"The Liberation of L. B. Jones" is a feel-bad movie that is worth seeing...provided you aren't already seriously depressed. If you are, try watching something fun, as "The Liberation" is where fun goes to die!
The story is set in Tennessee and racism in this county is rampant. You will probably never find a movie that uses the 'n' word more...which I appreciate because it just shows how ugly racism is. The cops are evil perverters of women and justice and the place is NOT a place any black person would enjoy visiting...as they certainly would not have been welcome.
L. B. Jones happens to be the richest black man in the county and he is having problems with his wife. She's carrying on an affair with one of the cops and he's sick of it and wants a divorce. He seeks the help of a local lawyer (Lee J. Cobb) who at first refuses to take the case. But when his idealistic son-in-law shames him into taking it, he agrees...and spends much of the rest of the film perpetrating evil along with the local police department. What exactly did they do? See the film...but it certainly ain't nice!
The film came out after quite a few other race films had debuted and just before the big blacksploitation craze...so the timing was excellent. The film is brutal in the way it shows racism, as it's unflinching and will make you sick as you watch. This is a good thing...but a painful thing to see and hear. Well worth your time.
