Tongues Untied
dir. Marlon Riggs · 1990
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.
Why watch
Marlon Riggs recounts his journey of self-acceptance as a gay Black man, interspersing his narrative with the powerful poetry of Essex Hemphill. The film oscillates between moments of exuberant celebration and somber reflection, creating a rich tapestry of Black queer identity that is both joyous and deeply melancholic.