caution: that black, revolutionary leader might be just like your raggedy uncle
Baadasssss! was insightful in showing the tumultuous behind-the-scenes work it took to create Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. From having to collaborate with non-Black creators due to financial hardship, childhood trauma, and infidelity, Melvin Van Peebles proves that no Black revolutionary is perfect.
The way Black women are portrayed as subservient with little apparent value in Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song is because these depictions of Black women reflect how Melvin Van Peebles treated the Black women in his life. Melvin Van Peebles was sleeping around with other women to satisfy his sexual dominance, perhaps. That’s simply what strong Black men who will lead the community into social utopia do! He can think so radically and complexly about how Black people can achieve freedom in every sense of the word but cannot seem to radically think about how his spouse would feel about his infidelity.
The viewers also can see how Melvin Van Peeble’s rocky relationship with his father is reflected in Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Melvin Van Peebles, even against his wife’s wishes, forced his son to do a sex scene with an adult. There’s a scene in the movie where Melvin reflects on how his father forced him to do things he didn’t like. So, you can see this cycle of trauma is being passed down effortlessly, although Melvin Van Peebles considers himself a revolutionary. Also, children don’t have much agency in society, and Baadasssss! proves that harm to children can be done in more subtle ways and doesn’t always look like physical abuse. Again, Melvin Van Peebles talks about being a revolutionary and prioritizing freedom in the Black community but doesn’t dare to apply that to his son’s freedom of choice.
I want all humans in America who are 17 years old and younger to revolt against the world so they can lead and eliminate these oppressive adults! They can start with me first because I’m tired of working and paying bills anyway. It won’t be too difficult, considering that you can buy a gun from a lemonade stand if you want to.
I think the film was a therapeutic experience for Mario Van Peebles because he didn’t shy away from showing the uglier side of his father. He could’ve easily used the film only to praise Melvin Van Peebles, but he didn’t.
I’m starting to think the Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song was about Melvin Van Peebles.
Even with all my criticism, I’m impressed with how Melvin Van Peebles could still produce such a powerful and thoughtful film despite all the barriers in front of him. It took a community pulling together to create the film and the power of community is reflected in Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.
After watching Baadasssss!, I’m still left wondering about a question. Are you really a revolutionary if your revolutionary politics don’t also seek to provide emotional sanctuary for those closest to you?
I don’t think Melvin Van Peebles’s personal life is grounds for discarding his revolutionary ideas. Still, it should serve as a lesson for everyone to be revolutionary-minded both in and outside the comfort of their homes.
You can’t long for Black people’s social and physical freedom and simultaneously force your son to have sex with a grown woman in a movie. I know there’s a price to pay for freedom.