--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we talk about 'Sweetback,' yes, it…" description: "\"When we talk about 'Sweetback,' yes, it stars the whole black movement, but it's also the first time an independent film made that kind of money and wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/melvin-van-peebles-8573_film_when-we-talk-about-sweetback-yes-it-star_2506553.jpg" --- # When we talk about 'Sweetback,' yes, it stars the whole… ![“When we talk about 'Sweetback,' yes, it stars the whole black movement, but it's also the first time an independent film made that kind of money and was that successful and taken seriously.” quote by Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/melvin-van-peebles-8573_film_when-we-talk-about-sweetback-yes-it-star_2506553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/melvin-van-peebles-8573_film_when-we-talk-about-sweetback-yes-it-star_2506553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/melvin-van-peebles-8573_film_when-we-talk-about-sweetback-yes-it-star_2506553.jpg) > “When we talk about 'Sweetback,' yes, it stars the whole black movement, but it's also the first time an independent film made that kind of money and was that successful and taken seriously.” [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An independent Black film proved commercial success, showing the movement could be both artistic and profitable. **In simple terms:** Black cinema succeeded financially and culturally. Key Takeaway Support independent Black creators. Themes representation independence success culture Mood proud inspired optimistic Type historical cultural When to use this quote - film festivals - grant applications - distribution deals - media coverage Key Concepts cinema economic impact social movement Questions to Reflect On - How can indie Black films break into mainstream markets? - What barriers remain for Black filmmakers? A Different Perspective Success may still be limited by mainstream gatekeepers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Independent film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-film/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Every person that steps up and commits to social change helps solidify the black movement cause. 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L. R. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-r-james/) > [“As an Asian American woman within black radical circles, Grace surely was anomalous, but this raised no significant concerns or barriers to her participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/as-an-asian-american-woman-within-black-radical-circles-grace-surely/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [ I also think it's crucial to convey that the \[Black\] Movement largely succeeded because of the unwavering dedication of young people willing to risk… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-powell/i-also-think-it-s-crucial-to-convey-that-the-black-movement-largely/) [Nate Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-powell/) > [Before I made 'Sweetback,' I had a three-picture deal with Columbia and enough juice, if I was real clever with it, to proclaim that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/before-i-made-sweetback-i-had-a-three-picture-deal-with-columbia-and/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [When a black person gets money, becomes a successful - say, billionaire - first thing they do is move out of the black community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-mcinnes/when-a-black-person-gets-money-becomes-a-successful-say-billionaire/) [Gavin McInnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-mcinnes/) > [Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don't make compromises. Don't worry about making a bunch of money or being successful. Be concerned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/build-a-good-name-keep-your-name-clean-don-t-make-compromises-don-t-2/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [First of all, from a spiritual perspective, I don't think anyone needs to be apologetic about being successful or having money. The more successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shilpa-shetty/first-of-all-from-a-spiritual-perspective-i-don-t-think-anyone-needs/) [Shilpa Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shilpa-shetty/) > [Sometimes you have no money, you're not successful, you have hard times, but you mean well and you are generous, and you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/sometimes-you-have-no-money-you-re-not-successful-you-have-hard-times/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [“Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful — be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/build-a-good-name-keep-your-name-clean-don-t-make-compromises-don-t/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [I used to work in jobs I hated because I needed the money to buy a guitar. I know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-used-to-work-in-jobs-i-hated-because-i-needed-the-money-to-buy-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [My big journey was around money. I was a successful writer, I was a musician, but I was just always broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/my-big-journey-was-around-money-i-was-a-successful-writer-i-was-a/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [Now, success is not the result of making money; making money is the result of success - and success is in direct proportion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/now-success-is-not-the-result-of-making-money-making-money-is-the/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) ## More by Melvin Van Peebles > [I went to a number of schools when I was a kid on the south side of Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-went-to-a-number-of-schools-when-i-was-a-kid-on-the-south-side-of/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Music or sound in a film is a character as important as another character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/music-or-sound-in-a-film-is-a-character-as-important-as-another/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I'm not a normal director. You can't look at me that way. What's kept me alive is my technical skill at doing other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-m-not-a-normal-director-you-can-t-look-at-me-that-way-what-s-kept/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Don't ask me something if you don't want to know. Because I will tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/don-t-ask-me-something-if-you-don-t-want-to-know-because-i-will-tell/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I was a trader for a company. That's different from the brokers who we sort of disdain as sort of just errand boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-was-a-trader-for-a-company-that-s-different-from-the-brokers-who-we/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I'm pretty much a loner. That's not good, bad, or indifferent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-m-pretty-much-a-loner-that-s-not-good-bad-or-indifferent/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [After 'Don't Play Us Cheap,' I got very busy with theater and Wall Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/after-don-t-play-us-cheap-i-got-very-busy-with-theater-and-wall-street/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [The studios didn't really take independent films seriously, till 'Sweetback' was such a financial success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/the-studios-didn-t-really-take-independent-films-seriously-till/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Over time, you accumulate a lot of life material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/over-time-you-accumulate-a-lot-of-life-material/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I intend to stay dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-intend-to-stay-dangerous/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Whitey is uptight about offending blacks without really knowing what offends blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/whitey-is-uptight-about-offending-blacks-without-really-knowing-what/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I said to my kids, 'Learn the business of America if you want to be an artist in America. The rest of that stuff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-said-to-my-kids-learn-the-business-of-america-if-you-want-to-be-an/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [If you give people something they want, they'll come and see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/if-you-give-people-something-they-want-they-ll-come-and-see-it/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I do what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-do-what-i-want-to-do/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [Music - some people just don't know that part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/music-some-people-just-don-t-know-that-part-of-me/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) [Explore all 79 Melvin Van Peebles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) ## More Film quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. 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