85:, Griffin reported on the "Blood Brothers" gang as well as managed an interview with an unnamed member as many black journalists at the time were able to get closer to gang disputes than their white counterparts, however there is some dispute on the validity of these reports. Griffin alongside Caldwell and colleagues like Gerald Fraser, Austin Scott, Lester Carson, Ted Jones,
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257:. In 1967 while he still worked for the Republican National Committee Griffin spoke to Tennessee College professors about how African Americans would need to 'form a coalition' becoming separatist. Their views differ as Griffin believed they shouldn't become isolationist but stand independent as to then hold true representation in politics.
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they would stop trying to fight the broken systems, "This is counter-revolutionary because our leaders have always emphasized the importance of dealing with reality." He went on record declaring Black
Producers as "Front men to white society," believing they perpetuated what 'White Society' wanted to see.
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Later again in life
Griffin and Lantz divorced for unknown reasons, separating in 1967 and being fully divorced in 1982 after a custody case over their daughters Zenzi (age 11) and Pamela (age 9). Griffin was represented by Attorney Melvin Belli and argued that their daughters had been raised black
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Griffin was a long-standing opposer for
Blaxploitation as he believed it to be a sign of abandonment of hope. Griffin went on record to say that the popularity and approval of Blaxploitation media was instead of entertainment was escapism. By allowing people to become copacetic to their situations
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One of the most well known additions to Black Forum's catalogue was the recording of Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1967 speech “Why I oppose the
Vietnam War,” recorded then released in 1970 by Griffin. The label fell through in 1973 after its final album "Elaine Brown" as it was a spoken word catalogue
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Agreement of this view of
Blaxploitation media varied greatly stuck between the opposing forces of "Made by Blacks, for Blacks, about Blacks," showing depictions of Black heroes over-coming white adversary, and societal solidarity, and the insistence on morality pushed by the
93:, and Claude Lewis were all reporters who reported on situations from the front lines and often worked together comparing and sharing information to get the stories. Griffin worked as the Administrative Assistant Director of Public Relations, Minority Division of the
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Griffin received several awards throughout his career, including being nominated for a
Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the civil rights struggle of 1963, and his work called “The Deepening Crisis” which is currently housed in the Appalachian Archives.
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Not much is currently known about
Griffin's early home life before the age of 16 when he enrolled in college, and predictably there is little record of his social life oversees, however, later in life when Junius was working as the executive of
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to
Atlanta for the inaugurate annual memorial concert to honor her then late husband Martin Luther King Jr. His parents were in attendance as part of a celebration on Scott King's part for Griffin's birthday.
179:, in his explanation of the distaste for the genre of movies prevailing from 1965 through to the 1980s that Griffin believed 'ripped off' Blacks, and were "gnawing away at the moral fiber of our community."
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Editor Ragni Lantz. They initially met through their connections to Martin Luther King Jr. where she was covering King's speeches and
Griffin was the producer in charge of the recording of King's speech.
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Also stating that it was meant to document and provide historical materials of Black history for use in both academics and home study, Black Forum
Records strived to record civil-right era on vinyl.
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perpetuate harmful stereotypes that destroy the communities it was meant to represent. The battle was never fully decided, as movie audiences moved on and Blaxploitation movies became a niche.
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Blaxploitation films were a genre of film made by African Americans, for African Americans, about African Americans, focusing on urban life and struggles, with popular entries including
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Griffin had reportedly 2 daughters with Lantz, one named Zenzi Griffin, who in 1993 graduated from Michigan State University with honors and a degree focused on cognitive psychology.
120:, before later becoming the Director of Publicity at International Talent Management Inc. for Motown's commitment to public services, which primarily focused on black causes.
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Griffin also won a Grammy for his role as recording producer of the vinyl recordings of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous 1967 speech “Why I oppose the Vietnam War,” at the
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and would suffer from culture shock if forced to move to Sweden. After the divorce Lantz returned to Sweden to become the director of the Swedish Baptist Women's Union.
54:. Though little is known of his social life during his 12 years in the Marines, there is a later record of his parents being happily involved in his later life.
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Griffin's second daughter is named Pamela Elizabeth, born October 29, 1972. Her birthday is significant because by sheer coincidence she shared a birthday with
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and therefore did not move copies as fast as its music focused counterpart Motown. However the label was revived in 2021, and is now headed by Jamila Thomas of
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When Griffin enlisted in the United States Marines, he worked as a journalist and became well known for his writing, working as the Taiwan Bureau Chief for
153:, and George Schiffer, created and became the heads of a new label, known as “Black Forum Records” and shaped its political orientation, declaring it “
22:(January 13, 1929 – June 1, 2005) was an African American Civil Rights activist working as the President of the Beverly-Hills Hollywood chapter of the
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In 1971 Griffin was recorded by JET Magazine driving an American Motors, 140-mph AMX-Javelin, which was considered a Hollywood staple elite car.
46:, on January 13, 1929. Not much is known about Griffin's childhood, however by age 16 it is recorded that he decided to leave Stonega and go to
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Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia. 1967. 42 minutes. https://womenshistory.si.edu/object/why-i-oppose-war-vietnam:nmaahc_2012.88.14ab
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ceremony; this would be Motown's second Grammy awarded and "Why I oppose the Vietnam War," was Black Forum's initial debut album in 1971.
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A Medium for the presentation of ideas and voices of the worldwide struggle of Black people to create a new era."
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in Virginia. After a short time there he found it not to be a good fit and decided to enlist in the
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In 1966 Griffin, who had already been working closely with Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the
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Griffin received a special citation from Coretta Scott King for his assistance in bringing the
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In the Heat of the Summer: The New York Riots of 1964 and the War on Crime
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Dancing in the street Motown and the cultural politics of Detroit
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Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
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940:"Super Fly called 'Sophisticated Commercial For Cocaine"
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Griffin is most well known for his coinage of the term
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of Detroit as an administrative assistant to President
648:. New York: Henry Holt and Company. pp. 196–197.
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Griffin, Junius. “Hollywood and the Black Community.”
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to it so that it can be listed with similar articles.
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Silverman, Syd. "NAACP Blasts 'Super-Nigger' Trend".
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After his time working at Motown, Griffin, alongside
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146:in October 1972 after a brief hiatus in September.
139:held in 1972 by providing a Rolls-Royce Limousine.
827:""Vonetta McGee meets new male star in new film.""
131:. He also assisted in Scott King's endorsement of
382:"Junius Griffin | ArchivesSpace Public Interface"
462:"Black Films of the 1970s Were Something Else"
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1080:"Daughter of Ex-Jet editor Wins MSU Honors"
26:, who is best known for his work alongside
460:Manditch-Prottas, Zachary (2022-12-27).
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30:as well as for coining the term “
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42:Junius Griffin was born in
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770:McCann, Ian (2023-06-19).
737:"Black Power, Black Forum"
708:"People are Talking About"
620:"People are Talking About"
588:Flamm, Michael W. (2017).
345:Beaufort National Cemetery
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275:13th annual Grammy Awards
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530:Smith, Suzanne (1999).
343:. He was buried in the
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644:King, Coretta (2017).
261:Awards and recognition
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28:Martin Luther King Jr.
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301:, he met and married
64:the Stars and Stripes
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359:80, no. 5, May 1973
72:The Associated Press
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116:and Vice president
125:Coretta Scott King
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