Wattstax Review
“In politics, an organized minority is a political majority,” said the great Jesse Jackson. He also let me know that I am somebody while viewing Wattsstax, one of the greatest documentaries ever made, according to the National Film Registry. The city of California put on a benefits concert that took place on the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts Riots at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, filmed by David L. Wolper’s crew, and directed by Mel Stuart. Jackson’s words came to fruition during the production of the concert, showcasing artists from Stax Records. The Newcomers, Albert King, Rufus Thomas, and the illustrious Isaac Hayes.This visually inspiring montage of Black excellence told America there is still unity in the community. The concert sequences were broken up by one of the greatest comedians and storytellers of that generation, Richard Pryor. He tells his interviewer, or what looks like the film crew about his upbringing, which of course ends in punchlines. He tells a story about what it was like growing up a Black child and how he found out he was Black. As everyone is aware, it is not easy growing up Black (not everyone, but everyone who is Black). It was almost refreshing to hear Pryor’s stories and hear how similar they were to the residents of the Watts, and then to realize that whether it is televised or not, there were no differences. The Black experience was universal. The women and men of Watts also shared their love for each other. The testimonies these women and men gave; hearing how comfortable and safe and harmonious they felt knowing they went home to Black partners, were raising Black children, loved how natural Black people are, it was pure nirvana.
The beauty of this film is nothing shy of amazement. The editing reminded me of that from Spike Lee films, each edit point is as important as the sequences themselves. Even though this film was made well before Lee’s first film, I cannot help but resonate with it the same way I do with his films. During the testimonies from Pryor and the people of Watts, it was as if each person was continuing on and they were telling the exact same story in the most beautiful way. There was a scene of church goers and The Emotions were singing the good word, it was like they were blessing the all their urban neighborhoods that were edited into their song. To see the other neighborhoods across America where Black people were also treated unfairly, it was like The Emotions were also singing for them. The editing became emotional, the performances made you laugh and feel good, and dance to forget the brutality white America was serving to Black people. Pryor’s jokes made you laugh, and laugh hard, but also made you remember the time when the disparities happened to you or someone you knew. Isaac Hayes and his illustrious performance was the perfect way to end this film because it was wholesome, it was Black, it was Beautiful, it was unapologetic, and it allowed Black people to be carefree.
