“Music. Power. Respect” was displayed on the big screen of the The Whitby Hotel Theatre on Wednesday December 4th. Underneath it, the image of a man who changed an entire culture, “The Black Godfather”.
“The Black Godfather” directed by Reginald Hudlin, tells the story of Clarence Avant, one of the most influential music executives of all time, who rose against the odds and created a remarkable network of mentees who all honor him as their ‘godfather’. Clarence Avant grew up in rural North Carolina during the segregation era. A series of events led him to New Jersey, and his life changed thereafter. He was picked up by artist manager Joe Glaser, who became his mentor, and later moved to Los Angeles, where he founded Sussex Records, and eventually became the confidant and advisor to an endless list of prominent artists, executives, businessmen, and politicians, including Bill Withers, L.A. Reid & Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Bill Clinton, Quincy Jones, Barack Obama, and more.
“He was the only one in a time when people of color were not getting the right deals. The majority of the deals were very unfair, and instead of getting your advance, you’d get a Cadillac… these were crazy times, it was mostly controlled by ‘not us’, and here’s this darkly melanated man walking into these offices where people do not look like him, and he’s telling the artist and he’s telling the executive what’s going to be good for the both of them, and both of them trust him. That was completely unheard of,” said Pharrell Williams during the post screening Q&A.
Pharrell, along with his collaborator Chad Hugo, wrote and produced the documentary’s soundtrack. Letter to my Godfather is a song thanking Clarence Avant for establishing the opportunities that many artists of color may not have had today. According to Pharrell, the choir- like sounds of the song symbolize the numerous people who owe their success and joy to Clarence Avant.
Present for the Q&A was also Nicole Avant, daughter of Clarence Avant and producer of “The Black Godfather”, who discussed the purpose of the documentary. “It’s the ripple effect, it’s about being a mentor, or being helpful to people just because it’s the right thing to do,” she said. For her, it is a story of American Excellence, Black Entrepreneurialism, and of persisting for the American Dream.
The special screening and subsequent Q&A were followed by a reception with hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and a candy cocktail.
“The Black Godfather” premiered in June 2019, and is exclusively available on Netflix. Letter to my Godfather received a Song of the Year award, and the film was in the Top 5 documentaries for the National Board of Review. Will it be on the Oscar shortlist next? Stay tuned on December 16th. “The Black Godfather” reveals the power of mentorship, generosity and emphasizes that it is everyone’s responsibility to forge the path of justice, and pay it forward. Don’t miss it.
