As hard to believe as it may sound now, the iconic role of John Shaft, a symbol of Black masculinity in movies, almost went to a white actor. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer executives wanted to change the source material, a 1970 novel about a Black private detective, in order to cater to a white audience. However, the director Gordon Parks’s vision for the film convinced the studio to cast Richard Roundtree, a model and actor, in the role. Richard Roundtree, who passed away at the age of 81 on Tuesday, brought a suave and cool demeanor to the character in the film “Shaft” (1971). This groundbreaking movie established the first Black action hero, complete with a stylish afro, leather outfit, and his own theme music by Isaac Hayes. It challenged the previous depictions of Black male characters as submissive and powerless.
The success of “Shaft,” which earned Isaac Hayes an Academy Award for Best Original Song and led to four sequels, demonstrated the commercial viability of a Black action protagonist. It marked a turning point, proving that Black individuals could be the heroes of their own stories and later of stories intended for mass audiences. This paved the way for future Black action roles, some of which either referenced or pushed against the Hollywood template established by “Shaft.”
Following the Blaxploitation era of the 1970s, there were genre films directed and written by white filmmakers who aimed to replicate the stylized and often violent and misogynistic portrayals seen in “Shaft.” However, the impact of “Shaft” can also be seen in a lineage of Black action roles with similar themes. These roles explore ideas of self-agency, American heroism, and traditional masculinity, although each approach these ideas differently.
Other notable films that paved the way for Black action roles include:
1. “In the Heat of the Night” (1967): Sidney Poitier’s portrayal of Virgil Tibbs, a Black detective who becomes a murder suspect while visiting the South, laid the groundwork for the success of “Shaft.” The film depicted one of the earliest depictions of Black resistance in a studio movie.
2. “The Dirty Dozen” (1967): Although not directly related to Black action roles, Jim Brown’s character in this film, Robert T. Jefferson, represents a man fighting for recognition against the odds. The character faces threats of castration from his white peers, whom he ultimately kills. This departure from the self-oriented bravery of Shaft’s character reflects a different kind of heroism.
3. “Black Caesar” (1973): Fred Williamson portrays the title character, who rises within the mafia after being assaulted by a cop. The film’s standout feature is James Brown’s soundtrack, which has been heavily sampled in hip-hop.
4. “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984): Eddie Murphy’s performance as Axel Foley, a Black detective navigating the predominantly white territory of Beverly Hills, propelled him to Hollywood stardom. The film subverts the historically antagonistic relationship between Black individuals and the police.
5. “Set It Off” (1996): Building on the Black big-budget filmmaking renaissance of the 1990s, F. Gary Gray’s film centers around Black female characters who band together to commit a series of bank heists. The film explores systemic racial traumas and showcases shootouts and dramatic escapes with realism.
6. “Black Dynamite” (2009): This film, starring and co-written by Michael Jai White, spoofs blaxploitation films and their tropes. It pays homage to the slapdash nature of these movies while still delivering well-choreographed action scenes.
7. “Django Unchained” (2012): Directed by Quentin Tarantino, this film serves as both a Western epic and a reversal of the white gunslinger and nonwhite sidekick trope. Jamie Foxx’s character seeks vengeance against slavery, showcasing resourcefulness and heroism.
8. “The Equalizer” (2014): Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua’s collaboration in this film and its sequels features smooth vigilantism delivered by an outsider with a strict code of ethics, distinguishing it from “Shaft.”
These films, along with “Shaft,” have contributed to the evolution and representation of Black action roles in cinema.