Blaxploitation

Blaxploitation is a portmanteau of the words "black" and "exploitation." It is a film genre which emerged in the United States in the early 1970s when many exploitation films were made that targeted the urban African American audience. The films featured primarily black actors, and were the first to have soundtracks of funk and soul music. Although criticized by civil-rights groups for their use of stereotypes, they addressed the great and newfound demand for afrocentric entertainment, and were immensely popular among black audiences.

Related Topics:
Portmanteau - Film genre - United States - 1970s - Exploitation film - African American - Actor - Soundtrack - Funk - Soul music - Stereotype

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Almost all blaxploitation films featured exaggerated sexuality and violence. When set in the North of the U.S., they tended to take place in the ghetto and deal with pimps, drug dealers, and hitmen. When set in the South, the movies most often took place on a plantation and dealt with slavery and miscegenation. Controversy was heightened by the fact that these films were often written and directed by white men, although movies created by African Americans with similar themes have also been labeled as "blaxploitation".

Related Topics:
North - Pimp - Hitmen - South - Slavery - Miscegenation

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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Urban League joined together to form the Coalition Against Blaxploitation. Backed by many black film professionals, this group received much media exposure and quickened the death of the genre by the late 1970s. Though still regarded as racist by many, some film scholars defend the cinematic genre as instrumental in bringing greater screen presence to African Americans. The films also paved the way for "mainstream" movies to deal with urban issues.

Related Topics:
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - Southern Christian Leadership Conference - Urban League - Coalition Against Blaxploitation - Racist - Cinematic genre

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