Soul! Episode 414
Soul! Episode 414
Funky Soul opening, Joe Dennis providing voiceover. CU/MS poet Nikki Giovanni, sporting Afro hairstyle & wearing long flowing red dress w/ silver circular pattern, reciting "Kidnap Poem." (Opening line of "Ever Been Kidnapped by a Poet?")
Soul! Episode 414
Nikki Giovanni introduces Wilbert Hart, William Hart, Major Harris, otheriwse known as the Delfonics. The Delfonics perform "Trying to Make a Fool of Me." Words can't possibly describes the colorful though oddly cut jumpsuit-like outfits they chose to wear. Funky in-studio band provides hot accompaniment, the guitarist drenching the song with tasty wah-wah during the breakdown. At outset, TLS black audience applauding.
Soul! Episode 414
Nikki Giovanni introduces South African singer Miriam Makeba. Miriam Makeba performs "Brand New Day." In-studio band accompaniment. At outset, TLS black audience applauding.
Soul! Episode 414
Nikki Giovanni interviews Miriam Makeba, welcomes her to the States. Nikki asks of her husband Stokely Carmichael (the couple had exiled themselves to Guinea, West Africa in 1971); Miriam replies that he is very active in teaching & politics & intends to come back to the U.S. Miriam Makeba discusses the difficulties she has endured thus far on her American tour, says "the only difference between South Africa & America is very slight" & that "South Africa admits what they are (racists, bigots)." Miriam Makeba says she records exclusively for a label owned by the Guinea government, mentions Union of South Africa. Ms. Makeba says she is happy w/ her life, that she wouldn't change a thing, that she has made her own decisions & if something fails then she has no one else to blame. Ms. Makeba elects not to incite the rancor of the U.S. government on camera. Miriam says she has a daughter, Bongi, & two grandchildren, Lumumba & Zanzi.
Soul! Episode 414
An admittedly nervous Nikki Giovanni continues interview of Miriam Makeba. Miriam discusses her immediate touring plans, and the honorary doctor of laws degree she received for her husband Stokely Carmichael. Miriam Makeba discusses the need for Africans & African-Americans to understand each other's cultures, especially when traveling.
Soul! Episode 414
Miriam Makeba & live band perform unidentified African ballad about a young man who leaves his village & his new bride to work & eventually die in the gold mines. Features an interpretive dance by the talented Judy Deering. World music. Afro-pop.
Soul! Episode 414
Miriam Makeba & live band perform unidentified African pop song dedicated to African women & the empowerment of all women around the world. Miriam Makeba gets funky, dances, loosens up the audience. World music. Afro-pop.
Soul! Episode 414
Miriam Makeba & live band perform unidentified African pop song that opens with a type of non-verbal scatting from Ms. Makeba. World music. Afro-pop. At outset, panning MS black audience applauding, followed by MS Nikki Giovanni thanking Miriam Makeba. MSs appreciative audience clapping.
Soul! Episode 414
Nikki Giovanni introduces former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay, Cassius X). TLS blacks in audience applauding-- the woman in the yellow turtleneck & black vest is a dead-ringer for Ester Rolle. Muhammad Ali talks briefly about his father; his younger brother Rudolph Clay, also a boxer, predicting that he'd be in the top 10 heavyweight ranks, then adding that he would retire before fighting Rudy; his 3 children & one pending arrival.
Soul! Episode 414
Continuation of Nikki Giovanni interviewing Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali talks about Howard Cosell, ABC Wide World of Sports & his controversial fight vs. Buster Mathis: "I caught more hell for not trying to hurt him. So, from now on, there'll be no more lightening up. Next time I'm gonna knock him down & if he gets up I'm gonna try to knock him down again & if the referee doesn't stop it, if the judges don't stop it, it's not my fault." "If somebody gets hurt the next time they can't say that it's my fault b/c they gave me hell for trying to be human." The Champ praises Wide World of Sports for allowing the poor & invalid to watch his pricey fights. "Since I caught so much hell for trying to be nice & taking it easy on the man, look out from here on b/c I'm gonna be blasting. I'm gonna ifght until he falls. If he gets up I'm gonna knock him down again & if anything happens they can't say nothing else. So look out whoever the next man is b/c he is in trouble."
Soul! Episode 414
Continuation of Muhammad Ali interview conducted by Nikki Giovanni. Muhammad Ali discusses his fight vs. Joe Frazier, Mar 8, 1971, aka Ali-Frazier I, saying that he mistakenly played w/ him for 3 rounds & didn't move like he should have. "At the time I hadn't won my draft case, one black man in the million dollar bracket who tells it like it is, who stays w/ his own kind-- so naturally they're going to pick the best boy to give it to. But the next time, there is no doubt, he must go out." "He won the decision but he took a terrible whupping." "We can't get on him, he's a brother. He fought good but he can't box. He has no skill but he hits hard. Takes a lot of whupping but he hits real hard. He hit me so hard in the 12th round, it jarred my kinfolk in Africa." Muhammad Ali says Joe Frazier won't retire in the near future: "It takes 3 years to be established as a champion. For him to retire it would really hurt him."
Soul! Episode 414
Continuation of Muhammad Ali interview conducted by Nikki Giovanni, who asks of his opinion of boxing's future. Muhammad Ali: "They say that boxing is dead b/c there are too many black people that rule it" & "it's interesting when you got different races & nationalities competing but when one race dominates, which is us, it's dead." "When I fought Jerry Quarry, who was a white Irishman, that was a big fight. But when I fought Buster Mathis it was a farce b/c it was 2 black men." Muhammad Ali is asked to dispense some words of wisdom to young men interested in pursuing sports; The Champ replies that he wouldn't advise a career in sports b/c it's too risky, both physically & financially, that they should concentrate on academics instead, but if they're really interested in boxing they should become a manager b/c "usually they get all the money." Muhammad Ali doesn t recommend a boxing career for young black men, stating that blacks need scientists, doctors, nurses, electricians, etc. "Something that most black people don t get hip to is reading & spelling, something I can't do right now." The Champ says he failed his 1st two Army exams; "they said I was mentally unable until they heard I was a Muslim, then I was smart but before that they didn't want me." "I told you I was the greatest, not the smartest." Nikki Giovanni closes sgement, saying the Muhammad Ali is "a wonderful image to us all" & "an inspiration."
Soul! Episode 414
FOR FULL PERFORMANCE WITH AUDIO, PLEASE CONTACT WPA. Nikki Giovanni introduces The Delfonics (Wilbert Hart, William Hart, Major Harris). The Delfonics, wearing matching orange & black outfits, perform the timeless sweet soul ballad, "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time" (live).
Soul! Episode 414
The Delfonics perform the soul ballad "The Love That I Gave to You." At outset, panning MSs black audience applauding.
Soul! Episode 414
Nikki Giovanni reads excerpt from her book "Gemini." Cutaways of blacks in audience listening intently to the harsh tale of a door stolen from a home in Africa for display in a white musuem & how it relates to the stark reality of modern black life. Wow! Really impressive essay. "I really like to think a black, beautiful, loving world is possible."
Soul! Episode 414
Nikki Giovanni closes show, thanks Muhammad Ali, the Delfonics, Judy Deering, & Miriam Makeba. "Peace to you & power to the people." Nikki Giovanni introduces Miriam Makeba. Miriam Makeba performs unidentified Afro-pop ballad, black man playing gourd lyre in FG. Credits eventually roll.