Tongues Untied

"Black Men Loving Black Men"

Jul 1 1989 Not Rated 0h 55m
Documentary

Marlon Riggs, with assistance from other gay Black men, especially poet Essex Hemphill, celebrates Black men loving Black men as a revolutionary act. The film intercuts footage of Hemphill reciting his poetry, Riggs telling the story of his growing up, scenes of men in social intercourse and dance, and various comic riffs, including a visit to the "Institute of Snap!thology," where men take lessons in how to snap their fingers: the sling snap, the point snap, the diva snap.

Plot

Marlon Riggs, with assistance from other gay Black men, especially poet Essex Hemphill, celebrates Black men loving Black men as a revolutionary act. The film intercuts footage of Hemphill reciting his poetry, Riggs telling the story of his growing up, scenes of men in social intercourse and dance, and various comic riffs, including a visit to the "Institute of Snap!thology," where men take lessons in how to snap their fingers: the sling snap, the point snap, the diva snap. The film closes with obituaries for victims of AIDS and archival footage of the civil rights movement placed next to footage of Black men marching in a gay pride parade.

Written by

Joseph Beam, Chris Harris, Essex Hemphill

Directed by

Marlon Riggs

Cast

Marlon Riggs, Michael Bell, Kerrigan Black

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Signifyin' Works

Languages

English

Awards

5 wins

Scores
# of Votes
2,117
Average Rating
7.1 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA