This course examines the history of the Black Power movement and the ways in which American cinema represented Black Power in the 1970s. At its height, the political and cultural influence of Black Power was reflected in popular black urban cinema, also known as Blaxploitation films. However, Black Power remains one of the most complex and misunderstood political movements of the twentieth century. As part of the Civil Rights Movement (CRM), Black Power is a study in contrasts. Like the non-violent Civil Rights Movement, Black Power sought greater political and economic empowerment for African Americans. Unlike the non-violent CRM, Black Power advocated gun ownership, self-determination, and black nationalism. We will explore many themes this semester: crime and criminal justice, women’s empowerment, conspiracy theories, the global African diaspora, education and the future of black culture, satire, and documentary film-making.