys A thin Line between love and hate nothing to lose Life Blue Streak
Mission: Impossible
(1966-1973) Starring Greg Morris Summary An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.
Cuba Gooding Jr
(1968-....) Starring Coming to America Sing Boyz N the Hood Gladiator A Few Good Men Judgment night Blown away Out break Losing Isaiah Jerry Maguire As good as it Gets What Dreams May Come Chill Factor
The Mod Squad
(1968-1973) Starring Michael Cole Clarence Williams Peggy Lipton Tige Andrews Summary American crime drama series, originally broadcast for five seasons on ABC from The executive producers of the series were Facts - six Emmy Award nominations, - four Golden Globe nominations plus one win for Peggy Lipton
Sesame Street
(1969-.....) Facts -Educational show that aired on PBS for Children, using puppets to teach lessons. -Show had both black and white children, in 1970 the state of Mississippi banned it because of "its highly integrated cast of children." -Jim Henson creator of muppets was born in Greenville and raised in Leland.
All in the Family
(1971) Creator Norman Lear Importance It was the first show to commonly used topics such as racism, sexism, and religious bigotry, as the basis for plots. Facts Show attracted and held a large audience holding the number one spot for 5 years.
Jackson 5
(1971-1972) Starring: Michael Jackie Jermaine Tito Marlon importance: The first african american cartoon
Electric Company
(1971-1977) Importance Show used comedy to help elementary school children develop their reading and grammar skills. Cast featured black, white, Hispanic, and Asian actors, Starring -Morgan Freeman -Bill Cosby -Irene Cara.
Soul Train
(1971-2006) Created by Don Cornelius Sponsored by Afrosheen Facts -over 1100 shows (longest running until 2016) -had many groups and performers -had scarbleboard and soul train line importance showed the latest dances and clothing styles for the African American community
Ghost
(1990) Starring -Whoopi Goldberg -Patrick Swayze -Demi Moore Facts -Goldberg's character can see Swayze who is a ghost, film grossed over $200 million. -Goldberg became second African American woman to win academy award, won best supporting actress. Summary Sam Wheat is a banker, Molly Jensen is an artist, and the two are madly in love. However, when Sam is murdered by friend and corrupt business partner Carl Bruner over a shady business deal, he is left to roam the Earth as a powerless spirit. When he learns of Carl's betrayal, Sam must seek the help of psychic Oda Mae Brown to set things right and protect Molly from Carl and his goons
Mo Better Blues
(1990) Starring Denzel Washington Spike Lee Summary Bleek Gilliam is a talented and self-centred jazz trumpeteer, whose single-minded concentration on his music leaves many, especially the women in his life, scrambling for his attention. Bleek forms his own band The Bleek Gilliam Quartet, and a rivalry emerges with bandmate Shadow that threatens to tear apart the quartet.
In Living Color
(1990-1994) Starring Jim Carrey Jamie Foxx Tommy Davidson David Alan Grier Jennifer Lopez Facts TV comedy show, spin off of Richard Pryor show, developed by brothers Keenen Wayans and Damon Wayans. Also included other Wayans, Kim, Shawn and Marlon.
Buck and the Preacher
(1972) Directed by Sidney Poitier (his first film) Starring Sidney Poitier as Buck Harry Belafonte as Preacher Ruby Dee as Ruth Cameron Mitchell as Deshay Denny Miller as Floyd Nita Talbot as Madame Esther James McEachin as Kingston Clarence Muse as Cudjo Enrique Lucero as Indian Chief Julie Robinson as Sinsie Lynn Hamilton as Sarah Summary Set in the late 1860s in the Kansas Territory shortly after the American Civil War, a former soldier named Buck leads wagon trains of African Americans from Louisiana west to the unsettled territories of Kansas. In order to ensure safe passage and food for his company, Buck negotiates with the Native Americans in the area. He pays them, and in turn they allow him to kill limited numbers of buffalo to eat, and to pass through their land providing they do it quickly. A group of violent white men are hired by plantation owners in Louisiana to raid the African American wagon trains and settlements to either scare them back to Louisiana or kill them. The raiders attempt to kill Buck by setting a trap at his home. However, warned by his wife, Ruth, he escapes. While in flight he chances across Reverend Willis Oaks Rutherford, a shady individual masquerading as a preacher, and forces the preacher to switch horses with him. Although Preacher initially had a desire to get even with Buck, he changes his mind and decides to work with Buck after seeing the carnage the white raiders inflict on the African American travelers. Buck, Ruth and Preacher do whatever it takes to get the wagon train west, including ambushing some of the raiders in a brothel, robbing a bank, and when necessary taking on the entire band of raiders going up against them
Super Fly
(1972) Starring Ron O'neal Facts -Made over 11 million dollars in 2 months -soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield Importance -showed how a black man caould live on his own terms -very graphic sex scene
Sounder
(1972) Starring -Paul Winfield -Cicely Tyson -Kevin Hooks Facts Despite skepticism that film would be profitable it was made for $1 million and grossed just under $17 million. Importance The film was both a critical and box office success, and the National Board of Review ranked it as one of the Top 10 best films of 1972. Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield both received Oscar nominations for their performances, and the film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Taj Mahal's score was nominated for a BAFTA and Grammy Award, and 13-year old Hooks earned a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer - Male. Summary Taking place during 1933 in the depression era of Louisiana. Positive film about black family struggling after falther placed on chain gang. Hooks as the oldest comes of age with the hold of dog Sounder
Lady Sings the Blues
(1972) Starring Diana Ross Billy Dee Williams Richard Pryor Facts -based on life of Blues singer Billy Holiday -Ross nominated for Best Actress Summary Born Elinore Harris, Billie Holiday had a difficult teen and young adulthood period, which included working in brothels, both as a cleaning woman and a prostitute, and being raped. Through this difficulty, she dreamed of becoming a jazz singer. She got her initial singing break when she applied at a Harlem club that was looking for a dancer, but where she got hired as a singer. There, she met and fell in love with the suave Louis McKay. After this initial break, Billie wanted her singing career to move to the mainstream clubs in downtown Manhattan. She took a risk when she agreed to be the lead singer for the Reg Hanley Band, a primarily white group, who convinced her that she would have to make her mark in regional tours before her Manhattan dream could happen. As Billie tried to advance her career, pressures of life, including being a black woman, led to her not so secret substance abuse (especially of heroin), not so secret because of her increasingly erratic behavior, both on stage and off. As those around her, including Louis, worked to support Billie emotionally to get off drugs, Billie faced other issues, such as open narcotic use being a criminal offense, which in combination with the effects of the heroin use itself could be Billie's downfall despite her singing talent
Sanford and Son
(1972-1977) is an American sitcom television series that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977. It was based on the English sitcom Steptoe and Son, which initially aired on BBC1 in the United Kingdom from 1962 to 1974. Known for its edgy racial humor, running gags, and catchphrases, the series was adapted by Norman Lear and considered NBC's answer to CBS's All in the Family. Sanford and Son has been hailed as the precursor to many other African-American sitcoms. It was a rating hit throughout its six-season run, finishing in the Nielsen top ten for five of those seasons. While the role of Fred G. Sanford was known for his bigotry and cantankerousness, the role of Lamont Sanford was that of Fred's long-suffering, conscientious, peacemaker son. At times, both characters involved themselves in schemes, usually as a means of earning cash quickly to pay off their various debts. Other colorful and unconventional characters on the show included Aunt Esther, Grady Wilson, Bubba Bexley, and Rollo Lawson. Starring Redd Foxx Importance first show to feature blacks in situations that weren't essentially white
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
(1972-1985) Characters: Bill Cosby (narrator) Fat Albert Russell Bucky Mushmouth Dumb Donald Rudy Weird Harold Importance: these present ways of navigating through challenges of the ghetto of Northern Philadelphia
Claudine
(1974) Starring -Diahann Carroll -James Earl Jones Summary Carroll is raising 6 children as a single mother and is being courted by Jones who is a garbage man. Importance Film has strong inner city themes addressing welfare.
Uptown Saturday Night
(1974) Directed by Sidney Poitier Starred Sidney Poitier Bill Cosby Summary While enjoying themselves at Madame Zenobia's club on Saturday night, Steve Jackson and Wardell Franklin are held up by robbers who raid the club and steal Steve's wallet. When they realize that a winning lottery ticket worth $50,000 is in the wallet, Steve and Wardell set out to find the crooks themselves with the help of gangster Geechie Dan Beauford, who wants to defeat his rival Silky Slim. Steve and Wardell devise a plan to recover the ticket.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
(1990-1996) Starring Will Smith aka DJ Jazzy Jeff Summary Will Smith moves in with wealthy aunt and uncle Philip and Vivian Banks in Bel Air California. Smith plays a street smart teenager who moved from Philadelphia after getting into trouble.
New Jack City
(1991) Starring -Wesley Snipes Directed by Mario Van Peebels Facts Shot on a budget of $8.5 million, film made over $44 million. Summary -Examined the explosion of crack cocaine in inner city—set in New York. -1990's version of Super Fly with soundtrack.
Good Times
(1974-1979) Starring -Jimmy Walker -Ester Rolle -John Amos Summary Florida and James (renamed from Henry) Evans and their three children live at 721 North Gilbert Avenue, apartment 17C, in a public housing project in a poor, black neighborhood in inner-city Chicago. The project is unnamed on the show but is implicitly the infamous Cabrini-Green Homes, shown in the opening and closing credits.[2][3] Florida and James have three children: James Jr., also known as "J.J.", a budding artist and illustrator who thinks of himself as a "Casanova" type and achieves both success and rejection on his path to monetize his talent into a career; Thelma, a very bright girl who takes education very seriously as she sees it as a way to help her family and is shown attending high school and community college over the course of the series; and Michael, whose passionate activism and support for the Black community and Black issues causes his father to call him "the militant midget." When the series begins, J.J. is 17 (portrayed by 26-year-old Jimmie Walker, who was just eight years younger than co-star John Amos), Thelma 16 and Michael 11. Their exuberant neighbor and Florida's best friend is Willona Woods, a recent divorcée who works at a boutique. Their building superintendent is Nathan Bookman (seasons 2-6), who James, Willona and later J.J. refer to as "Buffalo Butt" or, even more derisively, "Booger." Jimmie Walker and Esther Rolle, 1974 The characters originated on the sitcom Maude as Florida and Henry Evans, with Florida employed as Maude Findlay's housekeeper in Tuckahoe, New York, and Henry employed as a New York City firefighter. When producers decided to feature the Florida character in her own show, they changed the characters' history to fit a new series that was well into development rather than start from scratch to cr
Let's do it again
(1975) Directed by Sidney Poitier Starring Sidney Poitier Bill Cosby Summary Two friends, Billy Foster and Clyde Williams, need to quickly find a way to raise funds for their fraternal lodge, the Sons and Daughters of Shaka.[4] It is incumbent on Billy to find the money because he is the treasurer of the struggling lodge. After Billy convinces Clyde that it is their best and quickest option, they decide to bring back a successful money-making scheme, hence the title. Clyde's special ability of hypnosis allows the two to set up boxing matches and then maximize profits by going all in on the underdog. Billy and Clyde take their talents to New Orleans along with their wives, Beth and Dee Dee to rig a boxing match. This is where Jimmie Walker's character, Bootney Farnsworth, comes into the fold. Bootney is lanky boxer that is overwhelmed in the initial sparring matches. His difficulty to impress anyone, even his coach, makes the odds of him winning lower by the day.
Mandingo
(1975) Starring Ken Norton Importance focused on sexual relations between owners and slaves, also had sexual relationship of slave with owners wife. Violence, power and control emphasized in film, part of black films released during the 1970s. Summary he film stars Perry King as Hammond, the son of cruel slave owner Warren Maxwell (James Mason). Hammond is known to rape the female slaves on his father's plantation, and his father orders him to marry a white woman to produce grandchildren with no black ancestry. Hammond marries Blanche (Susan George), his cousin, who becomes jealous that he pays more attention to his black lover Ellen (Brenda Sykes) than to his wife, leading Blanche to seduce the Mandingo fighting slave Mede (Ken Norton).
Cooley High
(1975) Starring Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Glynn Thurman Facts -Film looked at black teenage life, film was made with $750,000 and grossed over $13 million. -Film will inspire television shows about black teenagers—What's Happening in 1976 and The White Shadow in 1978. Summary In 1964 on Chicago's Near-North Side, Preach - an aspiring playwright - and Cochise - an all-city basketball champion - are best friends who are both celebrating the final weeks of their senior year with their classmates at Edwin G. Cooley Vocational High School. While sitting in class, Cochise sleeps while Preach comes up with the idea that Pooter, another classmate and friend, should fake a nosebleed so they can get out of class. As Preach and Pooter leave with the teacher's permission, Cochise, who is now awake, sneaks out the classroom's back door. After getting out of class, the trio meet up with another classmate who is sitting outside the school. The group then hitch a ride from school by hanging on the back of a city bus. The group end up at Lincoln Park Zoo, where they spend the day stealing snacks from the concession stand and antagonizing animals. After spending a few hours at the zoo, the group heads back to the neighborhood via train. Once back, the group shoots a few basketball hoops with some locals before Pooter states he needs to return to school before closing to retrieve his books. The group ends up at Martha's, a local hangout, where they run into another classmate on their way inside (Dorothy, who is giving a "Quarter" party at her house later that evening). While inside, Preach is shooting dice with two guys from the neighborhood, Stone and Robert. During the dice game, they encounter one of Preach's classmates, Brenda, in whom Preach shows an immediate interest. After Preach is chased out of the hangout by the o
The Jeffersons
(1975-1988) Starring -Isabel Sanford -Sherman Hemsley Summary Spin off of All in the Family focusing on the black family The show focuses on George and Louise Jefferson, a prosperous black couple who have been able to move from Queens to Manhattan owing to the success of George's dry-cleaning chain, Jefferson Cleaners. The show was launched as the second (and longest running) spin-off of All in the Family (after Maude), on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker.[5][6] The show was the creation of Norman Lear.[5][7] The Jeffersons eventually evolved into more of a traditional sitcom, but episodes occasionally focused on serious issues such as alcoholism, racism, suicide, gun control, being transgender, the KKK, and adult illiteracy. The epithets ****** and honky were used occasionally, especially during the earlier seasons.[2][4]
Drum
(1976) Mandingo Sequel Starring Ken Norton Pam Grier Yaphet Kotto Importance Film has scenes centered around sex, violence, and black resistance to oppression. Summary features a black slave who falls in love with a plantation owner's daughter. When the owner threatens castration, the slave plans and initiates a revolt.
Daughters of the Dust
(1991) a 1991 independent film written, directed and produced by Julie Dash and is the first feature film directed by an African-American woman distributed theatrically in the United States.[2] Set in 1902, it tells the story of three generations of Gullah (also known as Geechee) women in the Peazant family on Saint Helena Island as they prepare to migrate off the island, out of the Southern United States, and into the North
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings
(1976) Starring Richard Pryor James Earl Jones Billy Dee Willams Facts The film was a box office success, grossing $33 million on a $9 million budge Summary Tired of being treated like a slave by team owner Sallison Potter, charismatic star pitcher Bingo Long steals a bunch of Negro league players away from their teams, including catcher/slugger Leon Carter and Charlie Snow, a player forever scheming to break into the segregated Major League Baseball of the 1930s by masquerading as first a Cuban ("Carlos Nevada"), then a Native American ("Chief Takahoma"). They take to the road, barnstorming through small Midwestern towns, playing the local teams to make ends meet. One of the opposing players, "Esquire" Joe Calloway, is so good that they recruit him. Bingo's team becomes so outlandishly entertaining and successful, it begins to cut into the attendance of the established Negro league teams. Finally, Bingo's nemesis Potter is forced to propose a winner-take-all game: if Bingo's team can beat a bunch of all-stars, it can join the league, but if it loses, the players will return to their old teams. Potter has two of his goons kidnap Leon prior to the game as insurance, but he escapes and is key to his side's victory. As it turns out, there is a Major League scout in the audience. After the game, he offers Esquire Joe the chance to break the color barrier; with Bingo's blessing, he accepts. Leon glumly foresees the decline of the Negro leagues as more players follow Esquire Joe's lead, but Bingo, ever the optimist, cheers him up by describing the wild promotional stunts he intends to stage to bring in the paying customers
Silver Streak
(1976) Starring Richard Pryor Summary A somewhat daffy book editor on a rail trip from Los Angeles to Chicago thinks that he sees a murdered man thrown from the train. When he can find no one who will believe him, he starts doing some investigating of his own. But all that accomplishes is to get the killer after him.
A Piece of the Action
(1977) Directed by Sidney Poitier Starring Sidney Poitier Bill Cosby Summary Dave Anderson (Bill Cosby) and Manny Durrell (Sidney Poitier) are two high-class sneak thieves who have never been caught. Joshua Burke (James Earl Jones) is a retired detective who has enough evidence on the both of them to put them behind bars. Instead, he offers to maintain his silence if the crooks will go straight and do work at a youth center for delinquents. At first, the crooks are reluctant and unwilling (and so are the kids). As time goes by they gain the trust and admiration of the kids and they start to enjoy the job. All goes well until a past heist comes back to haunt them and they have to make up for it or else.
The Wiz
(1978) Starring -Diana Ross -MIcheal Jackson -Nipsy Russell -Ted Ross -Richard Pryor Facts -Black musical failed at the box office as Ross was criticized for being to old for the role -Other singers included Ashford & Simpson, Lena Horne (Glenda Good witch of the North) and Luther Vandross. Importance film launched Jackson into musical stardom after he connected with Quincy Jones who helped with the musical score. Summary
Different Strokes
(1978-1986) Starring -Gary Coleman -Todd Bridges (victim of drugs) -Willis Jackson -Conrad Bain -Dana Plato (victim of drugs) -Charlotte Rae Importance The show took on serious issues such as drug use, racism, hitchhiking, child sexual abuse Summary two children from a poor section of Harlem whose deceased mother previously worked for rich widower Philip Drummond (Bain), and on her deathbed asked him to take care of her sons, their father already being deceased. They live in a penthouse with Drummond, his daughter Kimberly (Plato), and their housemaid. They lived in the penthouse suite at 697 Park Avenue in New York City. As Arnold, Coleman popularized the catchphrase "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"[9][10] with the ending varying depending on whom he was addressing. Early episodes mostly address typical family sit-com issues, but as the series progresses, it sometimes focuses on more serious topics, including drug abuse, alcoholism, hitchhiking, child abuse and crim
Ragtime
(1981) Starring James Cagney as Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo Brad Dourif as Younger Brother Moses Gunn as Booker T. Washington Elizabeth McGovern as Evelyn Nesbit Kenneth McMillan as Fire Chief Willie Conklin Pat O'Brien as Delmas Donald O'Connor as Evelyn's Dance Instructor James Olson as Father Summary The story runs in the 1910's New York. Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Howard E. Rollins Jr.) is a black piano player. He has won fame and fortune playing with a jazz band. Some white men do not like this situation, and one day they assault him and spoil his brand new car. Walker tries by all means to get justice, without satisfaction. Data from: imdb.com
Purple Rain
(1984) Starring Prince 'Clarence Willams III Summary A young man with a talent for music has begun a career with much promise. He meets an aspiring singer, Apollonia, and finds that talent alone isn't all that he needs. A complicated tale of his repeating his father's self destructive behavior, losing Apollonia to another singer (Morris Day), and his coming to grips with his own connection to other people ensues
The Cosby Show
(1984-1992) Starring Bill Cosby Facts Show aired for 8 seasons from 1984-1992, it was biggest show on TV in 1980s and helped to revitalize sit-coms. Summary Centered on black family, the Huxtables, father was a doctor Bill Cosby, mother a lawyer Phylicia Rashad.
The Color Purple
(1985) Starring -Whoopi Goldberg -Danny Glover -Oprah Winfrey -Adolph Caeser Directed By Steven Spielberg Facts -Film earned 11 Academy nominations but won no Oscars. -Goldberg nominated for best actress, award went to Geraldine Page, "The Trip to Bountiful." Summary Set in rural Georgia in the 1930s, based on the book by Alice Walker, film dealt with race, gender, sexuality, and domestic abuse.
Krush Groove
(1985) Starring Sheila E. Joseph Simmons Darryl McDaniels Jam Master Jay Summary In this movie based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings, up-and-coming manager Russell Walker manages all the hottest acts on the record label Krush Groove Records, which include Run-D.M.C., Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and Kurtis Blow, while Rick (Rubin) produces the label's records. When Run-D.M.C. has a hit record and Russell doesn't have the money to press records, he borrows money from a street hustler. At the same time, Russell and and his brother Run both compete for the heart of R&B singer Sheila E.
Shes Gotta have it
(1986) Directed By Spike Starring Tracy Camila Jones Facts -Independent film shot in 12 days in Brooklyn for $175,000, made $7.1 million. -First major film Lee directed, he followed this up with School Daze (1988). -This film will launch Lee's director career.
The Hurricane
(2000) Starring Denzel Washington Summary This film tells the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, an African-American man who rose above his troubled youth to become a top contender for the middle-weight boxing title. However, his dreams are shattered when he is accused of a triple murder, and is convicted to three natural-life terms. Despite becoming a cause celebre and his dogged efforts to prove his innocence through his autobiography, the years of fruitless efforts have left him discouraged. This changes when an African-American boy and his Canadian mentors read his book and are convinced of his innocence enough to work for his exoneration. However, what Hurricane and his friends learn is that this fight puts them against a racist establishment that profited from this travesty and have no intention of seeing it reversed
I Spy
(9/15/1965-4/15/1968) Starring Bill Cosby (who played TV's first heroic African-American leading man) Facts had 3 seasons
Julia
(9/17/1968-9/23/1971) is an American television sitcom and the first weekly series to star an African-American woman in a non-stereotypical role. Previous television series featured African-American lead characters, but the characters were usually servants. The show starred actress and singer Diahann Carroll, and ran for 86 episodes on NBC from September 17, 1968, to March 23, 1971. The series was produced by Savannah Productions, Inc., Hanncarr Productions, Inc., and 20th Century-Fox Television.
Erving "Magic" Johnson
(August 14, 1959-....) Facts -Born in East Lansing, Michigan -(1979) as a sophomore @ Michigan State beat Larry Bird's Undefeated Indiana State Team -(1980) won NBA championship first seasons with Lakers -Won 1982 1985 1987 1988 Importance rivally with Bird help save NBA and leading the league to get a contract with CBS and move to cable
Roots
(Jan 23-30, 1977) Starring -LeVar Burton -Louis Gossett Jr -John Amos -Leslie Uggams -Sandy Duncan -Chuck Connors Facts Based on Nielsen ratings the finale is still the 3rd highest rated television program in America. summary Television miniseries based on Alex Haley's 1976 novel, Importance Brought American slavery to homes of many Americans.
Pam Grier
(May 26, 1949-....) Starring in -Coffy (1973) -Foxy Brown (1974) -Friday Foster (1975) -Drum (1976) -Appears in 38 TV Shows -Over 50 Films Importance: openning doors for black women playing sexy black women in this era. will play several strong sexy black women during the 70s
Whoopi Goldberg
(Nov 13, 1955-....) Starring The Color Purple (1985) Ghost (1990) Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955),[1][2][3] known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (/ˈwʊpi/), is an American actor, comedian, author and television personality.[4][5] A recipient of numerous accolades, she is one of 18 entertainers to win the EGOT, which includes an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award. In 2001, she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Yaphet Kotto
(Nov 15, 1939-March 15, 2021) Starring in -Live and Let Die (1973) -Drum (1976) -Alien(1979) -The Running Man (1987) -Midnight Run (1988) -Homecide: Life on the Street (1993-1999)
Will Smith
-AKA DJ Jazzy Jeff Starring in Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Cable Television
-In (1959) Lamar Hunt start the AFL (1960-1969), rival of NFL (1970) AFL merged with the NFL -(1970) the Jets lost to the Browns 31-21 in the first Monday Night Football Game played on September 21. - (1975) HBO first to deliver nationwide by satellite transmission. -(1976) the first basic cable network, launched via satellite: Turner's superstation WTCG ->WTBS (Turner Broadcasting System) Turner set up a cable network from a satellite feed so he could watch his Atlanta Braves baseball team from the Hood Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Howard Rollins Jr
1950-1996 Starring in A Soldiers Story
Boyz n the Hood
Directed by John Singleton Starring Cuba Gooding Jr Angela Bassett Laurence Fishburne Ice Cube MOrrist Chestnut Nia Long Tyra Ferrell Redge Green Facts John Singleton who became the first African American nominated for an Oscar as Best Director. Summary Film focused violence and conflict in the black community and not white racism—this arguably helped appeal to general white audiences.
Cotton comes to Harlem
Deke "Reverend" O'Malley, a con man, is selling shares at a Harlem rally, for the purchase of a Back-to-Africa movement ship to be called The Black Beauty. During the rally, several masked gunmen jump out of a meat truck and steal $87,000 in donated cash from the back of an armored car. Two Harlem detectives, "Gravedigger" Jones and "Coffin Ed" Johnson, chase the car, and a bale of cotton falls out of the vehicle, unremarked at the time. Though the authorities approve of O'Malley, regarding his "Back-to-Africa" movement as a way to solve American racial problems, both Jones and even more so Johnson are hostile towards him, viewing him as a charlatan who is exploiting the impoverished black community of Harlem. Captain Bryce—who has a portrait of Richard Nixon prominently displayed in his office—tells Jones and Johnson not to treat O'Malley as a suspect, orders that the duo ignore. Jones and Johnson go to the apartment of Iris Brown, O'Malley's mistress, believing he will come to see her at some point, but are called away. Iris is able to escape from the policeman sent to guard her. Iris is shocked to discover O'Malley seducing Mabel Hill, the widow of one of his subordinates killed in the robbery, leading to a fight between the two women and Iris being disillusioned with O'Malley. Uncle Budd, a scavenger, finds the bale of cotton and sells it for $25 to a junk dealer, but later buys it back for $30. There is a reward out for the $87,000, and Gravedigger and Coffin deduce that the money was hidden inside the bale that fell out of the getaway vehicle during the chase, leading to a violent search as rival gangsters seek the money. Iris tells Jones and Johnson the truth—namely that the robbery was part of a plan to allow O'Malley to steal the money without discrediting himself, but that he was double-crossed by his p
Mario Van Peebles
Directed New Jack City (1991) Baadasssss Heartbreak Ridge Jaws Panther
Black Entertainment Television (BET)
Facts -Launched by businessman Robert Johnson on January 25, 1980. -In initially aired news programs, but its programming was made up of music videos and black sitcoms. -Video Soul with Donnie Simpson became very popular program. -Established BET awards in 2001.
Music Television (MTV)
Facts -Owned by Viacom it was launched August 1, 1981. -Originally aired music videos with video disc jockeys called VJ's. -First video aired at 12:01a.m. "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. -In 1983 Michael Jackson broke MTV's color barrier when "Billie Jean" was aired. Run DMC's "King of Rock" considered first rap video to air in 1985.
Beatles
Members: John Lennon Paul McCartney George Harrison Ringo Starr From: Liverpool, England Why are they important: their introducction of music videos with clips of "Strawberry Fields," and "Penny Lane."
A Soldiers Story
Starring Charles Fuller Adolph Caesar Howard Rollins Denzel Washington Summary A black soldier is killed while returning to his base in the deep south. The white people of the area are suspected at first. A tough black army attorney is brought in to find out the truth. We find out a bit more about the dead soldier in flashbacks - and that he was unpopular. Will the attorney find the killer ?
A Dry White Season
Starring Donald Sutherland as Ben du Toit Janet Suzman as Susan du Toit Susannah Harker as Suzette du Toit Rowen Elmes as Johan du Toit Marlon Brando as Ian McKenzie Susan Sarandon as Melanie Bruwer Winston Ntshona as Gordon Ngubene Jurgen Prochnow as Capt. Stolz Thoko Ntshinga as Emily Zakes Mokae as Stanley Makhaya Summary Ben du Toit (Donald Sutherland) is a schoolteacher who always has considered himself a man of caring and justice, at least on the individual level. When his gardener, Stanley's (Zakes Mokae's) son, Jonathan (Bekhithemba Mpofu), is brutally beaten up by the Police at a demonstration by black school children, he gradually begins to realize his own society is built on a pillar of injustice and exploitation
Adolph Caesar
Starring in Che A Soldiers Story The Hitter Fist of Fear Rouc of Death Tarsoon Shame of the Jungle The color Purple Club Paradise
Angela Bassett
Starring in -Boyz N the Hood (1991) -Malcolm X(1992) -Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Tamara Dobson
Starring in Cleopatra Jones (1973) 1972Come Back, Charleston BlueUncredited[9]1972FuzzRochelle1973Cleopatra JonesCleopatra "Cleo" Jones1975Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold1976Norman... Is That You?Audrey1977Murder at the World SeriesLisaTV movie1979Jason of Star CommandSamantha12 episodes1979Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyDelora Bayliss1 episode1983Chained HeatDuchess1984Amazons Importance plays several strong sexy black women during the 70s
Morgan Freeman
Starring in Electric Company (1971-1977) Driving Miss Daisy (1989) Glory Street Smart (1987) Clean and Sober (1988) Glory (1989) Driving Miss Daisy (1989) Lean on Me (1989) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Unforgiven (1992) The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Outbreak (1995) Seven (1995) Amistad (1997) Nurse Betty (2000)
Denzel Washington
Starring in Glory (1989) A Soldiers Story Malcolm X The Hurricane
Wesley Snipes
Starring in New Jack City (1991)
Spike Lee
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of Black culture in America, directed She's Gotta Have It, Malcolm X, Get on the Bus, Bamboozled, and Do the Right Thing
Alfre Woodard
born November 8, 1952 Actress Starring in Remember My Name Health Cross Creek Sweet Revenge Extremities Scrooged Miss Firecracker Blue Bayou Grand Canyon Pretty Hatties Baby The Gyn in Betty Lous Handbag Passion Fish Rich in Love Heart and Souls Bopha Blue Chips Crooklyn
Room 222
is an American comedy-drama television series produced by 20th Century Fox Television that aired on ABC for 112 episodes, from September 17, 1969, until January 11, 1974. The show was broadcast on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 (ET) for its first two seasons, before settling into Friday evenings at 9:00, following The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family, and preceding The Odd Couple and Love, American Style.[1] In 1970, Room 222 earned the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Series, while Michael Constantine and Karen Valentine won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively.
Blacula
•1972 •Director: William Crain •Stars William Marshall as Mamuwalde/Blacula•Produced by American International Pictures (AIP) (Lawrence (18) calls them the "quintessential exploitation picture producer") •First ever black horror monster portrayed in film •70% of the audience was black•earned $8 million at the box office •Won "Best Horror Film" at the Saturn Awards (for science fiction and horror)