Mr. Soul (2018)

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Mr. Soul! was released on April 22, 2018, in the USA. The American film was produced by Shoes in the Bed Productions. The film was written by Melissa Haizlip and directed by Melissa Haizlip and Sam Pollard. The movie was displaying how Ellis Haizlip, an African American tv host, revolutionized the tv show through African American literature, poetry, music, and culture[1].

Plot

Ellis Haizlip, Courtesy of Shoes in the Bed Productions[2]

Ellis Haizlip, an African American producer and tv host, has brought a refreshment to the tv industry with "Soul!". Soul! aspired to show the beauty of African American literature such as poetry, music, and dances. Not only that, but the tv show also provides a stage for African Americans to speak up about their political belief and civil rights to the public. Soul! has changed the public opinion of African Americana and create a place for African American artists and activists such as James Baldwin, Stevie Wonder, and Patti LaBelle to be exposed and aspired by many people especially African Americans. The tv show aired for five years, and later on, the tv show was halted by the Nixon administration as they feared that it can influence the government and presidency at the time[3].

Black Empowerment

Soul! has changed the industry of television for African Americans. Haizlip has inspired and showed the people that being African American is a wonderful thing as the Black culture has its own beauty as Haizlip said "Black culture is world culture". He assembled many African Americans on the tv to show the excellency of African Americans. We can see the luminescent Nikki Giovanni, the provocateurs The Last Poets, Amiri Baraka backed by Pharaoh Sanders, and much more poetry by the African Americans on the television to show how appealing the movie televisual poetry can transpire. It is also seen where James Baldwin, a civil rights activist of African Americans, speaks for hours regarding his view or Geoffrey Holder, an African American dancer choreographs the modern dance of African Americans. Haizlip has aspired many African Americans to love the beauty of African American culture as one of the interviewees said "A complete and utter love affair with your blackness"[4]. Soul! has started the tv show for African Americans by the African Americans as many programs followed to be air including Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant, Say Brother, Black Journal, Like It Is[5].

Controversy

In the 60s, African Americans were not given a part in the television, except the news part showing the criminals of African Americans. Soul! has changed the tv industry for African Americans yet, President Nixon feared the tv show could inflict harm upon his presidency. This has caused a dead-end for the "Soul!" tv show as the budget was cut. This is sad as the empowerment of African Americans does not get support from the President of the country itself[6].

References

  1. Mr. Soul (2018). IMDb. Retrieved January 21 2021
  2. Ellis Haizlip Variety. Retrieved January 21 2021]
  3. Jenny Nulf. Mr. Soul! Austin Chronicle Corp. Retrieved January 21 2021]
  4. Glenn Kenny. Mr. Soul! RogerEbert. Retrieved January 21 2021]
  5. Sheri Linden. 'Mr. Soul!': Film Review | LAFF 2018 The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 21 2021]
  6. Owen Gleiberman. ‘Mr. Soul!’ Review: An Oscar-Buzz Documentary Looks Back at a Thrilling, and Revolutionary, Slice of Black American Television History Variety. Retrieved January 21 2021]