Huge thanks to Behind the Slate Podcast for turning us on to this underexposed gem - give 'em a listen and follow them on Tiktok (which is where we saw the video that inspired this episode).

These two white girls from Southern California were woefully unaware of the powerhouse that is Melvin Van Peebles - a man who basically set the standard for what would become known as Blaxploitation film. This episode changed that. 

Don't let the movie's premise (a bigoted white man becomes Black) scare you off. Watermelon Man is one of the most direct, honest, and unflinching satires we've ever seen. There are so many moving parts that work seamlessly together to perfectly capture the manufactured nature of whiteness - and Van Peebles did it all in 31 days. 

But that's not the best part. The best part is the story behind how it was made in the first place. You've gotta hear it. Pinky promise.

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