The Black Godfather

The Black Godfather
Original theatrical release poster.
Directed by	John Evans
Produced by	Jerry Gross
Written by	John Evans
Starring	Rod Perry Don Chastain Jimmy Witherspoon Duncan McLeod Diane Sommerfield
Music by	Phil Moore Martin Yarbrough
Cinematography	Jack Steely
Edited by	James Christopher
Distributed by	Cinemation Industries
Release date	September 3, 1974
Running time	90 min.
Country	United States
Language	English

The Black Godfather is a 1974 American blaxploitation film. The film was written and directed by John Evans, and stars Rod Perry, Don Chastain, Diane Sommerfield and Jimmy Witherspoon.

J.J. (Rod Perry), a rising star in the black crime scene, is in the process of consolidating his power over the neighborhood. One of the only remaining obstacles is the white heroin cartel that is understandably reluctant to abandon such a lucrative market. Tensions rise, and an explosive confrontation is the result.

The movie begins with an overview of a city skyline. J.J. (Rod Perry) and his friend are seen walking down a street; they stop and one of the men points to a house. They proceed to walk up the stairs that lead to the front door. As Tommy opens the door he pulls out a gun that jams on him. The person inside the house shoots him and proceeds outside to shoot the other man. Tommy dies in the arms of J.J. in an alley; so the other man walks away and is met by Nate Williams (Jimmy Witherspoon) who helps him by taking him to safety. Williams takes out the bullet in J.J.’s arms and tends to the wound.

The next morning J.J. and Williams talk. J.J. is curious as to why Williams decided to save and take care of him after he was shot. Williams was impressed by J.J.’s courage in trying to break into a known gangster’s house. J.J.’s motive was only to survive and “get some bread”. Williams offers J.J. some advice in surviving on the streets and gives him some money. This is the beginning of J.J.’s rise to power in the street.

After the opening credits are shown, J.J. has grown in power and position on the street. He longs for more as he sells drugs and tries to gain better status on the streets. He believes that money buys dignity and that it does not matter where it comes from. J.J. wants to get rid of another drug dealer named Tony Burton(Don Chastain). J.J. has a problem with Tony, a white gangster, trafficking heroin into a predominantly black community. The drugs have been negatively affecting the kids and adults because many of them become addicted. He talks to a man called Diablo (Damu King) about taking care of securing the neighborhood from Tony’s men and any other drug dealer pushing in the territory.

Lieutenant Joe is a crooked cop that takes bribes from drug dealers for his own gain. He enters J.J.’s headquarters at the club and goes up to talk to him in his office. J.J. explains to him that he is willing to go to war with Tony and any other drug dealer that exploits the black community. He tells Joe to relay the information back to Tony, knowing that Joe takes bribes from any and all drug dealers so long as he gains money.