3 chapters across the catalog
The discussion covers the ubiquity of racial slurs in early 20th-century American life, from song titles on the Billboard charts to household products. It then moves to the 1960s and 70s, highlighting Muhammad Ali's refusal to serve in Vietnam and Richard Pryor's use of the word to achieve crossover comedic success.
Professor Charles Wood analyzes the Blaxploitation film era as a tool for social engineering and catharsis following the civil rights movement. Films featuring characters like Pam Grier provided black audiences with "superheroes" who fought back against systemic oppression. The theory is presented that these films served to quell urban riots by providing a safe outlet for anger in movie theaters.
Charles Woods explains that Blaxploitation films in the 1970s served as a "catharsis" to help quell civil unrest following the Kerner Commission study. By allowing audiences to see "Whitey" get beaten on screen, the films provided a safe emotional release that prevented actual rioting. The hosts suggest Hollywood maintains a "slate" of such films to release during modern times of unrest, such as the Black Lives Matter movement.
