esentation of their belief in anti-assimilation, and the idea of a strong, unified black community. It also represented the growing influence that the black community was having on mainstream politics; where even in the south, black voters were beginning to have a significant effect on political elections. Furthermore, Black Power became a call for the celebration and study of black history and culture, and to show that the black people have had a separate system of values and beliefs that provide them with a different outlook on literature, art and history than mainstream society. The Black Power movement called for the black community to unite, and demanded that black culture be represented and recognized in American society. It was not long before the ideas of the Black Power movement began appearing in the works of popular black musical artists and in the movies of black cinema, altering the course of popular culture, and subsequently, mainstream society forever.
             Scene 2: Fade In, outside a movie theater in any inner-city community. The year is 1971 and a crowd of predominately young African-Americans gathers around the theatres entrance. The camera then pans to the white marquee. Close-up. The sign begins to come in focus and reads, Premier: Mario Van Peeble's Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song
             Popular black musicians and actors had enjoyed a large white following throughout the 1960's. They represented the small element of black culture that was truly accep
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