Blaxploitation Backlash | Ron O'Neal and Hugh Robertson in 1972
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- Опубліковано 4 лис 2024
- Actor Ron O'Neal (Super Fly) and Director Hugh Robertson (Melinda) discuss the Black Film Dilemma / backlash by the Negro Establishment against Black Films with host James Earl Jones on this public TV show from 1972. Presented for historical reference. I do not own the rights. Feel free to like comment and subscribe.
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This channel always seems to surprise me. Who’s ever behind this channel is a genius and deserves public appreciation. This is real black media
A lot of the appeal of Superfly was the charismatic performance of Ron O'Neal and the excellent soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield.
Excellent interview. Rest in peace to Mr. Jones and Mr. O'Neal
This is from the short-lived 1972-73 public television show “Black Omnibus” which James Earl Jones hosted from Hollywood. Such insightful, mature and evocative discussion among black people. “Like It Is,” “Soul,” “Say Brother,” “Black Omnibus” and many others were crucial when they were current, and they’re crucial now for their historic importance. We must get back to this.
I was aware of "Say Brother" and "Soul" because of the music.
U can't tell me James Lipton didn't use this exact setting as his case study lol
I always watched Say Brother and found it important and knew Boston public t.v. changed for the worst when it stopped airing.
Three BROTHERS shown with RESPECT speaking on aspects in the Black Community ----- so MUCH KNOWLEDGE being ARTICULATED -----
Amazing TV, interview, intelligence, Pride and respect. Thanks for sharing this clip
Ron O’Neal and William Marshall were Shakespearean-trained actors whose legacies have been relegated to a reformed drug dealer and a black vampire. I think it’s disappointing that they weren’t offered roles that matched their talents. (Sorry, just venting)
King J-dub
There were always many, many positive scripts that were written for black actors that Marshall & O’Neal could play. The problem then is the same as today.....you cannot get film studios or entrepreneurs to put up the money.
REMEMBER: James Baldwin had written the script for MALCOLM X decades before Spike Lee was influential enough to get it financed.
Hollywood studio vaults are filled with unproduced film scripts by and about black folks that are not stereotypes. And when one does manage to get made, studios will not promote it. EXAMPLE: SCHOOL DAZE.
Don’t take my word on it: Ask Spike.
Unfortunately
I always thought Superfly hurt Rons career to be come a major box office Actor!! He got boxed in..and he never got to expand to other roles!! R.I.P. Ron O'Neal!!!
I remember seeing a interview on The View years ago with Paul Rubens aka Pee Wee Herman. William Marshall had a recurring role on Pee Wee's Play House. Rubens recalled the deference and great respect Whoopie Goldberg who also appeared on the show had shown William Marshall and Rubens didn't understand it during that time until it was explained to him by Goldberg that this great Shakespearean trained actor never reached his potential as a actor due to racism in Hollywood. Was never a fan of Goldberg but gained a a certain amount of respect for her learning that story.
@Donald Allen racism hurt both Ron oneil and William Marshall career...racism in Jewish Hollywood...point blank period
Ron really showed All of us his Education. Intelligence, ability to communicate well he just let us know that he was serious about his craft. That interview was great and enlightening.
Rather than make a strong, coherent argument to support his movie he chose to attack black leaders who felt like the movie was detrimental to a black audience.
Ron O'Neal was a Shakespearean Actor and I love how James Earl Jones mentioned that the Shakespeare stuff is violent
They need to bring back interview formats like this...but the host and guests must be interesting, like these gentlemen. Great conversational piece. I got a lot out of this short piece. No corny graphics or elaborate set...just grown men sitting down giving their spill...
@Kenneth Danzy true this is good content that challenges and stimulates the mind however media of nowadays is all about "entertainment - twerking, rapping and fighting " nothing for the intellectual minds unfortunately!😱
Kenneth Danzy i agree. The problem with that is there’s no audience for this type of show today. Unless it’s a political news show. Millennials don’t have the attention span to catch on. The baby boomers will love it but its not a good sell cuz the networks demographic is targeting 18-35 not 40s, 50s etc. It’s a shame cuz this is a great format.
These brothers are very articulate you can hear the theatric training in their voice!
Listen at how cool these cats are talking...cool, calm and collected..💪💪💪
Real men droppin jewels 💎
'Superfly' was one of my favorite movies of all time, not because it glamorized drug dealing or pimping, what I liked about the character Priest was:
1) He was intelligent.
2) He stayed in shape.
3) He DIDN'T want the violence.
4) He was socially conscious.
5) He didn't want to do what he was doing.
6) He wanted out of 'The Game.'
7) He outsmarted the corrupt, RACIST, white SYSTEM at the end.
I was impressed by Super Fly. I had the great pleasure of interviewing Ms. Sheila Frazier during this exciting era. She is a CLASS ACT. And one of the few survivors of this iconic movie. It was a box-office smash. And Curtis Mayfield's score was spot on. Musically, it presented a clamorous condemnation of drugs and the world of pimps. The Super Spade Era of the 1970s could have evolved into something more reflective of Black reality and authenticity. But it was not allowed to flower as a Black Aesthetic because Black Artists failed to work collectively and cooperatively toward the creation and sustaining of their own movie empire. One that should have had the goal of being independent and counter to the culture of mainstream Hollywood. The obstacles that existed during the 70s persist and prevail to this day. A fragmented and non-supportive audience, impatient critics, ego driven artists, and projects reflective of a reliance on jaded and risk-averse material. Also, the perpetual reluctance of Blacks to build an empire solely dependent on Black capital. Will this day ever arrive???? Thanks for your viewing support. Peace and Blessings!
charles woods Agreed! I appreciate your reply, and greatly respect your work Sir!
415Xit! I agree with what you said 100%. A lot of people did not pay attention to the positive message within the film.
jazziccoolcat Glad that you caught it TOO Fam!
415Xit I agree with you.100% and all of that is what most people overlook about the character.
I love how well they actually speak
@Free Spirit clown because the role they played in those movies was dumbed down. Or did you even watch them idiot
@Ross Mark wtf you talking about
@Ross Mark Bro I'm Black so how that's even the same. Plus I can't compliment my brothers. You sound crazy. Any black person who is doing something good I will big them up
@Free Spirit Reminds me of that stand-up bit that Chris Rock did where white ppl think they're giving educated black folks a compliment by saying "he speaks so well!"
"They speak so well.." 😁
Glad this came up, in my feed. I really enjoyed this conversation.
6:30 Ron O' Neal perspective on black organizations in 1972 is still relevant today.
David David caught that too
And just like drug dealers and rappers of today when asked about the negative implications of what they do, Ron rambled incoherently and criticized those who raised the criticism. He never really gave a good reason for why those types of movies aren't negative, harmful portrayals of black people.
100%.
I as a 44 years old Blackman was never the one who look up to and champion the hip hop artists glamorrizing with their rapping all that street stuff i never look up to the negative portrayal of Black people with the Blaxploitations such as The Mack, Superfly, etc.
@@xman9190 Facts.
This was filmed in 1972, yet its still very relevant today in 2019. JESUS, come get us!
Speaking of where we are today, do you mean with our communities being overrun by drug dealers and criminals? Did these movies contribute to where we are today? Given the number of commenters that love this sh*t you'd have to think so.
@@xman9190 i agree. These movies glorified thug and ho life. Made it cool. With the absence of fathers in the home, young people want and mimic coolness. Therefore their morals are lessened. Music validates the movies. Then they birth children early. No fathers in the home. They mimic what the y see in films and music. Their morals are even worse than parents. And so on and so on
@@ertfgghhhh did not you and the idiot above you hear the man in the video say the movie was showing what was already going on in real life.
@@wcp4jc why are u so angry, sir?
@@ertfgghhhh Hes not angry hes pointing out what you failed to address in your post. Let me repeat it without calling you an idiot 😂. All the movies did and music. . was tell what was already going on in the streets
This in 1973. I'm watching in 2020. N we having the same convo. Same game. Different quarter.
I was born in 77. From the day my mother brought me home to the day I started Kindergarten I probably heard the Superfly soundtrack at least three times a week. I couldn't comprehend every word he wrote but I got the message....EARLY. One of the reasons I never touched drugs or alcohol was because of the soundtrack. It scared me. I didn't see the movie until I was 13. I don't know if I would have the same story if I was 13 and saw the movie when it was first released.
I was very impressed with Ron O’Neal on this clip. Unfortunately what he described still goes on today.
I like how Ron O'Neal keeps saying the word "actual." A lot of people refuse to accept that black art is mostly based on reality. . It's a realism approach, where the artist presents the world as it "actually" is instead of how he wants it to be.
TALK TO EM
The problem is the world perceives this art as the reality of ALL American black people and it isn't.
Films of that era, is partially why I write today...it's "epic" to me !
It was and is what it is Super Fly was one of the most powerful and real movie I have seen , and for once the Husler got out and reform his life ,again great movie it was
this something I have been looking for for 30 years, saw the very end of it once back in 1973 on PBS,,,,,,,AND IT DISSAPPEARED until now ,,, reel black you always surprise me
Super Fly a realistic entertaining well paced film. Reflected society well . Ron O’ Neal great actor .
respect the answers and replies given
Great conversation that can b applied to today
Yes!, this is the substance of life.... very well spoken towards the Duality between the colors liens of Black and white, Thank u Mr, O'Neal. Life is duality.... challenge. The original Super Fly will remain supreme.
My father was a friend of Ron Oneal's brother Leon here in Cleveland Ron's cousin Andre I've known since kindergarten and we were army buddies during our time in the military together back in the 90s I used to work at Karamu house here in Cleveland as an acting instructor in a resident in-house actor the same place were around O'Neill got his start.
Thank you for posting this. I remember this interview. Hopefully this type of interviewing and dialog will be regenerated. Foundational Black Americans need this!
Brilliant men including Mr.James E.Jones👍
This channel never fails to keep me on my toes it's by far the best black historical, and modern day channel on UA-cam bar none! Thanks for all ur content ♡
Fantastic and blessing I found this channel some weeks ago. You made a great comment. Enjoy
@@jamel0901 thx fam
These guests are very articulate as they are putting it down I guess it's surprising to some people. The roles these actors played back in the days was the scenario that was actually happening in our communities back in those days they were just merely playing the role of the stereotypes they were created by the conditions that we had to live in. The conditions that was created by Society..
Really enjoyed this interview,
My parents prohibited me from seeing the Blaxploitation films. I did not see Shaft and other movies until the invention of the VCR. We have always needed balance in terms of how we are portrayed on screen. My parents did take us to see “The Bus is Coming “. We talked about the movie. The challenge will always be the fact that the film industry is a business that is driven by ticket, DVD and popcorn sales.
Airborne Richard Donner (if that's his name) he's the director of the lethal weapon franchise,he stated that the best thing to do when making movies is to create entertainment and then you sprinkle educational/moral stuff in it. If you do it any other way
@airborne My parents wouldn't let us see superfly. I didn't realize then but now I know why. It was a lot of bad publicity about that movie. No disrespect but I know my mother were just doing the best she thought for her kids.😪So Sorry for what the AA had to go through.🙏💪
Thank you for sharing. This is still relevant today.
You are so welcome!
"Ask him his dream
what does it mean?
He wouldn't know.
"Can't be like the rest"
is the most he'll confess.
But, the time's running out
and there's no happiness.
SuperFly,
You're gonna make your fortune
by and by.
But, if you lose
don't ask no questions why.
The only game you know is Do Or Die,
high, high, high."
Curtis Mayfield 1972. That was beautiful 🙂 long live the word of the streets.
I can hear the bass and horns of Superfly.
My brothers were so intellectual back then. What happened to our people now can't even have a intellectual conversation with out passing judgment or violence united the mind and stay free.
aaron martin Jan 23, 1977 Roots Aired On Channel 7. That Whole Week The U.S. Was Locked On T.V. Fast Forward That Very Next Week No Acknowledgements From The President At The Time To Establish Dialogue Between Black And White. That Was The Point To Establish Reparations By Equalizing All U.S. Schools. If That Would Of Happened We Probably Would Not Have The Commander And Joke We Have Now.
Ron O'Neal is SuperFly.....
Ron O neal is a real OG ...Ohio boys is intellectuals ..Education is Important and we must use our wits to make it
Yes J.E. my brother lives in Dayton, the greatest funk band city in America!
No doubt. I grew up in Dayton watching them play.
wow this is,great stuff here!Ole Ron looking pretty dap!
this is awesome. never knew about this show. this channel rocks!
Rip Mr Ron O'Neal you are my favorite actor of all time ♥️♥️♥️♥️✊🏾✊🏾♥️✊🏿♥️✊🏾♥️✊🏿✊🏾♥️✊🏾♥️✊🏾♥️✊🏾♥️✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿♥️🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾✊🏿🙏🏾✊🏿🙏🏾✊🏿🙏🏾✊🏿🙏🏾✊🏿
KEEPIN IT 100!!!
Darth Vader can get his roles, get his money and he is gone!
Last time I saw James Earl Jones was about 20 years ago, and I thought at first he was an old white man.
The character Ron O'Neal played in Superfly was someone, an individual from the Streets, that was REAL and that one could actually relate to!
Ron O'Neal, you will ALWAYS be remembered, RIP!
Wowl...so much in a short interview. Thanks for the post.
A very thought provoking upload- respect!
This discussion is super black itself
Growing up in Nairobi , we loved the soundtrack just as much, Superfly & Shaft soundtracks were huuuuge
Fantastic curation. Please keep up all the hard work. It's appreciated.
Man, I been searching for interviews involving Ron ONeal. I seen a few but this is the best.
Wow! A very impressive meeting of minds.
He's Spirit will never die! RIP!🙏👌
Thank you thank you!! Don’t know where you found this, but this is the interview I never heard, but always wanted to hear 👂.
When i first saw Superfly in 1972 living in Harlem at 16 years old i saw him as a hero at the time then as i got older and got the full view of how we was portraited on the big screen in a negative light as a big time drug dealer i became offended because we was being sterotype in this image of a black man wanting to make it out of the ghetto by selling his people drugs instead of showing us in a educational positive way of educating ourselves to make it out of the ghetto, we are either pimps hookers, robbers junkies or drug dealers on the big screen anything that was in a negative light so we are responsible of the roles we play that has an affect on our youth.
To all interested Superfly movie came to Downtown Chicago and I tell you I was waiting in line with my older sister and older cousin all the pimps and drug dealers we all had to see the movie Superfly staring Ron Oneal what an experience .My mom put out a missing person on us and if the police would have picked us up it would have been for curfew violation yes even though I was to young to get into the movies I was allowed this one time now we have Superfly 2018 that I really enjoyed as well.
Happy to hear your story.
I was not allowed to see it then. When I was an adult , I rented it. I was not impressed
Thank you for sharring this narrative
Excellent channel. Thought provoking and historical.
What a piece 👏
Loved the interview and depth of intelligence all these brothers displayed. However, a common thread I heard them mention is how we as blacks speak out against one another in the media as opposed to addressing issues in private.
I grew up in them films loved them.all it was real life on the streets
What a great perspective from Black hollywood insiders during this period of Black films. Especially from two men involved in two of my favorite films from that era... "Melinda" and "Super Fly." Two very different films with two very distinguishing plots. As is said during this interview, one is as far removed from one another as "Buck and The Preacher" was to "Sounder." And yet, here we are in 2023 faced with much the same problem and that is, not enough diverse stories being told about Black ppl. It's either hood flicks or comedy films with very few exceptions.
Loved Melinda. A big Vonetta McGee fan. Calvin Lockhart, Mr Cool as always. An excellent film
This clip confirms why i like reelblack. I NEVER seen this b4, and yet, I’m seein it for the first time. The so-called “Blaxploitation” films died out only cuz they weren’t makin the numbers anymore. By ‘76-‘77, Jaws, Star Wars came out. The studios were thinking “these films are making much more than the black films. We don’t need them anymore.” Hence why a lot of the actors of the genre disappeared. Minus Fred Williamson who took control of his own career and did his own films.
Great insight, but Fred Williamson movies didn't play in 1976-77. He had to go to Europe to be relevant
I call reelblack The Black PBS.
Good points brought up by Ron.
About a year after this telecast, Max Julien said "if Max Julien & Ron O'Neal starred in The Sting, it would be considered blaxpolitation". HE'S RIGHT. The Sting starred Paul Newman & Robert Redford. It was about 2 hustlers getting together to pull of the ultimate con. The Sting won The Oscar (academy award) for Best Picture in 1973
I only wish Ron O'Neal could be here today. This film showed what was and still is happening in not only the black community but in white communities around the country. The game NOW is Fentanyl where this drug is 100 times deadly as cocaine. Ron O'Neal was trained in Shakespeare for one. He spoke so much truth in this interview. I am writing this 12-6-2022 Notice in SuperFly 1972 who was doing the violence he fought back. No black child says he or she wants to grow up being a drug dealer. Just look at the news today. They rarely speak of a cocaine OD it's that Fentanly that killing people on their first or third use. I have seen this close up.I am a Emergency Room Nurse in New York City. All that being said sleep peacefully Mr.O'Neal I still dig the hell out of you. PS I seen the 14 times yes I did .
Love me some Ron O’Neal ❤
I love Ron O'Neal movies his best movie was the hitter but Superfly was the shit. And he looked like my uncle bill merriweather.
The Hitter was a underrated film. You can find it on youtube.
You gotta thank the channel you on right now for that sir.
YES! The Hitter is my favorite! I have my father VHS after all these years.😇
Love the point Ron makes about can you expect unilateral support from all black organizations, and, the laughter of James Earl to that point.
Your channel always dropping 💎
Thanks for sharing this interview.
These guys were very talented and we’re headed to power in the industry. The black leaders destroyed these guys end game. These guy were the future of Hollywood.
Jimmy Jones looking young
During a time when you could enjoy a smoke anytime anywhere, including a television interview.
This video is so real he has the super fly jacket on an he’s smoking
Why do people fool themselves into the belief that wayback Hollywood wanted us with open arms. The junk still today exists in the city of angels.. Give mad respect to those brothers working it out. I try not to sound like the best days are behind for my people, Now we've got sisters and brothers whom have enough paper to make there own dam 🎥 !
It was this genre of film that saved Hollywood and provided seed money for blockbusters such as GODFATHER, JAWS, STAR WARS and SPACE ODYSSEY.
Chris Johnson
Exactly! That's why they were called Blaxploition films.
Don't get me wrong I grew up on Superfly and the soundtrack still bangs. But Blaxploitation did nothing significant for black folks and unfortunately the same can be said about rap. In the 21st Century we are still chasing this dream of being Super blacks instead of emphasizing more realistic and legitimate ways of living. I was listening to Ebro in the morning and those ass wipes had the nerve to say the only way a black man can be successful is in the sport or music industry. I know vastly more black entrepreneurs and PhDs than I know of sports and entertainment stars. The Super Black ideology is a myth, just ask all those 40 and 50 year old pimps, drug dealers, and gang bangers you grew up with.
Well said Sir 👏!
They had so much style and class in the 70s
This is a conversation that only occurs with black film. Because in other films the white guy is both the good guy and the bad guy. An actor should never be demonized for taking a role. No one demonized Marlon Brando for playing a Mafia Don. An actors job is to perform . It's just that simple. To be faithful to the word on the page. I remember Glynn Turman talking about the "Black exploration " era and he said we called it work.
Superfly is one of favorite movies. And it had the best soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield. Ron O'Neal was so handsome
Superfly was a brilliant piece of film making of it's time. It ultimately portrayed the awful conditions and situations the American ghettos showing the lack of opportunities and the constant questions on morality in a systematic racist country.
Ron o Neal is a class actor
Ron Was Very Intelligent
Very intelligent black men
Black celebrities and black fans can come together and create our own movie companies. Black celebrities and black fans we don't need Hollywood.
Blacks own their film now! 2029 Tyler Perry studios!!! Black excellence!!
Incredible insight. Crazy part is : how different is it today ? 🤔
It’s funny for me to hear Ron mention The Nation of Islam, because around the same time this discussion was filmed, I was an 8 year old member of The Nation of Islam at Muhammad’s Mosque on 56th Street and Broadway in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Muslins held a Bazaar at this time at the LA Coliseum and Ron was there. He looked exactly as he looks here. Same hair style and clothes. He passed right by me as I watched him in awe....
I saw SuperFly as a film about a Black man trying to break out of the stereotype
Superfly was a serious body of work with the Real Mr Ron O'neal I didn't get to see this film 🎥 until I became an adult but I remember my mom and uncle watching this movie 🍿
Very good intelligent insightful video .
I love the vintage stuff, the shit that passes for tv today just awful. Thanks.
Ah Man This needs to be said.
Who coined the phrase Black exploitation. When "Blacks' where being exploited where was the NAACP. When the Film's were Exploited or Used with Black input then we here the outcries of The NAACP.
This is the split
Du Bois or Garvey pick a Side.
Where is the Advancement and Support of the Craft when the power is in our hands?
Garry Watts do you mean Du Bois and Washington?
Wow this is great
These movies created lots of black movie stars. There were more black movie stars then, than there are now.
There has GOT to be more interviews
Super fly did had a positive message...priest was trying to get out of the game of selling drugs...and theirs a scene , where they showed the kids looking up to the flashy life style...money cars etc, he gives them all some money and at the same time...made it clear to those kids..to stay in school. that was real at that time. then men became boys ..by bringing kids into the game, the men didn't want to go to prison..so they figured if the kids get caught selling ..they just get sent home to their parents..and the destruction began~ and this is why our cities are dangerous places to live~ men became boys and boys became MEN!
The scene with the kids was actually in The Mack, not SuperFly
Is that supposed to be a giant fly on stage behind James Earl Jones?😮
@Bookum Danno Hardee, ha, ha,! 😁 Not bad...
@Bookum Danno
Yeah, thats my point.😁 I just wanted to make sure that I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. They were being extra lol. I wonder who's idea that was. Got 2 grown ass men sitting in front of a giant fly. It would be different if the movie was literally about a giant fly, like the movie, 'The Fly.' 😁😁😁
Despite what sociologist stated and historians have said about negativity in that era of films. Those films and characters people gave black people a sense of self and pride that had been suppressed for decades. No longer did they have to watch servants mammies and clowns of their race. They were elated to see the superpimps and whatever they enjoyed. Much like people loved the marvel hero Black Panther in this era.
Did You grow up during this era?
The great Orator Mr James Earl Jones he sounds wonderful always had a superb speaking voice
The Q&A @ 8:50 ...
a song from Madlib called "welcome to violence" comes to mind when hearing this part of the interview ...