"This is the end of your life you motherf*cking
dope pusher!"
- Pam Grier in "Coffy"
Nobody, and I mean nobody would argue that, in the 1970s, Pam Grier epitomized the strong, black female version of the action hero. As a matter of fact, she was the first black female to have a starring role in an action film, period.
Never mind that she achieved that lofty cinema status playing in movies that are now categorized by the term "Blaxploitation"; she has proven herself over and over again in films such as COFFY, FRIDAY FOSTER, and JACKIE BROWN that Pam Grier is for real. Not only real, but Grier is the baddest "Badass Black Mama" in that genre's history, or any other, for that matter.
And let us not forget, monster fans, Ms. Grier played Ayesa, the Panther Woman, in New World Pictures' THE TWILIGHT PEOPLE, Eddie Romero's Filipino/American 1972 production starring John Ashley, as well as the Dust Witch in SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES!
Constance White, former editor of Essence magazine and the author of the book, "How to Slay: Inspirations from the Queens and Kings of Black Style", singles out a handful of the most notable black style "influencers", and details how each has made an impact on what we wear. Pam Grier--not surprisingly--is one of them.
Called by White "The Bodacious Natural Babe", she goes on to say that Grier was "one of the biggest stars of the Blaxploitation film genre that helped define the '70s. North Carolina born, Grier exuded a new kind of on-screen appeal, one rooted in natural beauty and down-to-earth pieces like denim cut-offs, button-up shirts and hoop earrings. As the titular character in COFFY and FOXY BROWN, Ms. Grier inspired a new generation of women to bare their midriffs and cultivate lush afros. Those halter tops may feel too brazen today, but Pam Grier's sass and confidence are still just right".
And if you're wondering where the term "Blaxploitation" came from, it is attributed to Junius Griffin, who coined the phrase in 1972 when he was president of the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood branch. Griffin asserted that the genre was responsible for "proliferating offenses" and "reinforcing negative stereotypes".
Remember, if you don't behave, Coffy will cream you!
NOTE: A portion of the text is revised from from an earlier post.
COFFY Photos:
COFFY Pressbook:
COFFY DVD booklet:
COFFY Official Trailer:
Scenes from COFFY:
Pam Grier talks about her role in COFFY:
COFFY Soundtrack by Roy Ayers Playlist:
