Did the 1970s stereotypical pimp ever exist?

[Oliverlogan263]

Large Cadillac, purple suit, fur coat, and cane?

Yes

No

[abc3643]

Of course! And, it wasn't just pimps either but drug pushers, such as "Super Fly", since there was more money in that.

"Super Fly" was an important 1972 movie - arguably, the most famous and successful of all the old "Blaxploitation" movies of that time. "Super Fly" also had a hit soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VYZUWzv_FaYhttps://www.youtube.com/embed/-cmo6MRYf5g

To illustrate that this actually did exist, in 2022 (the 50th anniversary of the film) the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress added "Super Fly" to the National Film Registry. Each year, they induct 25 motion pictures into the National Film Registry, which are considered “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant to the story of America.

https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/

Here is how they describe the film:

https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/descriptions-and-essays/

Super Fly (1972)
“Super Fly,” directed by Gordon Parks Jr., serves both as a classic of the sometimes escapist “Blaxploitation” wave of 1970s Black-oriented films, as well as a searing commentary on the American dream. The film revolves around a Harlem drug pusher with style (played by Ron O’Neal) who aims to make one final big score and then leave the business; criminals and corrupt police have other ideas. Some criticized the film as glorifying drug dealers, given O’Neal’s charismatic performance, and for reinforcing what they saw as lifestyle stereotypes in films such as “Sweet Sweetback…” and “Shaft.” Curtis Mayfield’s political and soulful score, however, received universal acclaim for its dynamic sound and for challenging drug culture in its lyrics. The son of renowned photographer and filmmaker Gordon Parks, Parks Jr. tragically died in 1979 at the age of 44 in an airplane crash in Kenya, while on location making a film.

[abc3643]

The main character in "Super Fly" is not "Super Fly" but Youngblood Priest. I wrote erroneously.

[WindAtMyBack]

I love Curtis Mayfield. That entire film track was good.
RIP

[WindAtMyBack]

They existed and were somewhat common. Not necessarily true "pimps", but that look.

I remember when I was hitch hiking across the country. A dude in a pink Cady picked me up. I rode with him several hundred miles. He opened the skylight - it was late at night with a clear sky and you could see stars everywhere through the roof. He lit some joints. He put down some lines. We got high and kicked back enjoying the ride. I have no idea if he was a pimp or not. If so, he wasn't on duty - just taking a trip.

I used to see a lot of those guys on weekends after the free summer concerts in the park. They'd start showing up around 11:00-12:00 at night. We'd usually sit in the park passing joints.

I've also been to "after hours clubs" after the bars closed. I remember a guy named "Mugsy" running one of those places. I was just there drinking with some friends. But if that guy wasn't a pimp, and that house wasn't a cat house, I'd eat my hat.

[MrOracle]

Yes - but really only in major cities with a large black population. NYC, Chicago, Detroit, DC/Baltimore, Atlanta, etc. There are movies and documentaries from that period that intentionally or incidentally recorded the real deal. Those stereotypes didn't come from nowhere.

It's not all that different today - the style is just different. Today, the style is going to be high-end sportswear and obnoxious jewelry, and the car is more likely to be a donk than a Cadillac with leopard-skin seats, but it's a similar "excess" look that is intended to thumb its nose at the police to show that they aren't intimidated even though they are obviously breaking the law. It also signals to the girls who they are. In the pimping world, status is everything, and you have to project your status through your look, your attitude, and your whip.

[Kaneki05]

Maybe in America, but not here. You did that here everyone's just gonna think your a clown, and you'll be getting stabbed for the sake of it.
Pimps here just look poor as anyone else because then who's gonna suspect them.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, but probably few altogether. My guess is that's a composite picture of the macks of the day. Mack's rocked that setup because the table of b**** that sells her 🐈 for money generally likes shiny things. And when you're brought up in the Ghetto that probably looks like success to you.

[Dongie]

Yeah it did. And enjoyed a short reprisal in the 90s by Cosmo Kramer.

[Iron_Man]

Yes, they do. I was just looking at YouTube videos. on it.

[Anonymous]

yes and some still exist today

[Nikki1989]

Maybe in Cheech and Chong movies.

[handsomelad70]

In Blaxploitation movies.

[joehypo1]

Too short

[jahaims]

Yeah

[noohair]

I saw it in NYC