Classified X (6)

Part 6 of 6

A history of the racially stereotyped portrayal of African Americans in cinema. Written and narrated by Melvin Van
Peebles, director of "revolutionary" film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

This part discusses Van Peeble's own revolutionary style and the birth of the "blaxploitation" movement.
Van Peebles is no angel, his films have been called exploitative, but this history is powerful.

Watch ALL 6 PARTS to see how stereotyped representations have evolved from early cinema to today.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• racism
• film
• black
• blaxploitation
• cinema
• media
• history
• images
• african
• hollywood
• culture
• Peebles
• rap

[Kur0iJin]

One big issue is people try to act like this never happend. That this country has always been accepting and that people of color are making things up to get hand outs. Whats ironic is I didnt even know this film existed till I got to you tube when did this film air? Thank you for posting this in its entirety.

[brian3206]

Everything u said is true. This country was built on corruption and slavery. The most racist shit ever is the whitehouse in DC. Come on the whitehouse these rasist politicans put it right in ur face in this country. Hatred,Racism,and Corruption are the evils that rule the world. Teachers in school need to teach real History. Martin Luther King was a great man and leader. But that is all they fuckin talked about. It wasn't until I left school I found out about real history.

[Hikaruai]

Great documentary, I was looking for it but couldn't find it anywhere. Good thing for youtube, thanks for the upload man

[MGSFan22]

Just saw it on Netflix and decided to come on here and read the comments, great documentary.

[darkdominance911]

respect

[brunoscarface]

Great documentary!

[guidofski]

Great documentary! Hearing from Peebles himself how the political and revolutionary intentions of "Sweet Sweetback" ironically gave way to the whole "blaxploitation" movement was fascinating for an avid film history student like myself.

Thanks for posting!

[thasaga87]

@brian3206 I agree with you completely. Black history is way more glorious and deeper then what we learned in schools. Black history goes further than just what we did here in America. We were kings &queens before we reach this place called America and I know God has plan and we will see glory again to the fullest and it's nothing the devil could do about it!!!

[xyzaffair]

Me too. I do think he makes really good points. But, he has to realize there are also white filmmakers who are not racist.

It 's true that white people have the most power over government and media control.

It's basically if the powerful people don't like, it can't be shown. Pakistan protests, edited history books, 2008 campaign protests, public schools now banning books portraying Black sterotypes.

All history is important. The more it is supressed the more it reappears.

[hotlanta71]

I hate whites like you. There's nothing more silly than a racist white person like you calling someone like me a racist.

Obviously you have some mental issues.

[JayRocFly]

its alright man, not only am i as a minority being undermined, but all races lower classes all together, now making us all idolize, chase, and throw away all our intellectualism for one symbol

$

[TheDarkLordinMD]

Damn Jews who run Hollywood!