Tourdrobe

I’ve been facinated with cinema since I was a little kid – even when I got older, it developed when I worked for a couple years in high school at a local move theater. When I got to college, I made a point to take a few film classes, despite the fact that they had absolutely nothing to do with my major – that is what college is for, right?! One of the film classes I took was called “African-American Film,” and you can imagine how I was perceived by the teacher and the other students – just another white kid looking for what they thought was an easy A because I saw “Boyz In Da Hood.” Truth be told, I had a passion for African-American life and culture with a belief that my ancestry as a Jew in some ways paralleled those of my African-American peers’ ancestry.

It was in this class that I learned about Paul Robeson and Dorothy Dandridge, “The Imitation of Life,” and the films of the 1970′s, which we commonly refer to as “Blaxploitation” films. The role of both women and African-Americans were changing in the 1970′s and Pam Grier is THE woman who broke down doors for blacks and women, at the same time, with films like “Black Mama, White Mama” (1973), “Coffy” (1973), and “Foxy Brown” (1974). Keep in mind, around this very same time, then It-boy director, Quentin Tarantino, had cast Pam Grier in his 4th big written & directed feature film, “Jackie Brown” (1997), so I knew her from only that role before I took the class. Now, I’ve gotten to know more about this amazing women who broke the lid off the glass jar for so many others by reading her newly published memoir, “Foxy: My Life in Three Acts.”

“Foxy: My Life in Three Acts” is the memoir of Pam Grier as written by herself with Andrea Cagan. I was lucky enough to be on the set of a local show when Pam was being interviewed, followed by an intimate book signing. Here are a few takeaways I wanted like to share from her interview:

*She is a disciple of Sun-Tsu and “The Art of War”? I would expect nothing less!

*Her response to Richard Pryor’s objection to wearing a condom (while they were in a relationship) knowing it would endanger her life if she didn’t (because he had a contagious infection) was “Am I gonna survive his love?” That’s a strong woman even for our time now and a good lesson for young women to learn!

*When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar married someone else 1 day after Pam told him she wasn’t going to convert to Islam, he called to tell her. Kareem’s response to her questioning the decision was, “She was prepared for me.” Pam thought, “What, like a sandwich?” That’s just funny.

*My favorite takeaway quote was in response to one of the panel members asking Pam how she came up with a tagline for “The L Word,” which is “Living the life you love, loving the life you live.” This is actually a quote credited to Bob Marley but when the producer’s asked Pam about her thoughts, this quote just came to her…while she was drunk!

She was everything you’d hoped she’d be: strong, independent, funny, clearly a practicing naturalist and Buddhist, and as beautiful as ever. For the full interview, go here: http://www.youtube.com/user/lezview. I snuck in my collector’s edition “Jackie Brown” poster and she was kind enough to sign that, as well as her book, for me. I cannot wait for the film version of “FOXY” to come out (from me to you, I hope it stars Tracee Ellis Ross) and remember, it’s your life, live it like an independent woman (or man) - on tour! -MK

MK & Pam Grier (the flash was bright and I am pale)