Black Is… Black Ain’t(1995)
A personal journey through Black identity
Black Is… Black Ain’t Synopsis
African-American documentary filmmaker Marlon Riggs was working on this final film as he died from AIDS-related complications in 1994; he addresses the camera from his hospital bed in several scenes. The film directly addresses sexism and homophobia within the black community, with snippets of misogynistic and anti-gay slurs from popular hip-hop songs juxtaposed with interviews with African-American intellectuals and political theorists, including Cornel West, bell hooks and Angela Davis.
Black Is… Black Ain’t (1995) is a documentary film directed by Marlon Riggs, released on October 11, 1995 with a runtime of 1h 27m. It stars Marlon Riggs, Angela Davis, bell hooks and Essex Hemphill. Viewers rate it 5.8 out of 10 across 13 ratings.
- Director:
- Marlon Riggs
- Producers:
- Marlon Riggs
- Cinematographer:
- Robert Shepard
- Production:
- Signifyin' Works
- Status:
- Released
Black Is… Black Ain’t (1995) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Black Is… Black Ain’t before you stream it.
Black Is… Black Ain’t Cast & Crew
Main cast
Marlon Riggs
as Self
Angela Davis
as Self
- bell hooks
bell hooks
as Self
Essex Hemphill
as Self
Cornel West
as Self
- Maulana Karenga
Maulana Karenga
as Self
- Barbara Smith
Barbara Smith
as Self
- Michele Wallace
Michele Wallace
as Self
Key crew
Directed by Marlon Riggs, produced by Marlon Riggs.
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Black Is… Black Ain’t Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 5.8/10 from 13 ratings.
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Black Is… Black Ain’t – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Black Is… Black Ain’t online?
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Black Is… Black Ain’t (1995) is available to stream on OVID. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in Black Is… Black Ain’t?
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The main cast of Black Is… Black Ain’t (1995) includes Marlon Riggs, Angela Davis, bell hooks, Essex Hemphill and Cornel West. The film was directed by Marlon Riggs. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was Black Is… Black Ain’t released?
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Black Is… Black Ain’t was released on October 11, 1995 and runs for 1h 27m.
Is Black Is… Black Ain’t worth watching?
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Black Is… Black Ain’t (1995) holds an average rating of 5.8 out of 10 from 13 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for Black Is… Black Ain’t?
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Yes. The official Black Is… Black Ain’t trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.