Just as the city gives, the city takes.
About the Series: Blaxploitation and the Cities That Make Us is a 5-week analytical series exploring the relationship between Blaxploitation protagonists and the communities that shape them. Whether Los Angeles, Harlem, Oakland, or Detroit, these cities are living organisms that influence each protagonist’s identity. Through historical, cultural, and film analyses, this series examines how each project reflects the neighborhoods, struggles, and communities that gave rise to some of Black cinema’s most adored heroes.
Black Caesar is a gritty Blaxploitation classic that stands above most others in this genre. Fred Williamson’s smooth, cool delivery as the Harlem-native Tommy Gibbs, paired with the familiarity of themes such as religion, revenge, and redemption, cements this film as an undeniable Blaxploitation classic. Set in New York City, Tommy Gibbs runs the streets as a successful mob boss. Tommy’s success hinges on using the city of New York, Harlem, his past residence, and current Harlem residents as stepping stones. He represents the tough, lowdown faction of the City That Never Sleeps, making it both his most successful conquest and his most consequential mistake.