blaxploitation

4 9.8

Films from the 1970s with Black characters that often show unfair ideas and are made to make money

noun
/blæksplɔɪˈteɪʃən/

Literature

: blaxploitation

The blaxploitation movement played a significant role in shaping the representation of Black characters in American cinema.
blaxploitation movies

It's supposed to kind of evoke blaxploitation.

Examples

Many filmmakers became well-known for their work in the blaxploitation genre during the 1970s.
The popularity of early 1970s Blaxploitation movies also boosted employment as black directors insisted on a fully integrated crew.

Academic text (2012)
The blaxploitation picture starring William Marshall.

Blog text (6)
In 1972, along with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Urban League, the association helped create the Coalition Against Blaxploitation.

Academic text (2012)
You know, people often point to Pam Grier as a wonderful example of blaxploitation film star.
Tarantino also admits to being extremely inspired by blaxploitation and borrowed from there often.

Blog text (7)
The NAACP objected strongly to black stereotyping in Blaxploitation movies.

Academic text (2012)
It's notable that Gaye, one of the most prominent figures not just of R&B but of pop music from the 1960s all the way through the early 1980s, used his talents to create a blaxploitation soundtrack.

Blog text (21)
Studies of blaxploitation films have noted the novelty of black characters defeating white opponents (Guerrero 88, 92), but the trend went beyond African Americans.

Academic text (2017)
In the 1970s, blaxploitation films highlighted Black culture while often relying on stereotypes for commercial success.

Surface Forms

blaxploitation singular

blaxploitations plural

Morphology

blaxploitation = exploitation (semi-transparent) = black + exploit + ation

Formed by blending 'black' (clipped to 'blax') with 'exploitation'; parts signal the idea but the term denotes a specific 1970s film genre with cultural connotations not fully predictable from components.

Etymology

Blaxploitation mixes Black and exploitation, where exploitation means 'use for profit', and it was used for 1970s films that featured Black actors but often 'used' their image or stories to sell tickets. So Blaxploitation now means a style of movie that both highlights Black life and sometimes relies on harmful stereotypes because it was made mainly to make money.