RIP.
I’ll go with Gordon Parks. “Shaft”
RIP and condolences to his family.
I have virtually no familiarity with him or his work, and only passing familiarity with Mario (mainly from “Heartbreak Ridge,” in which I liked his role and acting). However, for a black man of his age (born circa 1932) to have risen to the levels of fame and success that he did was both unusual and a testament to his smarts, his hard work and his emotional strength - it could not have ever been easy. Kudos to him for what he accomplished. He is also to be admired for not allowing his skin color to be an excuse for failure (or middling success); the guy was undoubtedly the antithesis of entitled or a snowflake, and despite my lack of specific knowledge of his life, I am certain that millions (of whatever color or heritage) would be much better served by following a similar path in terms of working hard and not caring what others think of you.
I saw Watermelon Man on TV when I was a kid. I didn’t know what I was watching. When I saw the main character, who was in his white phase, I thought, “this is the ugliest dude I have ever seen”. Then the character turned black (the actor stopped wearing white makeup), and I realized “it” was not just skin deep. There is a lot more than just pigment between us.
A very educational film.
bookmark
He was also the first black trader at the American Stock Exchange.
GOOD !!!!
“Sweet Sweetback” was 100% pure, anti White propaganda, and opened the Pandora’s Box of Black “hero” / one dimensional Evil White Villain films. And BADLY MADE, at every level.