Soul! "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Soul! EP 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Opens with segment from Melvin van Peebles theatre production, 'Ain t Suppose to Die a Natural Death: Tunes From 'Blackness.' Arthur French and Joe Fields perform 'Just Don't Make No Sense' about white prejudice against black men - walks around trash, garbage cans, depicting slum. 'If I sit I m loitering', 'if I run, I m escaping', The scene plays out in front of a bus stop where the man can't get a bus to stop for him. Finally, one does. The bus is portrayed by a uniformed driver (African American Man) with a white face mask who pantomimes the actions of a bus driver. Concludes with CU on 'One Way' sign angled down.
Soul! Ep 52 - Open
Soul Opening Credits. Announcer Joe Dennis names the guests on tonight's show: Mrs. Eldridge Cleaver, Highlights from Melvin van Peebles Tunes From Blackness: Ain t Suppose to Die a Natural Death, With actors Marilyn Coleman, Bill Duke, Gloria Edwards, Joe Fields, Arthur French, Minnie Gentry and Dick Williams. Filmmaker, Author, Melvin van Peebles. This show hosted by Ellis Haizlip.
Soul! EP 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Gloria Edwards and Dick Anthony Williams perform "Take Your Hands Off Me." She stands on stage which is set to look like bridge overpass. She leans over the edge. Uniformed policeman (African American man) in white face mask tries to pull her away repeatedly as she recites/performs "Take Your Hands off Me;" referencing late Civil Rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X; Impassioned, angry, recitation; Jazz music plays in BG.
Soul! EP 52 - Kathleen Cleaver Interview
Ellis Haizlip introducing the rest of the show; introduces interview with Kathleen Cleaver, wife of self-exiled Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver; introduces Kathleen Cleaver as "a sister who is deeply involved in what I should call right-on revolutionary business, a member of the Revolutionary People's Communications Network, mother of Antonio (Ahmed) Maceo and JoJu" Kathleen Cleaver discusses her daughter's birth in North Korea and returning to the United States. Discussion of the International Black Panther Party vs. The Revolutionary People's Communication Network. Kathleen discusses the international efforts of the Black Panther Party, particularly in Algiers. Discussion of the ability to keep people informed about the African American struggle at home and abroad. Discussion of US efforts to block the spread of information. Discussion of Eldridge Cleaver's exile; living in a Third-World country.
Soul! EP 52 - Kathleen Cleaver Interview
Ellis Haizlip interviews Kathleen Cleaver, Haizlip asks Cleaver if she believes she will be in "The Struggle" (Civil Rights) for the rest of her life; she says she will. Cleaver discusses the harassment, brutality, and imprisonment former members still face even after leaving the Black Panther movement; discusses factions and a lack of unity within the Black Panther Party. Cleaver discusses the efforts of enemies of the Party to bring division to a head. Cleaver discusses the process of growth and change in any organization dealing with "The Struggle;" mentions the National Liberation Front in South Vietnam and MPLA in Angola. Discussion of China entering the UN and US Presidential visits to China. Discussion of China and The Soviets' effect on the the Third World movement. Cleaver discusses her visit to the People's Republic of The Congo; discusses history of slavery in Africa; discusses her hopes for her children's generation; discussion of opposition to her international journeys.
Soul! Ep 52 - "Tunes From Blackness: Ain't Supposed to Die A Natural Death"
Another segment from Tunes From Blackness: Ain't Supposed to Die A Natural Death - jazz ensemble performs instrumental music. Bob Carton - Saxophone; Lloyd Davis - Guitar; Arthur Jenkins - piano; Richard Pratt - drums; William Salter - Bass; Charles Sullivan - trumpet. Brief guitar solo; brief Saxophone solo.
Soul! Ep 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Scene from Tunes From Blackness: Ain't Supposed to Die A Natural Death "Don't Come Raisin' Your Leg on Me;" Sung/spoken song by an African American woman to an African American man she's trying to break up with. He never gets a word in, but acts to appease her, to try and plead with her. But she isn't having any of it - she is angry and shouting at him. Set made to look like a city bus stop with crooked "One Way" sign.
Soul! Ep 52 - Melvin Van Peebles Interview
Ellis Haizlip interviews Melvin van Peebles, writer of "Tunes From Blackness: Ain't Suppose To Die A Natural Death." Haizlip commends Peebles' play; talks about how he emotionally identifies it. Haizlip asks about the use of repetition in the lines of the plays; Peebles mentions white criticism of the paly regarding repetition; explains the purpose and use of repetition. Peebles discusses how white critics must approach black culture as a foreign culture. Discussion of Anglo-Saxon mainstream culture vs. African influenced culture. Discussion of how Peebles uses music in his plays. Discussion of black (African American) culture vs. white opera culture. Haizlip says Peebles' work will have a historical impact; Peebles jokes that writing beats working at the post office. Discussion on criticism Peebles has received for bringing his play to Broadway. Haizlip thanks Peebles for allowing his play on Soul; discussion of Gilbert Moses acting as the play director. Discussion of "Put A Curse On You," The next scene from "Ain't suppose To Die A Natural Death."
Soul! EP 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Segment from "Ain't Supposed to die a Natural death;" "Put a Curse on you." Actress Minnie Gentry portraying homeless woman, "junkie" on city street; curses audience to live her fate and become homeless, "junkies" on street. Special FX used throughout scene; swear word are censored with beeps. Artistic monologue alludes to "pushers" (drug dealers), drugs, racism, and police brutality.
Soul! Ep 52 - Melvin Van Peebles Interview
Ellis Haizlip continues his interview with Melvin Van Peebles and asks about where he has gained the background for the work he has done and is doing. Van Peebles replies "I went to the best University in the world - Hunger." Haizlip mentions the "street" element to his work, and van Peebles goes on to explain the pluralities of black culture and that he is only trying to express things from his own experiences, knowledge, point of view etc. and that he is trying to open up opportunities for other people to express their own points of view and what they know. Haizlip asks why people object to the words in the production and Van Peebles responds that its paranoia by the mainstream. Both he and Haizlip agree that the production isn't always about black-white relationships all the time. Haizlip references a segment called "Who Got Whitey" where he says he got something out of it entirely different than black/white relationship and Van Peebles says "that's about a cat putting his bread where his soul is." Conversation shifts to the success of the play on Broadway, calls it 'the Miracle of Broadway." Ellis politely brings up money from the success of Sweet Sweet Backs' Song, when Van Peebles cuts him off and says that although he's kind for his approach to money, he has no qualms about talking about it "...because money is power, and money has allowed "Ain't Supposed to Die" to stand there. That money will also go on into other things." Interview cuts a bit abruptly to what seems to be an earlier part of the interview where Haizlip talks about how "Ain't Supposed to Die" came out of a music recording and now there is a full cast recording of the play. Van Peebles also mentions that his new record "Serious as a Heart Attack" is also just about to be released. They go on to talk about women, he talks about an interview he did for Cosmopolitan where he was named bachelor of the month. Haizlip asks him where he's from and is happy to hear he s from Chicago - names a list of other influential black artists and performers from Chicago. "It s very interesting that so much that has made a great contribution to the black ethos has come out of Chicago, such as, at one time a lot of jazz was centered in Chicago, Catherine Dunham was from Chicago and now we have Melvin van Peebles from Chicago." Haizlip thanks him and concludes the interview, Van Peebles is grateful and finishes with a prediction of a 3-year Broadway run and possibly a movie. Van Peeble talks about how the three white producers on "Ain't Supposed To Die" are white and never pressured him for anything. Haizlip reminds him that he came to the producers as a star already to which Van Peeble says, "Hey, well I've always been a star as far as I was concerned."
Soul! 52 - "Ain't Suppose To Die a Natural Death"
Segment from "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death," "I Got The Blood, Who Got Whitey?" Actor portraying African American man on urban, city street (set piece); artistic expression alluding to making money and "hustling" on the streets; swear words censored with beeps; actor, on monologue the discusses "The Movement," i.e. the Black Panther movement; describing himself as a militant leader. Performance alludes to the Black Power movement and fighting the white power structure with militant tactics.
Soul! Ep 52 - Close
Host Ellis Haizlip thanks his guests: Kathleen Cleaver, Melvin Van Peebles, Marilyn Coleman, Bill Duke, Gloria Edwards, Joe Fields, Arthur Finch, Minnie Gentry and Dick Williams. Also thanks musicians: Bob Carton on Reeds, Lloyd Davis Guitar, Arthur Jenkins on the piano, Richard Pratt on drums, William Salter on Bass, Charles Sullivan on trumpet. He says good night as shot cuts to band performing National Anthem which includes CUs of the faces of the characters from Ain't Supposed to Die. Ending credits roll over jazz music.