Tongues Untied

The story

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.

Cast & crew

Marlon RiggsSelf

Essex HemphillSelf - Poetry Performance

Brian Freeman

Brian FreemanSelf

Michael BellSelf

Willi NinjaSelf

Kerrigan Black

Kerrigan BlackSelf

BlackberriSelf

Djola Bernard Branner

Djola Bernard BrannerSelf

Eddie MurphySelf (archive footage)