Charles Woods (aka The Professor) - The Real Reason Behind Blaxploitation
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- Picking up where "The Slap" left off, Black Film archivist and historian CHARLES WOODS (a.k.a. The Professor) explores the Real Reason behind Blaxploitation's rise as a film genre and its sociopolitical impact on Black Urban Unrest during the Late 60s. In this exclusive clip, he shares insights into the four films that led off this explosion: COTTON COMES TO HARLEM, SWEET SWEETBACK'S BADASSSSS SONG, SHAFT and SUPER FLY. Camera and Edit: Mike D. Archival clip and photo research: Charles Woods.
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I believe Gore Vidal said it best.
We lost the war in Vietnam. Then Rambo came out and we won it on the screen.
Yes! ReVisionism via Cinema. Not history but whitewashed HIS Story. Perception is the reality. Cinema is ideology. Motion pictures are big screen TVs...Television is REELY--Tell-A- Vision. Thank you for your support.
Peace and Blessings!!!
I grew up watching Rocky as a kid, and I am sorry I had never saw through this.
Very true.Program a new generation with misinformation.About the war. So you have one man that that can fight and bet a whole Vietnam army by himself. Revision history at its best.
@Prince Jaren They have turned this man into a real boxer. I didn't realize that he also Americanized Italians who at one time was not considered white. Also, they were always associated with being gangsters.
@Prince Jaren ...ain''t nothing ...''B-L-A-C-K-'''...about ...slyvester-stallone-...ITALIAN-'''...stallion...no...ass...LoL-'''
Reelblack is the intellectual version of Vlad TV. I love it.
Thanks for the luv, LaChundra ❤️✊🏾
I was scrolling n thinking exactly what u wrote!! YESS Queen
You're giving VLAD too too much credit.
Great comparison. Vladtv exploits our people.
@@reelblack PLEASE repost THESE interviews. They are most important in the times we live in. THANK YOU for the enlightenment in dark spaces. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
I saw all these 'blacksploitation' films when I was still living in Chicago and met Yaphett
Kotto before I moved from Chicago to New York in the 70's. In fact, I interviewed with one of Roundtree's former agents. The stereotypes this gentleman describes (black studs, dumb blondes, etc.,) all are established cornerstones of the film industry fashioned by the white male. And if you saw Charles Manson's last interview he stated, and quite accurately so, that "in the United States the black male (female) does what the white man LETS him do!" None of those blacks in show business, the media, or any place else has a career without adherence to that statement I just quoted and that is a LAW UNTIL ITSELF!
That law was presented to me in my twelve plus years in New York in no uncertain terms!
That in a nutshell is what this issue is all about. Had blacks followed the wise advice of
the brilliant educator/philosopher Dr. Carter G. Woodson, supported their own brilliant, independent movie producers (Oscar Micheaux, Noble Johnson, and others as far back as the 1920'2 and 30's!) and boycotted the white movies, perhaps our position would not be limited to sex objects (did you notice the Jim Brown pose showing just about all he had to offer the eye?), play things for the dominant group and their tokens, to give false pictures of a neurotic society in which, as Krishnamurti said when he came to this country and spoke on the college campuses: "no people should seek to be accepted!" I swear by that adage with no regrets!
Those who do not establish their own self definition based on solid historical, cultural
roots, and economic power will always have missing pieces as to who they truly are
filled in by another people. You can talk and complain til your asses come apart, nothing
will change until that solid, enduring foundation is established beyond question or doubt!
AND THAT IS A LAW UNTIL ITSELF!
Erick Dean Tippett
Retired Musician/Teacher
Chicago, Illinois
+Erick Tippett Thank you kind sir for your time to view and comment. The Hollywood Dream Factory has essentially been a real nightmare as far as Black representation is concerned. It is our attempt to expose how the Hollywood system presents negative concepts in a very subtle and perniciously covert manner. We have just presented a new clip on Hollywood Tricknology. I hope you get the chance to view and I hope you find it relative to your interesting perspective. Peace and Blessings!!!
+Charles Woods
Is this clip available here on the you-tube?
edt
+Erick Tippett ruclips.net/video/7chet-pdMyM/видео.html
AMEN, my brother! Well said. Even in the year of 2020, NOTHING has changed. With all the money Blacks earn in this country, we STILL own LESS land, property, and businesses than we did a 100 years ago.
You know he's speaking the TRUTH because he has the guts to actually call Sweetback a "piece of CRAP" which it is. Significant in modern Black film but not a well made movie.
Had real nuts to say that frfr
That blew my mind. I've never heard anybody dis Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song. I knew there was a good reason why it was my least favorite movie of that era.
The first time I saw Sweetback was a few years ago. I love watching movies from that era. But I was like, this movie is horrible! I don't think I even finished it.
These are excellent interviews!!!
Thank you. Do you have any topics you want The Professor to discuss?
Absolutely! I would like to ask, 1) "Whose stories would he like to see told on screen?" 2)"Is he currently working on any projects?"
+reelblack
so what are the ratchet reality shows purpose today? if the 70's had that effect on the riots at that time.
I can't even BEGIN to articulate the immense appreciation, awe and respect I have for you OG Woods...WOW and thankq from the depths of my soul!
thank you Mr, Woods for your insight! I enjoyed watching these films back in the day. I felt so empowered sitting in the theater! Keep up the great work! I'm a fan for life.
I would love for this brother to analyze the movie Claudine with James Earl Jones. I think it explains the breakdown of the black family with welfare. Much respect!
+DJ Kadilac Hello. Thank you for your time to view and comment on the clip. I loved Claudine. The soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield was also a great element of this film. Claudine depicted how economics can destroy black relationships. I thought it was important that this film portrayed a black man who was not going to allow the system to destroy his love for a black woman and her children. I thought that was a powerful message. Peace and Blessings!!!
Mr. Charles Woods, knowledge is without question, "Power". You are an inspiration sir. Peace
Back when I was in college in the '90s all the beer ads were recycling disco songs and I dug it. That led me to '70s films and, being a crate digger, I dug around for dope movies to play that weren't the usual 4PM movies I used to watch after elementary school. Shaft was my favorite movie from that time in college. I knew every line. I was never able to find another Blaxploitation movie that was that all-around great. Shaft was more than a low budget cash grab like so many others seem to be. Shaft was a well done movie. I only wish they would recut it with updated sound effects because the original audio track is pretty jarring, like every other movie back then. Looking around at other Blaxploitation movie options, I couldn't find anything that compared and always wondered why... These interviews are going a long way towards explaining why there weren't more movies like Shaft.
Brother Professor Charles Woods... I go way back with Woodie When he was at the the 43rd Chamber on 43rd and 8th Ave..When the Deuce was the Deuce!!! It started out the size of a closet..The Chamber was not only a place where you got your Blaxploitation and Shaw Bros. Kung Fu films on VHS.. from.. It was a place where you were educated hands on By Woodie.. I had the honor of having one on one sit downs with him discussing Black film. He is one of the reasons why I still have a passion for “The Soul Renaissance Era “as I like to call it instead of Blaxploitation .. He is also one of the reasons I’m still actively working on becoming a Filmmaker. Wu Tang and later other celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson, Wesley Snipes and Quintin Tartino Came to the chamber to absorb Woodie’s Knowledge and Buy VHS tales of films Like I said before your channel is Electric.. And Keep putting out this informative and cultural content.. And send Woodie a shout for me... Inshallah.... Peace and Power.
Brother Woods, I enjoy your wisdom immensely and I eagerly await reelback to add more installments of your divine knowledge.
+Welfare Dad My Brotha from another Mother--My Main Man--thank you for your support and time. You have helped me in so many ways. Thank you.
+charles woods Mr.. Woods, I owe you an apology. I had a knee-jerk reaction to your opinions of the so-called exploitation era. I re visited a few of those films I had watched when I was much younger, and your philosophies seem to ring true.
+Boy Doll I thank you not for your apology(I did not feel slighted by anything you said) but for your continued support. We learn from each other. I am no expert (God is The Expert). These are my views and my perspectives. However, constant research and review are the keys to finding TRUTH. I am EVOLVING and often finding the need to change some of the opinions and beliefs I've had in the past. Each one, teach one. Peace and Blessings!!!
reelblack, RIGHT ON! And, thank you for these superb interviews.
thanks for sharing this interesting commentary.
The 1st few minutes of this film was everything with the late great Issac Hayes on the score...it gets no better than that!!
am aware we all search and find our own truths , that said ,what a pleasure to stumble upon interviews like these shedding light on otherwise buried information , thumbs up reelblack ...
+Deon Richards Thank you kind sir for your time and nice remark. The search for truth is greater than the possession of truth. Be well.Peace and Blessings!!!
It was performative activism - 40 years later and it's still working! ...American Skin, Queen and Slim, Black Panther, and others.
Charles woods really break down black film. He definitely a intellectual.
I’m sitting in the best PhD class every time I listen to the professor. And I’m listening!
The perfect Shaft today would be Sam Jackson!...ok back to the interview. I absolutely love these interviews with Charles Woods, Baba Dick Gregory, Professor Griff. Keep up the good work always teaching me more. Thanx Peace and Love
Good stuff Mr Woods. By the way, I must agree with you. SWEETBACK'S BADASSS SONG was trash. LOL. But Sweetback didn't play. Remember they sent a bloodhound to track him? A few scenes later you see that dog submerged under bloody water.// The thing that I give Melvin Van Peebles props for is his tenacity in getting it made. He had a documentary out and he talked about it. And as you know his son Mario played him in the movie which was about the making of SWEETBACK'S.// I really enjoy the film clips that accompany your talk. I've only seen a few of these movies. I'm gonna check out more of them.
+jesushateswood Thank you for your continued support. I agree with you about Brother Melvin Van Peebles, he showed a great deal of determination to produce SSBAS. For a long time, it was regarded as the most commercially successful independent film. I believe his working outside of the existing studio system is Van Peebles' actual value and real legacy. It spurred the production of many features by small movie producers who competed with the Blaxploitation productions released by MGM, Paramount, AIP and Warner Brothers. As always, Peace and Blessings!!
+charles woods Are you the Charles Woods @ the 43rd Chamber in NYC? If so, I bought a lot of tapes from you in the 1990s. Thanks for keeping the conversation going...
+ryfleman Hello, I am guilty as charged. Yes, those were the good old days. Thank you for your support back in the day, and I hope you will continue to check out my attempt to continue the conversation on this channel. Peace and Blessings!!!
Thanks Charles - is there a way to send you a private message? I'd like to invite you to appear on another podcast. Thanks!
I want you to speak on how Hollywood takes ancient African beliefs and re-appropriates it into science fiction, X men, alien, etc.
good call man
+Gullah Gullah Interestingly enough with Star Wars right now, they're called Jedi. The Djedi were followers of Djed which is a column that symbolizes the backbone of Osiris and also looks like a lightsaber handle. Funny how a "Jedi" uses the "force" (like the kundalini in the spine and shakras, also related to Osiris and erections and the Dog Star or Death Star) to hold the sabers handle ( the Djed) and have an erection made of light that 2 men fight with, phallus worship referenced again. Also, the Djed was originally a tree fetish so it probably came from central Africa and was brought to egypt as egypt's landscape doesn't have many trees. Just my thoughts but I think the implications of the connections are staggering, as well as how so many stories like this become movies, shows, comic books, even heavy metal band themes at times.
I love to know his opinion about blaxploitation films. Personally, I love them. But, it was speculated that blaxploitation films didn't show black people in a good light. The protagonist was always black but he was usually a pimp, gangster or both. The antagonist was always a one dimensional enemy "the man". The real intellectuals of the time in the black panther party, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King weren't portrayed very well. Certain leaders in the black panther party were openly assassinated. A lot of these so called social breakthroughs in entertainment and media could've been and still are just planned distractions.
exactly.
These movies represented the last days of multiple raw black masculinity
What I don’t understand is,yawl I’m watching this and I’m gone keep it real….I think my soul just got to keep it real,the enemy they really tried to destroy us,but we are Godsend!💯💯💯👌🏿👌🏿We are Power!
I know you don't believe in me anymore Rock't , but I got me and I got this . I Got This.
Peace Mr Woods this is Tasheem from the 43 Chamber thank you for the memories.
Pierce Sullivan: Tasheem, the African Dream. Wow, it's been a minute. So good to hear from one of the 43rd Chamber's family members. The Chamber days were a great deal of fun and FANtastic socializing. And you helped to make that experience a pleasant reality. Hope you are well and I wish you and your loved ones all the best. Peace and Blessings!
man I'm Blown By Charles Wisdom Love it
Good stuff. I always learn things I didn't know watching these vids.
What he didn't mention is how they ruined our community. The pimp and drug dealer or robber.
This brother is the TRUTH need longer interviews with him & does he produce movies as well???
wow. i loved this.. AWESOME.. Thanks Professor for the knowledge
+econgloberfan Thank you for your support and favorable comment. This means so much to me; I am humbled by your words. Peace and Blessings!!!
Hi Charles! Oh you're welcome.
I am enjoying it! Thanks for taking me back to the films I enjoyed and knew were films that settled our anger and hostility during those horrific times. Maybe they will have to happen again to calm those people who are upset about what is going on today...differently but still to calm the problems and affect change for the better.
Imma focus and produce for the culture !
got mgm out of bank rups and the dude only get 12 stacks for his role wow fkn crooks man
We love you Professor Charles Woods
kymelie leonard: My love for you is RIGHT BLACK AT YOU. One love-each one, teach one. Thank you for taking the time to support ReelBlack. It is my goal to expose the oppressor's agenda: to maintain the status quo by programming us with non-stop messaging of white supremacy propaganda. We need to decolonize our minds. Stay safe. Be well. Peace and Blessings!
Thank you Professor Woods! I thought I was crazy all these years for not liking Sweetback. I could never say this for fear of starting an argument. Sweetback and Scarface have to be two movies that everyone likes but I find unwatchable.
Those movies are the best 👌. We need them back
I love his interviews. Please do more and more and MORE!!
So after watching this, I just realized... Mafia III is one of the first (I think?) big blaxploitation video games.
Wow! I grew up watching these films. And, this brother just put me in-the-mood to watch & re-watch these AMAZING CLASSICS. Cheers! Btw, I agree, 'Sweet Back' was crap. Lol.
you are right on point. My eyes have been open for a while. your videos are confirmation.
Saw em all, the kids and me at the drive-in; they had their hands over their ears because of the cursing--especially on "Sweetback"...whew.
Just stumbled on Charles Wood, love his interviews.
Ewrich " I sold you shoes" Great videos.
+Ewrich Brisman Hey my Brotha...much respect.You are a man of your word. Glad you like the content and thank you for taking the time to support our REELBLACK mission. BTW, thanks for your kind service in helping me get a great pair of shoes. I guess I'll remember you as my "sole" brotha who will help me "kick it" in the near future with my new foot wear. Peace!
Another great upload. Thank you!
Am I the only one that wishes Samuel L. Jackson had stayed on in the Star Wars series? He's the only actor I can think of that easily flows from serious to seriously funny, and is always just badass.
Who gives a fuck
Yes. Mr. Woods is on point.
Thank you for this incisive, necessary commentary, Mr. Woods! You've opened my eyes to quite a few things I was unaware of (e.g. Roundtree's fake mustache, Sig Shore as Reardon, etc.) as well as brilliantly framed the sociopolitical functions of the genre. One minor quibble: the actress Juanita Brown is credited as Juanita Moore. Be that as it may, thank you again! Are you a published author by any chance?
+Creswell Formey Thank you so much for your kind words. I am happy that you found this informative. Wow, I didn't spot the error with the misidentification of Ms. Juanita Brown---You were paying attention. Great catch. BTW, I think Ms Brown left Hollywood after her humiliating experience making the film Black Starlet. She is someone I want to speak to about her experience as an actress. Sepia did a story on her in the 1970's. FYI, Ron O'Neal wore a toupee in his role as Super Fly. I am in the process of having many of my lost monographs and articles, published many moons ago, updated and I will release three books on the subject of Black Cinema in 2016. Thanks for asking. The response to these clips has been very gratifying. And the knowledge and perception of the viewers are also very exciting and inspirational. ReelBlack is a great channel, and I appreciate the vision and mission of its creator. I find his respect for my perspective very humbling, and I am happy that this collaborative effort is receiving so many positive reviews. Be well. One Love. Peace and Blessings!!!
+Creswell Formey entirely my mistake on Juanita. Will fix for the DVD.
+Charles Woods Thanks for responding! So Miss Brown is alive and well? I've read all kinds of scuttlebutt on the Net that she might have passed. Hope she's well. I've never seen "Black Starlet"; did they pull a Lola-in-"The-Klansman" on her? At any rate, good for her to have escaped Hollyweird.
Wow, you're shattering all kinds of childhood illusions for me now...Ron wore a wig? Say it ain't so!!!
Please keep us posted on the progress of your publishing. I, for one, would snap all of your books up in a heartbeat. Thanks again, Professor!!! Godspeed.
+reelblack No problem. I didn't realize you produced DVDs as well! I'll have to visit your site! Thanks!
This guy is so brutally honest, I grew up thinking the same whey, that white women were the prettiest sexiest females on earth and white men was the only heroes. Until I saw these films showing Black People with pride & strength.💯
This is splendid.
I Love this guy!
You got a new subscriber. Great conversation💜💜💜
YES MR.WOODS I LOVED SHAFT AND SUPER FLY MYSELF .DIDNT TAKE NO MESS...WEVE BEEN THROUGH TO MUCH TO BE DOING LIKE WHAT I SAW ONE MAN WIPING THE SHOES OF A WHITE MAN WITH HIS BUTT.THEM DAYS ARE OVER..LOVED THIS
I've never even seen any man regardless of color wipe another mans shoes with his buttocks.
Shaft made 13 million on a $500,000 budget in 1971 and they only played that black man, Richard Roundtree, $12,000??????
Awesome interview and perspective. SWP brought me here.
Thanks for watching, rashb. What is SWP?
+reelblack Sagent Willy Pete. Also known as Infinitewisdom. Talks about black gender dynamics, racial dynamics, social issues and finance. He has a video called Thirsty Niggas in Star Wars and on that video he links 4 or 5 videos from this channel as well as giving Charles Woods props on what he is saying. He has two channels with the same content, I think the SWP one is the back up. I got this link from the Infinitewisdom one.
Thanks
@@rashb You typed the "N" word!
Damn that was good!
I will never attempt to argue with the grandmaster of black film but he is sadly mistaken about the film sweet sweetback grossed over 15 million dollars, which was phenomenal back then.
Yea the problem is Black money in the business will not pull together, that’s why I’m glad to see what Tyler Perry has done. We should be way further in the entertainment business, especially music cause everybody wants to do it
Love it
I enjoy your videos
Excellent interview.
What about the new Equalizer movies? Does anyone not see that as some sort of black empowerment movie or no, and why?
Very powerful insight. They still do this today with movies like 2012 and a ton of fake news stories that echo the sentiment of the times. Very astrological, very sociopolitical, very psychological.
Notice they never show you the producers because it was not us
So sad :(.Big James what do you do with such inspiration?
I want to be involved in this reelblack cinema movement
Slight correction cotton comes to Harlem was financed and produced by Samuel Goldwyn Jr, his father had sold his stake in mgm in the mid 20’s. The distributor was United artists.
Could it be happening again? Those Emmy nominations for Watchmen on HBO needs a deeper look.
Black Dynamite was hilarious. One giant reference to blacksploitation.
Richard Roundtrees mustache was real-----he almost shaved it off but Gordon Parks told him to keep it.
As A strong Black Man I too can take Very little of the truth at A time myself.But I have never forgot!God forgive Me!✌
The importance of imagery
Very informative. Inspired me to research the mentioned movies.
That's deep then know that..
Check ✔️ that two times nothing line. Can you dig it
Blaxpliotation... kick the man's ass! Bout damn time
“If you wanna see Shaft, ask your mama.”
Pam Greer! Cleopatra Jones, all em!
Looking for books from Mr. Woods. If you find a link please inbox me.
9:17... DAM!
Where does Charles Woods come from?? I'd love to read some of his stuff.
Soon. Very soon.
@8:21.. whooo look at that jiggle!!!!
+ogounlurker Yessssssss! My feelings exactly in a theater 43 years ago. This brother was on cloud 9. Thanks for your time to view and comment. Peace!!!
I love blaxploitation flicks. I like seeing the movies my parents went to see when I was a baby and black people stood up to the man.
Sidney Potier was never a favorite of mine. As a black man and as an actor I found him lacking. As an actor, he was always in a relationship with white women. And not that good an actor. But he came at the right time and he was acceptable to white people. He was the Obama of acting
how do you feel about in black superhero in media today? any connection to the violence toward black youth today?
*the rise
Right Sweetback was horrible all he did was run thru the whole movie
Real black can yaw get behind the scenes info on Across110th street?
Wood's theory of "rioting in the theater"[non-violent,mental catharsis],as a way of constructive channeling of justified black anger,seems to me,based on conjecture;and wishful thinking. i'd argue,that these films may have just as much,created anger,and, frustration,in black people,over the racial inequities;that,existed;and,still exist. both realities,are probably just about as true. IOW's, Blaxploitation,was an escape valve,and, an igniter of frustration,at one and the same time.
+brainsareus Thank you for your time to view and comment. Peace and Blessings!!!
***** thank YOU,sir. you've so much to say,and,you say it well.
wow
I think the concept, behind any start in "Hollywood" movies is/was, "...humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up...". We just need to make sure we are serving the Right Lord, and not a racist rascal.
Totally disagree with his comments regarding Melvin Van Peebles SWEETBACK
👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊
Sweetback was a a piece of crap, - I AGREE!!
CAN YOU DIG IT???
11:00
Yeah, but Charles...who was out front protesting the images of black people as portrayed in blaxploitation films? Was it not Jesse Jackson and his team of liberal "philosophers"? Did they not ruin the whole thing? Did it not stop black progress in cinema in its tracks for at least ten years until Spike Lee came along? Hello?
Shaft a false symbol OK he said it
I will always argue that there is no such thing as "Blaxploitation". While ironically it began as a foolish term from a jealous black man mad because he was passed over for a role in SUPERFLY, it is a non-word as nothing is being exploited...or for argument's sake, there is nothing distinctly being exploited more than in any white film. African-Americans have always been brainwashed to demean anything that opposes white supremacy, thus this ridiculous concept of "black exploitation" or exploiting something because the person is black or the subject matter is black.
Huh, I had no idea Tiger Woods' father was Charles Woods. Amazing.
I had to say it... if you wanna see shaft ask mama dwl