10 Iconic Black Action Heroes

 I recently had a conversation with my brother about Black superheroes and Black action heroes. The differences between them, and if there really is a difference. So of course the wheels started spinning in my brain.

I present 10 iconic Black action heroes through film and TV. For clarification this list will focus on the characters, and not the actors who played them. I omitted two just because everyone knows them, John Shaft originally played by Richard Roundtree and later Uncle Samuel L. Jackson. And my boy the one and only Bruce Leroy. Now that's all out the way, let's get into the list.

10. Blackbelt Jones

Blackbelt Jones was a Blaxploitation era hero. Portrayed by Jim Kelley who was known for starring in Enter The Dragon with Bruce Lee. This local L.A. hero kicked alot of ass protecting his neighborhood and karate school from mobsters.

One of the first depictions of Black martial artists, he paved the way for my guy Bruce Leroy. Zack from Power Rangers, and even the multiple Michael Jai White martial arts characters.

9. John Cutter

In the early-mid 90's Wesley Snipes was everywhere. I previously wrote a blog about his run of action films. Which all started with John Cutter in Passenger 57. A decorated ex-law enforcement agent who has to save the day when a plane is taken over, to release a criminal on board.

This truly is the film and role that made Wesley Snipes an action star.

8. Action Jackson

While Carl Weathers will always be known as Apollo Creed. His second most memorable role was of one Action Jackson. A Detroit detective who gets into some shady union and business dealings.

The film is all 80's muscles and mayhem action. Through its presentation Action Jackson became a legend in the common man action hero lore.

7. B.A. Baracus

Take one of the most unique personalities in entertainment history. Pair him up with a team of ex-military soldiers for hire, and we have B.A. Baracus from the A-Team. A gruff quick tempered fighter. The only thing holding him back from being a total bad-ass, is his fear of flying.

Yet no one would dare try Bad Attitude Baracus more than once. Making him an action hero icon.

6. Morpheus

Morpheus the sage resistance leader within The Matrix. Very stoic and good at holding his composure, he was an excellent leader on the battlefield. And a master combat fighter and marksman.

A central figure in the trio of heroes within the Matrix universe. Morpheus inspired a new generation of stoic philosophical field leaders.

5. Black Dynamite 

First things first, we should have had an entire trilogy of films for Black Dynamite. The 2009 Blaxploitation era spoof and homage film, follows Michael Jai White as a former CIA agent. Bent on cleaning up the streets, after his brother is killer by a new drug.

The movie is funny as hell, Michael Jai White is perfect in the role. And it hits all the right points, Black Dynamite is also a masterful fighter and a ace with the gun in his hand.

4 Robert McCall (The Equalizer)

Robert McCall a former Marine and Intelligence agent, is "retired" and just wants to live his life lowkey and out the way. When he helps out a young lady he has befriended, he lands in the wrath of some mobsters. He then has to show them he's not the one to mess with.

McCall is gentle but ruthless, a walking deadly weapon who plays no games. And he goes on about his business, making him a action icon.

3 Roger Martaugh

Roger Martaugh always remarked how he was "too old for this shit", now I completely understand what he meant. He just wanted to go home, and retire. With a loose cannon like Riggs by his side, it wasn't easy.

Martaugh was the perfect everyman action hero, a family man who could still jump into the thick of things when needed. If he was gonna end up sore as hell the next day.

2 Axel Foley

Eddie Murphy may not have started the quick thinking, wisecracking cop character is Axel Foley. What he did do though is absolutely perfect it, so much he influenced future wisecracking cop roles (Det. James Carter).

Axel Foley is just a regular street cop from Detroit, that somehow always finds his way back to Beverly Hills. To tear that city up, scheme a little, and save the day before heading back home usually with just a little scratch.

1 Mike Lowrey & Marcus Burnett 

Miami PD detectives and best friends family man Marcus Burnett and Romeo adrenaline junkie Mike Lowrey. Two bickering buddies that went from a shootout here and there, to full assault weapon battles over the course of four films.

Displaying apprehension, fear, a will to get out alive, and through out all the battles still bickering. Common cops trying to take down local crime who become action heroes. Since 1995 they've set the standard for cop duos.

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Thursday Nights On Fox: The Real Must See TV

 

This month mark's the 30th Anniversary of the cop classic New York Undercover, which also marks the anniversary of when Fox had a trifecta of shows airing on Thursday nights and was the real Must See TV. Starting in the 1980's NBC pretty much owned the night with a television block of sitcoms originally dubbed America's Best Night Of Television On Television, throughout it's run shows such as The Cosby Show, A Different World, Wing's, Cheers, Dear John, and Night Court ran the airwaves. In 1993 the network decided to rebrand Thursday night sitcom's dubbing it Must See TV. Led by Seinfeld, Mad About You, and Fraiser. The following season a new sitcom called Friends, and a new drama named ER joined the party.

All successful shows, but over on Fox all the cool kid's knew what time it was starting at 8:00 pm. The classic sitcoms Martin and Living Single kept the laughs coming for that one hour block. Then at 9:00 pm New York Undercover bought the fashion, action and drama. That block of shows was legendary for the culture and cemented their place and to this day 90's kid's watch the show like they have never seen. While a new generation watch those shows and are in awe about how awesome the 90's were. 

I'm not sure there is a more legendary TV block for the culture. When using the phrase what a time!, Thursday night's on Fox were a time. You were guaranteed to be entertained the entire night and there are so many classic episodes among the three series. Martin, is a certified sitcom classic. Living Single is very relatable hilarious sitcom, especially as you get older. Then New York Undercover, had two of the coolest police detectives ever to grace the screen while providing compelling, realistic stories. Thursday Night's Fox was a can't miss time in television history. You really had to be there.

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Boomerang Is Black Excellence

 

30 Years Ago Today Boomerang debuted in theaters. Starring Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry, Robin Givens, Martin Lawrence, and David Alan Grier. The film is a romantic comedy about a player who gets played and doesn't realize it honestly. I first saw Boomerang as a kid probably all of 7 or 8 had no business watching it but as kids do I snuck and watched with my older cousins who were in their early teens, and had no business watching it either (shouts out to them though). Had no idea of the plot honestly, I just knew Martin and Eddie were in and it had some cuss words in it.

Fast forward to my early twenties when I watched it again and fully understood the title of the movie. Anyway in my opinion Boomerang is a classic, not only is the plot good and funny. As an adult now I realize Boomerang was one of the earliest examples of Black Excellence.

Marcus Graham was an executive for a cosmetics company. His company is acquired by a larger company founded by a Black woman in which she is still the face of the company. Marcus meets his match in a fellow executive Jacqueline Broyer.

Both characters dressed exceptionally well exuding confidence through their attire. Marcus had a spacious well maintained and furnished apartment, I'm assuming in Manhattan. And dinner scenes were frequently held at exquisite restaurants.

Boomerang was probably the earliest film I can recall that featured well off successful Black people across the board. That were not involved in any type of criminal activity. It even slightly addresses that in a scenescene where Marcus and crew are shopping.

Besides the core cast the Black Excellence was spread across the film. With legends like Grace Jones, Melvin Van Peebles, Eartha Kitt, Geoffrey Holder, Chris Rock, BeBe Drake, Tisha Campbell and John Witherspoon have parts in the film. John Witherspoon's Thanksgiving dinner scenescene is an all-time classic and probably the funniest scene in the movie.

Behind the camera there was just as much Black Excellence. The film was directed by Reginald Hudlin who directed House Party. And the film has a classic soundtrack primarily produced by Babyface with artist like Toni Braxton, Johnny Gill, TLC, A Tribe Called Quest, Charlie Wilson and Boyz II Men contributing.

I thank the cast and crew for displaying Black Excellence before it was a term and showing the world that Black People were very successful in the corporate world. Without many people even realizing it, the characters likely motivated many Black People to go out and tackle the world and unapologetically enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Boomerang is currently available to watch on HBO Max.

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