HOT COFFY!

"This is the end of your life you motherf*cking

dope pusher!"

- Pam Grier in "Coffy"

Nobody, and I mean nobody would argue that, in the 1970s, Pam Grier epitomized the strong, black female version of the action hero. As a matter of fact, she was the first black female to have a starring role in an action film, period.

Never mind that she achieved that lofty cinema status playing in movies that are now categorized by the term "Blaxploitation"; she has proven herself over and over again in films such as COFFY, FRIDAY FOSTER, and JACKIE BROWN that Pam Grier is for real. Not only real, but Grier is the baddest "Badass Black Mama" in that genre's history, or any other, for that matter.

And let us not forget, monster fans, Ms. Grier played Ayesa, the Panther Woman, in New World Pictures' THE TWILIGHT PEOPLE, Eddie Romero's Filipino/American 1972 production starring John Ashley, as well as the Dust Witch in SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES!

Constance White, former editor of Essence magazine and the author of the book, "How to Slay: Inspirations from the Queens and Kings of Black Style", singles out a handful of the most notable black style "influencers", and details how each has made an impact on what we wear. Pam Grier--not surprisingly--is one of them.

Called by White "The Bodacious Natural Babe", she goes on to say that Grier was "one of the biggest stars of the Blaxploitation film genre that helped define the '70s. North Carolina born, Grier exuded a new kind of on-screen appeal, one rooted in natural beauty and down-to-earth pieces like denim cut-offs, button-up shirts and hoop earrings. As the titular character in COFFY and FOXY BROWN, Ms. Grier inspired a new generation of women to bare their midriffs and cultivate lush afros. Those halter tops may feel too brazen today, but Pam Grier's sass and confidence are still just right".

And if you're wondering where the term "Blaxploitation" came from, it is attributed to Junius Griffin, who coined the phrase in 1972 when he was president of the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood branch. Griffin asserted that the genre was responsible for "proliferating offenses" and "reinforcing negative stereotypes".

Remember, if you don't behave, Coffy will cream you!

NOTE: A portion of the text is revised from from an earlier post.

COFFY Photos:

COFFY Pressbook:

COFFY DVD booklet:

COFFY Official Trailer:

Scenes from COFFY:

Pam Grier talks about her role in COFFY:

COFFY Soundtrack by Roy Ayers Playlist:

RAW AND VIOLENT!

Along with the usual suspects, a few mainstream movies with exploitative themes are mixed in here for good measure. The "Let's Make a Dirty Movie" poster art is by Robert McGinnis. No explanations are needed for the rest.

EXTRA! PAM GRIER GALLERY

Born on May 26, 1949, Pamela Suzette Grier, "The Queen of Blaxploitation", is still-great looking at 76-years-old. If you're wondering where she gets those gook looks, according to Miss Grier herself, she is part Black, Hispanic, Chinese, Filipino and Cheyenne! Some of her films include COFFY (see poster above), FOXY BROWN, SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM and FRIDAY FOSTER (a film adaptation of the comic strip).

Her cousin is Rosey Grier, ex-football defensive tackle and one-time member of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome". After retiring, he became a body guard and is famous for subduing Sirhan Sirhan after Robert Kennedy, Jr was shot.

FRIDAY FOSTER SUNDAY STRIPS (1970)

Scripted by Jim Lawrence and drawn by Jorge Longarón, the FRIDAY FOSTER comic strip was syndicated by the CHICAGO TRIBUNE and ran from January 18, 1970 to February 17, 1974. Lawrence had previously written the James Bond newspaper strip for the London DAILY EXPRESS. Frank Springer contributed uncredited work when Longarón's art didn't arrive in time from his studio in Spain to make the deadline.

Foster was the first syndicated newspaper comic strip featuring a Black woman as the title character. Previously, TORCHY BROWN appeared in the African-American newspaper, the PITTSBURGH COURIER, but it had a limited circulation.

Torchy Brown by Jackie Ormes.

Friday Foster returned to the newspapers in 2019 when she guest-starred in the DICK TRACY comic strip.

Pam Grier starred in the title role in the 1975 AIP  blaxploitation feature film, FRIDAY FOSTER, with Yaphet Kotto, Carl Weathers, Ted Lange and Godfrey Cambridge.

Pam Grier as Friday Foster.

Dell Comics published one issue of FRIDAY FOSTER with a cover date of October 1972, with a script by Joe Gill and Jack Sparling.