"Wattstax"

 Wattstax a documentary about African-American life in Los Angeles in the early 1970's. The concert is to commemorate the Watts riots of 1965, and some of the positive changes that took place in the area. Although there is a lot of humor to be found in some of the comments that the residents make about changes in their area, it's sad to realize that the lingering problems of racism and unequal opportunities still exist to this day. However, there's a lot of joy and hope expressed throughout the film. This is one of Richard Pryor's earliest appearances on film, and he is definitely entertaining. Ted Lange  and Raymond Lewis, are some of the Watts residents who give their thoughts about the political changes. This is also a concert documentary that showcased some of the biggest as well as some of the soulful groups and R&B singers during that time frame. This is also a true picture about US as a people too when we didn't act so crazy,and it shows. The overall beauty of this film is at the impact of seeing African Americans when we had some dignity as well as pride about ourselves and our culture plus we have a lot of soul and self respect in being what we were. We were one with our own music and we were able to express that individuality by feeling what was deep inside us. Wattstax was based on a two day event which was the Woodstock for African-Americans that was held in 1972 at the L.A. Coliseum. This was the kind of show that made you stand up and dance up if you wanted to and also to express yourself. Some of the people that are in this are a very youthful and radical looking Rev. Jesse Jackson who was incredible to watch and he gave various speeches as well as providing laughs from a young looking Richard Pryor. The acts that performed were very entertaining and it shows. You had acts that included The Staple Singers,The Emotions,Carla Thomas,Rance Allen,Johnnie Taylor as well as one of the greatest acts ever, the incredible Issac Hayes.t features lots of footage other than performances - crowd shots, interviews with the man on the street, a gospel performance at a local church, some B-list celebrities, etc, all of which help add to the atmosphere of both the concert and of Watts itself. There's even some very funny and casual footage of Richard Pryor in his prime, as he raps about all sorts of topics in a local bar. Wattstax, was released in the midst of the "blaxploitation" movie trend, was a then-unheard of snapshot of the state of black America as it moved through the music of its artists. There are many establishing shots of storefronts in black neighborhoods: ramshackle churches abound, as well as other starkly blighted structures. As one resident puts it, "some things have changed for the better... some for the worst... a lot of things have stayed the same.." Whatever the physical costs of the civil rights movement ,there is brief footage included of Dr. Martin Luther King's final speech and the emotional wounds were still fresh. "Black is beautiful" was the catchphrase of the day, and Afrocentric styles of hair and fashion were at a pre-disco peak. The film also captures "black power" at it's highest. The film offers many different definitions  of blackness that are featured as much as there are the different kinds of music performed at the show. it was also a very socio-politically charged event, with its emphasis on black pride and the simple opportunity for African Americans to assert that, in opening speaker Jesse Jackson's words, "I am somebody." This movie is a must-see. Aside from the [great] music, there are interviews with working-class black, which give you a look at the political and social climate at that point in time. Jessie Jackson's opening speech is inspirational. While Richard Pryor adds the comical relief to top it off.