18. Black Representation in 1960's Hollywood with Christopher Sieving

Today, Aaron is joined by Christopher Sieving a professor of film at the University of Georgia, Athens. His latest book is titled ‘Pleading the Blood: Bill Gunn’s Ganja and Hess’ which I cannot wait to read, so please, if you’re a ‘Ganja and Hess’ fan, or just want to learn more about this amazing film, go buy that out. But his first book, and the subject for today’s podcast, is titled ‘Soul Searching: Black Themed Cinema From the march on Washington to the Rise of Blaxploitation’.

Chris takes us through the turbulent years of 1961-1968 when the Civil Rights Movement filled TV screens but is strangely absent from American Cinema. We talk about the underwhelming adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun', Ossie Davis' failed independent production 'Gone are the Days', Shirley Clarke's 'The Cool World', and the cancelled prestige project 'The Confessions of Nat Turner'.

Christopher Sieving Twitter: @soulburger26

Email us: behindtheslatepod@gmail.com

Instagram: @behindtheslatepod

TikTok: @behindtheslatepod

YouTube: @behindtheslatepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.