Black Hollywood is mourning one of its greats. Filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles passed away on September 22. The cinematic pioneer was 89-years-old.
According to Variety, Van Peebles was one of the fundamental creators of outstanding independent Black films. The director used innovational marketing tactics to promote his first film– the 1971 hit movie Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song.
The publication reported that Van Peebles couldn’t afford a typical Hollywood promotional campaign, so the brilliant artist incorporated the movie’s soundtrack to promote the film.
The Chicago native also diligently worked to prove that Black people were not a monolith and our stories weren’t either.
“Dad knew that Black images matter,” his son, actor and director Mario Van Peebles, told Variety. “If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth? We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free. True liberation did not mean imitating the colonizer’s mentality. It meant appreciating the power, beauty and interconnectivity of all people.”
The filmmaker’s resume boasts acting, writing and directing credits, according to IMDB, including Panther, The Bill Cosby Show, The Outer Limits and Sonny Spoon.
Warrington Hudlin, the founder of the Black Filmmaker Foundation, said,” As the Godfather of Black Cinema, he left us with both the inspiration and challenge to continue his artistic and racial disruption of the society we were born into. And he likely continues that provocation in the next life.”
Twitter users reacted to Van Peeble’s death– both celebrating and mourning the icon.
Damn. Rest In Peace Melvin Van Peebles. The blueprint and inspiration for multiple generations of filmmakers. A whole legend. https://t.co/CfHBbXqIgT
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) September 22, 2021
Rest in Peace, to an icon — Melvin Van Peebles. pic.twitter.com/xEIBniws9n
— FRANCE. (@_mothers__) September 22, 2021
RIP Melvin Van Peebles, a true Renaissance man and trailblazing independent filmmaker.
Fifty years ago, Van Peebles made SWEET SWEETBACK’S BADASSSSS SONG, an essential early blaxplotation film – the film was added to the National Film Registry last year.
Thank you, Melvin. pic.twitter.com/HB1i91ultL
— The Black List (@theblcklst) September 22, 2021
We’ve lost another lion, the true revolutionary, an artistic gangsta, cultural disrupter who forever changed the game Rest n Peace Melvin Van Peebles
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— David Alan Grier (@davidalangrier) September 22, 2021
#RIP Melvin Van Peebles
I still be cracking at that Living Single episode with him and his son, Mario. pic.twitter.com/os84KMOtGx
— NatoyaEbony (@NatoyaEbony) September 22, 2021
RIP Melvin Van Peebles, a genius auteur who sparked a revolution in ’70s Black cinema, w/out whom the films of Tarantino and Spike Lee would be irrevocably different, who introduced Earth Wind & Fire to the world, and possessed unimpeachable integrity & futuristic searing vision. pic.twitter.com/53ZlISRfOz
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) September 22, 2021
Van Peebles is survived by his sons, Mario and Max, daughter Marguerite and his grandchildren. A daughter, Megan, preceded him in death.
In addition to son Mario, he is survived by son Max Van Peebles, an occasional actor and assistant director, daughter Marguerite, and grandchildren. His daughter Megan pre-deceased him.
