1970s blaxploitation films: a lot has changed, but much has stayed the same

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[PAM GRIER PLAYED FOXY BROWN IN THE 70's]

Say what you will about the roughly 150 black action, horror and comedy films that came out between 1971 and 1976, the height of the blaxploitation era: that they were cheaply made, poorly acted, hyper-violent and glorified pimps, prostitutes, criminals and con men -- all those things are true, to a certain extent. But they were also utterly empowering, gobbled up by African American audiences desperate for strong, and recognizable, working-class heroes.

"These films made me feel proud in a way Sidney Poitier didn't; he was detached from the inner-city experience," says Josiah Howard, author of "Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide."

"These people spoke to me because they spoke like me, they looked like me, they had simple dreams like me," Howard says. "I came to these films as a young teen, and I could not believe I was seeing people like me, with big Afros, living in the ghetto. I thought, 'That's my life,' so it was uplifting for me."

Read the rest of story HERE in the Los Angeles Times...

Posted on 10:51 PM by Lisa Ford and filed under , , | 3 Comments »

3 comments:

zodcore said... @ October 12, 2009 at 1:54 PM

Whoa dude Pam grier is smoking. She defenitly paive a way for alot of black actresses.

Much respect to an well rounded(in and out of her art, cause I heard she can throw down on some sweet ass cooking)black woman and thank you Lisa or blessing us with a tight artical and this BOSS ASS pic of Pam Grier.

md20737 said... @ October 12, 2009 at 10:31 PM

Im not mad at Pam she looks great.. If it wasnt for her taking risks and sacrificing some black women wouldnt have the chances they have now.

KC in da house!! said... @ October 13, 2009 at 12:01 AM

I completely agree with both comments