Brenda Sykes first movie would have been The Liberation of LB Jones and Then Getting Straight with Elliot Gould both in 1970 That was during the " Blaxploitation era. 1969-1979 Unfortunately her image like most bw in film of that era was that of being Hyper-sexed, the girlfriend, the Hot Mama, always willing to drop it like it's hot. All of them did nude scenes, posed in men's magazines. And were aways laying up either with a Wm or s Bm exposed. By the mid seventies the Blk community ( especially Bw Writers ) were protesting those images of Blks in film especially that of Bw as being, a , super bad mama ,hip shaking, finger popping, loose women.... Most of these sisters in film then were of Brenda Sykes's hue. And by 1980 Hollywood had made it's money, those low budget Films and the Blaxploitation era was over. And so were the careers and images of those 1970s Blk actresses. That's why you didn't see many of those Blk Actresses in Mainstream films or on TV in the 1980s.
Brenda Sykes is ridiculously FINE. I fell in love when I first saw her in "Skin Game" with Lou Gossett Jr and James Gardner. I remember pausing the videotape every time she appeared I couldn't believe she was so pretty - flawless beautiful black skin and her smile that will make you forget your own name. Damn shame she didn't have many credits to her name - Like many Black actresses around that time , Hollywood didn't know what to do with them
A timeless beauty. She always captured your attention no matter where she was on the big screen or on tv. She would have made a great "Charlie's Angels" girl. Thank you for your retrospective.
Back then we promoted our blackness. Remember "Black is Beautiful?" We were proud of our natural hair. Now we disassociate ourselves from what we truly and naturally are.
Most of those Bw actresses then ranged in hues from Judy Pace , brenda Sykes, pam grier to Jayne Kennedy, Denise Nicholas, Lonette McGhee in the ,70s Blaxploitation era movies. But by the 80s it was back to business as usual. As far as Bw's images were concerned. Until Spike Lee ushered in a new era in blk film making. And the rise of the Cosby show
WE HAD NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMEN BACK IN THE DAY,THEY APPRECIATED THEIR BODIES AND SKIN COLOR,I WISH WE COULD GET BACK TO THAT,GLAD SHE'S DOING OKAY,THANKS TERRY SWOOPE❤
Yes, she appeared in that movie, but to say she "co-starred" is, well, an overstatement. This was her first movie role, and she appeared in only one scene as a bar dancer. She didn't even say any lines.
When I see a video like this, it makes me really BELIEVE that this actor was able to do very well with the money she earned in the past and is now living the good life...😍🤩😍.
My level of respect for Brenda Sykes has elevated to the high heavens when I found out she was married to Gil Scott Heron. WOW!!!! I saw many of her movies during the 1970's. Thank You for this video.
No weaves, no long fake eyelashes, no implants, no 3 layers of make up, no long fake nails, not overweight. All natural beauty. Natural women are becoming an endangered species.
Kenneth Dowd, i couldn't have said it better myself. Brenda was so cute, nothing like all all the "fake" women you see in abundance today. It has reached point where i compliment the women with the natural look, not all this fake look i see all over the place. Unbelievable!.
@@ShadowHawk4219 ... I do the same. I always encourage any female to wear their real hair and less makeup. Men have been asking black women to be natural and they seem to go against it. A lot of these women can look 10x better if they be themselves, but they do too much to try to look appealing. It's like buying a nice luxury car and then doing your own modifications on it. You end up making the car look ugly cause you did too much when it looked perfectly fine with the original look.
I enjoyed her acting especially in black gun, in fact she reminds me of a girl, that I once knew. Brings back pleasant memories. Good report, and yes I would love to see a current picture of her.
I enjoyed this an wondered what happened to her. She was gorgeous. Gd vid but please stop saying tooken its not a word. The word is taken u r looking 4. I'm not tryna bash u it just drives me crazy wen a MC mispronounce's words. Ty
There is another person in the comment section claiming that she went to High School with them in Shreveport, Louisiana. Commenter name is Lady Ree Patton. Who lyin'?!?!?!?!?!?
SOUL POWERFUL!💕 SOUL AMAZING!💕 THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND EDUCATING VIEWERS ABOUT BEAUTIFUL BLACK QUEENS WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO EXPLORE, EXPRESS AND DEVELOP THEMSELVES AS TRUE ARTISTIC ACTORS AND ARTISTS!💕Always Love Your Show When I Have Time To Catch It! 💕 Keep Doing What You Do Because You Do It So Well! 💕 BLESSINGS! 💕🙏🏾
Thank you for the ❤️ . , , . When you get time, would you share a segment on Singer Jesse Powell And His 2 Sisters? I’ve always Been a fan and would like to know what they’re doing now and if Jesse Powell would ever come back singing those love ballads again. Thanks 💕 Blessings 🙏🏾 2021
Happy Happy Birthday Brenda Sykes! I always thought you were the prettiest black girl in the movies and television of the 70s. I wish you were young now. You had talent but was not allowed to show it as much back then. You would have cleaned up today. You are still a very beautiful lady! I hope you are happy in your life.
So glad you're pulling up these old videos. Brenda Sykes was another black beauty of that era, with a lot of coolness in her too. So glad she's doing well, and may her and her family stay blessed.✌
Greetings brother love your show and please keep up the good work our communities need historians like yourself I really enjoyed all of the super soul sister's from the 70s Brenda, Jayne Kennedy, and my All time favorite"Pam Grier 💯🙏🙏
I freaking LOVED HER....when I was growing up every girl wanted to be her....she was in AALLLL MY FAVE blaxploitation movies. So pretty and innocent. Beautiful then and now
Yes another winner with this one on Brenda Sykes. She had a non-speaking role in 'The Liberation of L.B. Jones' in 1969 but yes 'Honky' apparently is her first starring role. Thanks & great work Swoopes.
I was from that ERA when Brenda Skyes was making movie and tv shows she was well respected actor then and had a not so good relationship with Jim Brown. The guys love her.
Happy Happy Birthday Brenda Sykes. I am a very big fan of yours and think you were a very good actress. I wish you were still acting now. You were also so pretty!
Hi edagdwg thanks for sharing this story of what happens when you are pretty woman glad she was strong enough to play the part God bless her enjoy your life Linda j peace ❤️🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🐻🐻
Thanks for this info on Brenda Sykes. The 1970s was a hot time in this country. I was working a lot and missed many movies, but was aware of her and other actors of color. They made tremendous breakthroughs in the movie business. I am very proud of what she did and glad to see she is doing and looking well ‼️
I fell in love with her the first time I saw her. What's so interesting is that shortly I met Patricia Moore in 7th grade and my God Brenda and Pat looked sooo much alike so there you go I fell in love with Pat so I dated and loved her until someone took her life in our Senior year high school 1975. Both to me were one of the most BEAUTIFUL WOMEN I have ever laid my eyes on.
Yes! I remember Brenda Sykes! I always thought she was such a great beautiful talented actress! One of my favorite Stars! I'm sure she's still beautiful. One of the greatest!
I knew Brenda in junior high school, she was a beautiful person both inside and out and just the nicest person you'd ever want to meet. I hope she's doing well...
I just saw her in a episode of the Streets of San Francisco - season 1 "A Trout in the Milk". She played a model and the daughter of Roscoe Lee Brown, and with a very young Michael Douglas who obviously had a "crush" on her. Glad to hear she is dong well and looking good!
Yes they have beautiful woman in North West Louisiana. I found that out when I visited The Casino in Leesvile while doing training at Fort Polk in 1973.
Love you Brenda Sykes. Mandingo was a movie I saw you in and there was a series with you as the love interest of a White man. I don't remember the name. A beautiful Black Woman.