The Black Power Mixtape (1967-1975) -- Reflections

 

It’s powerful and illuminating as an adult to watch Göran Olsson’s “Black Power Mixtape (BPM),” which is about “the evolution of the Black Power movement in American society from 1967 to 1975 as viewed through {the eyes/lens} of Swedish journalists and filmmakers.” I came of age during this period of American history, a time period that encompassed my fifth grade year living in a segregated society in the South and attending an all-Black Catholic school to starting my Senior year in high school at an elite boarding school (Episcopal H.S. – Alexandria, VA) founded in 1839 that welcomed its first Black students in 1968 and since its inception schooled “boys from some of the most prominent families in Virginia and neighboring states.” I lived and breathed these moments as a young child and teenager but seeing this film takes me to the depths of my being in truly understanding a movement that I was mostly sheltered from.

1967 was a remarkable year in my family’s history. My dad’s college basketball team, Winston-Salem State College (now WSSU) became the first Historically Black College (HBCU) to win a NCAA division title in basketball (College Division – now NCAA II) or any intercollegiate sport. A player from that team, the great Earl Monroe would be picked 2^nd in the NBA draft. 1968 is the year I’ll never forget hearing my mother’s piercing scream when she heard the news of Martin Luther King, Jr being assassinated in Memphis. Later that year I would be down the street at my second parent’s house, the Wiseman’s, when Bobby Kennedy’s assassination was relayed to the nation. 1968 was when I went on a cross county trip with my family and fell in love with the idea of living in a big city on the West Coast. 1968 was also the year of the Summer Olympics in Mexico City when my consciousness about race relations was raised with Tommy Smith and John Carlos thrusting their fists up in the air during the playing of the national anthem to protest the historically inhumane treatment of Black people in the USA. And 1968 was the year saying Black vs. Negro really took hold in our country, with the release of James Brown searing Black Anthem, “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.”

My concept of the Black Power Movement as a child was recognizing that I could take pride in my blackness and that doors were opening up to Blacks that were previously closed due to the fearlessness of activists who were willing to put their lives on the line to affect meaningful change in our society. “We are in the palms of the hands of those who sacrificed for us in the 1960’s!”  

“Black Power Mixtape” is fascinating to watch because it captures images from the vantage point of Swedish journalists and filmmakers and juxtaposes 21^st century commentary from prominent Black Americans commenting on scenes from that time period. Olsson sets the tone early in BPM in what he’s trying to accomplish by asking Al, the owner of the diner on a Florida beach this question: “Is this the land of equal opportunity for all?”

For all of the histrionics surrounding the Black Power Movement, the essential objective during this era was to challenge America to be a “land of equal opportunity for all” by utilizing confrontational tactics that would lead America to become a true multiracial democracy. America had failed in reaching this democratic ideal during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods and it was becoming obvious that the Civil Rights movement was stalling in moving beyond the basic, simplistic human rights gains (public accommodation, public transportation, open housing, school desegregation, etc.) that were the hallmarks of that movement.

Olsson focuses in on the tension between the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements by contrasting the views and tactics espoused by Stokely Carmichael and Martin Luther King. Carmichael had become increasingly radicalized since his days at Howard University and as a member of Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee (SNCC). King’s nonviolent direct-action passivity needed to be replaced with a more confrontational tone in word and actions. “We won’t be fighting fire with water in the future, next time it will be with fire.” “Burn, Baby, Burn!”

One cannot discuss the Black Power Movement without highlighting the significance of the Black Panther Party For Self Defense (BPP), which has been recognized by some as the “most Important political revolutionary movement” that ever existed in America. The BPP struck fear in the hearts of White America when they came on the scene in October, 1966 toting guns and cameras to protect their neighborhood from the misuse of force by police. They would expand their reach across this country by formulating a “Ten Point Program” whose first point was to obtain freedom and power “to determine the destiny of our Black and Oppressed communities.”

The first point of the BPP 10 point program jibes with Robin Kelly’s view that the Black Power Movement had 3 different movements/legacies: (1) Group economic philosophy built around building black institutions, buying black, supporting black businesses, and gaining political power to control our own neighborhoods. (2) Cultural Nationalism (3) Black Radical Tradition.

Elaine Brown, who became chair of the BPP from 1974-1977 and epitomized the vibrancy and strength of the Black women who were featured in the BPM, led the BPP in its mature phase and she sought to move the Panthers from being viewed as a revolutionary cult group to a group with a the objective of moving the people to total liberation by getting members to focus on making the struggle larger in scope by waging the struggle between the oppressed people and the oppressor vs. the BPP and the Police.

Another strong, fierce, intelligent sister captured my attention with the force of her personality and intellect. Angela Davis’ comments about revolution harken to Gil Scott Herron’s famous anthem, “The Revolution Will Not be Televised,” which today would probably be changed to the revolution will not be on social media. “If you’re going to talk about a revolutionary situation, you have to have people who are physically able to wage revolution. People’s mind races to violence but the real content of any revolutionary thrust lies in the principles and goals that you’re striving for, not in the way you reach them.”

Hearing Angela Davis talk about how her youth in Birmingham, Al shaped her was mesmerizing. Birmingham, better known as “Bombingham” and home to the legendary Bull Connor, Commissioner of Public Safety, was the scene of so many dastardly deeds against Black youth who were engaged in the civil rights struggle. That a phoenix like Angela Davis rose from the fires and turmoil of Birmingham is a testament to the old adage, what doesn’t kill you, will make you stronger. Power to the people!

The Attica Revolt of 1971 captured my attention because prisoner rights are still a hot topic today. Attica produced some basic fundamental changes in the system because prisoners were treated like dogs in the 1970s but the Prison Industrial Complex has mushroomed exponentially compared to other countries since that time due to America’s emphasis since the Nixon years on increased incarcerations and lengthier sentences with Presidents targeting the War on Drugs and the War on Crime. Like John Forte, I have empathy for prisoners who want to be treated with dignity and decency. Also appreciated Forte mentioning the power of Davis’ book, “Are Prisons Obsolete?”

Education, truth and knowledge. Words that are cousins, not identical triplets. Educational progress is ongoing and educational programs to educate people about the Black American experience were almost non-existent during the Black Power movement, but the knowledge was available to those who wanted to seek it. Today it’s readily available and one positive result from the protest movement resulting from George Floyd’s death is that the interest is at an all-time high from individuals, institutions, and businesses who are seeking to access Anti-bias curriculum, critical race study and ethnic study programs. Most importantly the infrastructure is in place to handle the demand.

Questlove commented on the ignorance that has always been a part of the general populace in America. Not surprising since America was built on a lie. One of Martin Luther King’s biggest goals was to expose the reality of Black American Life to the masses by his non-violent direct action tactics. King was quite successful in this quest to expand the knowledge base of Whites and effectively used the media to challenge their moral compass. George Floyd’s death was the shock that many needed to wake them up to the realities of present day racist acts by citizens and law enforcement. The recording capabilities of cell phones and the power of the internet make it easier to highlight today’s atrocities of hate to marginalized groups.

Lewis Michaux’s soliloquies were my favorite in BPM. They’re my truth serum. "America can’t stand truth. Nobody could debate Malcom X on truth.” “White man came to America with two great weapons. The bible and the gun. If he didn’t humble you with the bible, he’d crumble you with the gun. And he’s still praising the Lord and passing the ammunition around the world.”

Michaux on Black Power: “Black is beautiful, but black isn’t power; Knowledge is power. So you can be black as crow and you can be white as snow, and if you don’t know and ain’t got no dough, you can’t go, and that’s for sure."