Venus’s Top Se7en: Recommended Documentaries
1. Summer of Soul
I was counting down the days for this to stream on Hulu, and while, at times, the anticipation was murder, it was so worth the wait! I could not believe that my history-loving ass was unaware that Woodstock was not the only star-studded music celebration born in the summer of 1969. The other, Harlem Cultural Festival, took place in Mount Morris Park. Although filmed, the concert series footage got canned and placed in a basement for half a century, never seen until Questlove and his crew unboxed and unfurled it all for the world to see! Thank God he did!
In another of my favorite documentaries, What Happened, Miss Simone?, I saw some of the festival’s films of Nina Simone. Still, I didn’t know that she shared the same space and stage as Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, David Ruffin, BB King, The Staple Singers, and Sly & the Family Stone, to name a few among music royalty. I was obsessed! Not only had Quest locked down interviews of a few of the artists who performed that summer but also festival attendees; one gentleman broke into tears, saying he was relieved to know that he had not dreamt it all.
Marilyn McCoo of the 5th Dimension looked on with misty eyes, too, due to the overwhelming energy and support of the Black audience during the group’s performance. The Harlem Cultural Festival even had the backing of the mayor of New York, John Lindsay, a liberal Republican who advocated for Black and brown communities and provided employment to many in the younger generations. Seeing this guy made me wish I was a Harlem native coming up at that time or that there were more John Lindsays around today. The pivotal moment was witnessing a duet between Mavis Staple and Mahalia, singing ‘Precious Lord’ in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who died the spring before, but favored the song immensely.
According to Jesse Jackson, who was present with King the day he died, MLK requested to listen to that song over dinner seconds before he was killed. UNREAL MOMENT! Every time I watch Summer of Soul, I am overcome with joy and energy from the artists and the sea of countenances in attendance. To quote an attendee, ‘It was like seeing royalty!’ I am so proud of Quest for winning an Oscar with his directorial debut; I’m inspired and I can’t wait for the next documentary he’s planning to direct solely on no other than Sly Stone! I already know it’s going to be FIRE!
2. Mr. SOUL!
I discovered SOUL! in 2020, and from minute one, I was in love; these chocolate faces that stared back from the TV, some familiar and others unknown to me, were inspiring in more ways than one. SOUL! was the first show to provide a platform for Black and brown communities and its notable figures, from poets, singers/musicians, dancers/choreographers, activists, athletes, actors, and authors to spiritual leaders. The man behind the magic was Sir Ellis Haizlip, recently regarded as Mr. SOUL! This documentary offered insight into the life of Ellis and was a tasteful remembrance of the show’s inception, rise, decline, and legacy.
The program itself appeals to the maverick artist and intellect in me; it unlocked doors to my eyes, mind, and heart I wasn’t aware were confined and encouraged me to persist on my path of creativity and self-discovery without apology. SOUL! reminds me of who I am and the brilliant, beautiful people from whom I derive; although ahead of its time and unsung, SOUL! was an immaculate conception and representation of Blackness. Since its release, Mr. SOUL! has received such acclaim, and for a good reason; its producer/writer/director is not only a Black woman but a niece to Ellis Haizlip. She packaged the essence of the program so beautifully; she definitely gets roses from me.
Meanwhile, the musical marriage of Lalah Hathaway & Robert Glasper won them an Academy Award last year for Best Original Song, ‘Show Me Your Soul,’ which I attached below. That track has been a savior to me and on a constant loop since I first watched Mr. SOUL! In fact, I’m listening to it as I write this; the chocolate on top, though, includes some of Ellis’s monologue from the final episode of the show: ‘Although it’s over, it is not the end; Black seeds keep on growing. There is NO alternative to SOUL!’
To me, he wasn’t only talking about the television program but Blackness in general. There is no replica of us, and there never will be; WE ARE SOUL! It’s in our bones, blood, and being, making me even prouder to be Black. There’s nothing in the world like it, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Mr. SOUL! is streaming on HBO Max and if you have a Prime membership with Amazon or a Tubi TV subscription, you can watch the entire series of SOUL! By the way, Tubi TV is completely free! Happy viewing!
3. A Love Song for Latasha
Latasha Harlins was a 15-year-old girl from South Central, Los Angeles, who was killed by an Asian store owner, Soon Ja Du, on March 16, 1991. Unlike most of what you see in the media, this Academy Award-nominated documentary gives depth to Latasha and, in a way, separates her from the event that ended her life. Told from the perspective of her best friend and cousin, Ty and Shinese, we discover that Latasha Harlins was a courageous, benevolent youth, who, at an early age, knew her value and encouraged others to recognize the same in themselves. The community’s “big sister,” Latasha was protective, stood for what was right, and dissolved malfeasance.
She had dreams of becoming a lawyer and developing youth programs in the neighborhood with Ty. A Love Song for Latasha is a poetic, cinematic, and intimate account of the life of a promising teenager; the film possesses a nostalgic element as if one is watching it from a VHS tape, perhaps played far too often. What also impresses me is that there is only one talking head scene; every visual aspect from modern dramatization to animation reflects Ty and Shinese’s accounts without distracting us from the overall picture co-producer/director/cinematographer/editor, Sophie Nahli Allison, attempts to paint. When I think of Latasha Harlins now, her life is the first thing that comes to mind.
One of Latasha’s favorite songs was ‘Stand by Me’ by Ben E. King; she would sit and listen to it every day with her best friend, Ty.
4. In Our Mothers’ Garden
This documentary helped me remember the importance of tradition, culture, and ancestry. I am reminded of my first-hand experiences with the women who raised me and thus, collected and enjoyed stories told to me primarily by my mother and great-grandmother.
In Our Mothers’ Garden is a narrative of selected Black and brown women who share tales of where they come from and why it all plays a part in who they are in the present.
This film also inspired me to write a poem called ‘Women,’ which I intend to share with you all soon; In Our Mothers’ Garden is an unending well of the knowledge, spirituality, self-care strategies, strength, healing, love, and magic of Black women! If you’re interested, the documentary streams on Netflix.
5. Bitchin’: The Sound & Fury of Rick James
I’ve always argued that there was more to Rick James than Chappelle’s Show and Super Freak and if you do not know much about the man, feel free to start with this documentary, but don’t end there! From my perspective, Rick’s amorous stage persona overshadowed his gift as a vocalist, composer, and producer; he was far more intelligent than he gets credit for. If you really pay attention to his discography, Rick James exceeded Funk; he composed music in a multitude of genres and it was all amazing!
Bitchin’ [I hate the title, by the way] shows us the good, bad, and the ugly of getting everything one wants; while I commend Rick’s blood raw honesty, it proved to be a blessing and a curse as far as his career was concerned. All and all, Rick was a very sharp guy; check out this interview with Rick on Tom Snyder; it’s pretty hilarious. If you have a Showtime, Fubo, or Amazon subscription, I encourage y’all to watch this film.
6. Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, & Greed
If you read a previous post of mine, Venus’s Top Se7en: Self-Care Patterns, you’d know that I watch Bob Ross not only to witness the beauty of ‘nature’s masterpieces,’ but also to relax; off-topic, but if you ever need unorthodox therapy to wind down or mitigate stress, watch Bob Ross on YouTube. It does wonders, I’m telling you! Although I knew he was a renowned painter, I didn’t get into Bob Ross until a few years ago.
I was bewitched by his placid conduct and talent and just fell in love with him; however, all wasn’t happy little trees once the cameras were off. I was stunned by the revelation of this documentary, learning that his former business partners and present owners of his likeness are turncoat pieces of shit whose only interest in him was the capital he accumulated for them.
I don’t want to spoil anything for those who intend to check it out on Netflix, but I can guarantee that your admiration for Bob Ross will increase after seeing it.
Se7en. Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story
Lady Boss is girl power! Plain and simple; while some consider the work of Jackie Collins sleazy, she might not have caught such flack had she been a man. From my understanding, her heroines were solid and possessed authority and sensual liberation, which is intriguing; I related to her in a few ways: for one, I, too, am a baby sister who always journaled and considers herself a writer.
I love her fearlessness and confidence in that she believed in what she did and gracefully brushed off the many opinions of the public who thought her books were tasteless. None of it stopped Jackie from being herself or continuing the path she found her voice; rocking some leopard-print blazer with shoulder pads that killed, she always said, ‘Girls/women can do anything,’ and many ladies found hope and courage in her work. Furthermore, if one can change lives doing what they love to do, I doubt it gets any better than that; she is woman! Hear her roar!
