Charles Woods (aka The Professor) - The Real Reason Behind Blaxploitation 

Reelblack is the intellectual version of Vlad TV. I love it.

I believe Gore Vidal said it best. We lost the war in Vietnam. Then Rambo came out and we won it on the screen.

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

These are excellent interviews!!!

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.

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!

Mr. Charles Woods, knowledge is without question, "Power". You are an inspiration sir. Peace

Brother Woods, I enjoy your wisdom immensely and I eagerly await reelback to add more installments of your divine knowledge.

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.

thanks for sharing this interesting commentary.

reelblack, RIGHT ON! And, thank you for these superb interviews.

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 ...

The 1st few minutes of this film was everything with the late great Issac Hayes on the score...it gets no better than that!!

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.

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

I’m sitting in the best PhD class every time I listen to the professor. And I’m listening!

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.

wow. i loved this.. AWESOME.. Thanks Professor for the knowledge

I want you to speak on how Hollywood takes ancient African beliefs and re-appropriates it into science fiction, X men, alien, etc.

I know you don't believe in me anymore Rock't , but I got me and I got this . I Got This.

man I'm Blown By Charles Wisdom Love it

Peace Mr Woods this is Tasheem from the 43 Chamber thank you for the memories.

Good stuff. I always learn things I didn't know watching these vids.

We love you Professor Charles Woods

Imma focus and produce for the culture !

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.

These movies represented the last days of multiple raw black masculinity

This brother is the TRUTH need longer interviews with him & does he produce movies as well???

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 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.

Those movies are the best 👌. We need them back

you are right on point. My eyes have been open for a while. your videos are confirmation.

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.

I love his interviews. Please do more and more and MORE!!

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.

So after watching this, I just realized... Mafia III is one of the first (I think?) big blaxploitation video games.

Just stumbled on Charles Wood, love his interviews.

got mgm out of bank rups and the dude only get 12 stacks for his role wow fkn crooks man

Another great upload. Thank you!

Ewrich " I sold you shoes" Great videos.

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.

Love it

What he didn't mention is how they ruined our community. The pimp and drug dealer or robber.

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?

You got a new subscriber. Great conversation💜💜💜

I Love this guy!

Awesome interview and perspective. SWP brought me here.

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

Yes. Mr. Woods is on point.

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.

This is splendid.

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?

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

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.

Damn that was good!

Shaft made 13 million on a $500,000 budget in 1971 and they only played that black man, Richard Roundtree, $12,000??????

So sad :(.Big James what do you do with such inspiration?

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.

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.💯

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!✌

Could it be happening again? Those Emmy nominations for Watchmen on HBO needs a deeper look.

Notice they never show you the producers because it was not us

I want to be involved in this reelblack cinema movement

Richard Roundtrees mustache was real-----he almost shaved it off but Gordon Parks told him to keep it.

Black Dynamite was hilarious. One giant reference to blacksploitation.

The importance of imagery

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.

Looking for books from Mr. Woods. If you find a link please inbox me.

Very informative. Inspired me to research the mentioned movies.

That's deep then know that..

Where does Charles Woods come from?? I'd love to read some of his stuff.

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.

Real black can yaw get behind the scenes info on Across110th street?

Check ✔️ that two times nothing line. Can you dig it

Pam Greer! Cleopatra Jones, all em!

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.

9:17... DAM!

Blaxpliotation... kick the man's ass! Bout damn time

how do you feel about in black superhero in media today? any connection to the violence toward black youth today?

@8:21.. whooo look at that jiggle!!!!

“If you wanna see Shaft, ask your mama.”

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

wow

Right Sweetback was horrible all he did was run thru the whole movie

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.

👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊

Huh, I had no idea Tiger Woods' father was Charles Woods. Amazing.

Totally disagree with his comments regarding Melvin Van Peebles SWEETBACK

Shaft a false symbol OK he said it

CAN YOU DIG IT???

Sweetback was a a piece of crap, - I AGREE!!

I had to say it... if you wanna see shaft ask mama dwl

11:00

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.

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?