Name: Black Is… Black Ain’t
Director: Marlon Riggs
Genre: Documentary
Released: 1995
Duration: 87 min
Cast: Marlon Riggs, Angela Davis, bell hooks, Essex Hemphill, Cornel West

What Black Is… Black Ain’t Is About

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Black Is… Black Ain’t about?

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.

Where can I watch Black Is… Black Ain’t?

Black Is… Black Ain’t is available to watch on digital platforms such as OVID. Current rent and buy options are listed in the "Where to Watch" section on this page.

How long is Black Is… Black Ain’t?

Black Is… Black Ain’t runs for 87 minutes (1h 27m).

When did Black Is… Black Ain’t come out?

Black Is… Black Ain’t was released in 1995.

Who directed Black Is… Black Ain’t?

Black Is… Black Ain’t was directed by Marlon Riggs.

Who stars in Black Is… Black Ain’t?

Black Is… Black Ain’t stars Marlon Riggs, Angela Davis, bell hooks, Essex Hemphill.

What is Black Is… Black Ain’t's rating?

Black Is… Black Ain’t holds 7.7/10 on IMDb and 5.8/10 on TMDB. Its Pulse Score is 73 out of 100.