The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975

A bunch of Swedish lefties became idealistically preoccupied with American Black nationalism in the late '60s, and shot a ton of footage intended for Swedish television. Much of it wasn't used, however, and the filmmakers have only recently finished editing it into a feature. Much of this is powerful. Stokley Carmicheal's presence impressed me most of all. I didn't feel as if anything in the film felt unnecessary, except perhaps a petty feud with TV Guide for criticizing Sweedish television, which I doubt was at the center of consciousness of many African-American activists of the time. The trajectory of the film is depressing. We witness a leftist renaissance in the USA crumble as drugs (which the film forcefully suggests were introduced by the FBI) change the escape route of an oppressed community from activism to addiction.

"The Black Power Mixtape" is a chapterized revisiting of the years 1967-1975 using footage from a Swedish production team. There was footage I'd never seen before of Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichael, and others. It had dozens of interviews with commentary from the Swedish folks at that time (subtitled) as well as contemporary celebrities such as Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli.

If you are as enthralled with the 60's, the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Power movement, and the Black Panther Party as I am, then you may like this documentary. Personally, I take every opportunity to view new footage of that era and to hear some of the people from that era who are still alive. TBPM gives you just that.

I saw this in a UK arts centre with a friend from the US who had left High School in 66 or 67 and graduated from college in 70. On her own admission here was another America she has never experienced or known about. What struck me about this is the pacing, the editing allows the protagonists time and space to speak and articulate themselves. There's a section when Angela Davis speaks eloquently and movingly and the camera holds on her for several minutes. This film is essential viewing for any younger people involved in the 'Occupy'or anti globalisation / anti capitalist movements. The issues that the Black Power movement were addressing are still with us. The film has a wonderful soundtrack and music score complementing the footage perfectly. The footage is both evocative and informative, carefully selected. There's shots of everyday street scenes, interviews and dramatic footage of rioting and disturbances. Yes BPMT is short on analysis, but for this viewer the beauty of this film is that I felt an empathy as a fellow human being with these angry, militant people and felt inspired to learn more about the Black Power movement and quietly, calmly, start to listen. I don t feel I have to apologise for being white after watching this or start going all PC simply that I have a better understanding now of where some people were or are coming from. Finally, it's fascinating this film emerges from Sweden. Often held to be a model of 'responsible' capitalism, a proper social democracy where entrepreneur ism and business can live happily alongside social provision and an excellent welfare state. However unlike other European countries such as Britain or France, Sweden never had to address the legacy of a colonial empire and immigration from former colonies. It's very safe for a country, a society where everyone looks the same and speaks the same language to be open, liberal and tolerant. I'm very intrigued as to what the fascination and interest was for the Swedish in the Black Power movement, a question this film doesn't address. Maybe the Black Power activists in this film are being positioned as 'exotic' in the same way that countless documentaries always position Africans as exotic, closer to nature, primitive and so on. Just a thought...

All the footage used in this film after all this time reminds us that progress is an ongoing fight.

This era has since long legendary status, not just in American history, but all over the world. It seems like a saga now; this radicalism, this possibility of seeing even socialism as a possible alternative in the US. It was not just about race issues, it was also about the economic and political system.

During these years, Swedish television many times went over to the States, interviewing black radical leaders. We meet Stokely Carmichael, Eldridge Cleaver and in a very unique sequence also Angela Davis in prison. Most of it takes place after the backlash in the late 60s. The movement was deradicalised and we meet the fighters talking about big changes, but you have the feeling that they've lost most of their faith in it. It's a big difference compared to the attitude of Stokely Carmichael during his Stockholm visit in 1967.

Very interesting material, but you miss the analysis. Why was the movement deradicalised? It was not just because of police brutality during riots or supposed FBI actions. And you don't get any explanation about why the movement and other powers had success when it came to reducing racism. There's anyway another USA today, compared to what it was in 1967.