African-American Film Posters

Collection — Mapcase: B7

Identifier: M366

Staff Only
Please use the Collection Organization section below to place requests.

Scope and Contents

A collection of sixteen original, theatrically-used film posters from African-American related films, including blaxploitation films. The posters are roughly 104 X 69 cm. DVDs of selected films are also available through the library.

Dates

Creation: 1953 - 1982

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions.

Biographical / Historical

Blaxploitation films are a subgenre of American cinema that emerged in the 1970s. These films were primarily aimed at black audiences and featured predominantly African American casts, often dealing with themes related to the black experience in the United States. The term "blaxploitation" is a portmanteau of "black" and "exploitation."

Notable examples of blaxploitation films include "Shaft" (1971), "Super Fly" (1972), "Coffy" (1973), "Foxy Brown" (1974), and "Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" (1971). While these films were often commercially successful and had a significant impact on popular culture, they also faced criticism for perpetuating stereotypes and featuring graphic violence and exploitative content. As a result, blaxploitation as a genre has been both celebrated for its representation of black culture and criticized for its limitations and problematic aspects.