Stuff You Gotta Watch: Black Wax
Gil Scott-Heron’s Black Wax is part concert film, part stand-up comedy special, and part social protest speech. Originally released by director Robert Mugge in 1982 and now available on the artist-run streaming site Eternal, the politically charged full-length film drips with charisma and rings with wise truths from the musical poet.
Speaking to a live audience or directly to the camera, Scott-Heron shares his experiences living in various American cities. In a spoken-word version of his song “Whitey On The Moon,” he questions why more money is spent on space travel than solving poverty for people of colour. Strolling through low income neighbourhoods and in front of the White House with a boombox on his shoulder, he becomes a pied piper of the people, getting head nods at his words.

The other scenes that make up the majority of Black Wax show Scott-Heron performing onstage with an incredible band, which includes a swinging horn section, flautist, two drummers, and bassist Robert Gordon, who stands out with his sparkly shirts and popping solos. Scott-Heron aimed his ire at President “Ray Gun,” but the compassionate message behind his ode to folks crossing the US/Mexico border, “Alien (Hold On To Your Dreams),” sadly remain as relevant as ever.
Review by Jesse Locke. Check out the full archive of the Stuff You Gotta Watch column.