Coolest Moment: “Hollywood Shuffle”
Making movies is hard to do, especially if you’re damn near broke. Still, that didn’t stop Robert Townsend who hooked up with a few of his friends to create a modern classic. Hollywood Shuffle, a funny, but scathing look at 1980’s Hollywood treatment of Black actors and Black themes, was financed on Townsend’s credit cards — an amazing feat, especially now since NO ONE can get credit. That’s why Robert Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle made our list of the 100 Greatest Black Power Moves.
Not only did Hollywood have some big comedy stars — including icon Paul Mooney and Franklin Ajaye — but it launched the careers of major talent like Keenan and Damon Wayans, John Witherspoon and Anne-Marie Johnson all who went on to star in features like In Living Color, Friday and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.
In the end, Townsend’s classic did what so few do. Instead of just complaining about Hollywood, he literally did something about it by creating a new Black Hollywood himself.
