Recently, the StreetLevel crew got a sneak preview of Scott Sanders's hilarious '70s Blaxploitation spoof "Black Dynamite" (it opens in select theaters Friday, October 16th). Watching actor Michael Jai White play the no-nonsense, lady-loving, nun chuck wielding, title character got us thinking about other African-American film heroes that have displayed the ability to whup a sucka's ass with ease. So we've decided to spotlight some of the brothers with martial arts skills that the annals of film history may have forgotten.



Jim Kelly as "Black Belt Jones" (also Williams in "Enter the Dragon" and Mister Keyes in "Three the Hard Way")

Jim Kelly was the go-to, kung fu soul brother of the '70s. Sporting a black belt and a mean afro, Kelly was also the sole brother (get it?) to score a starring role in the Bruce Lee classic "Enter the Dragon". Star turns in blaxploitation flicks like "Black Belt Jones" and "Three The Hard Way" would follow. Lately, you might have caught him in a Nike commercial with LeBron James.



Taimak as "Leroy 'Bruce Leroy' Green"

Keep in mind that the movie was billed as "Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon". To his credit Taimak was a real-life black belt. However, the part of Bruce Leroy was his very first acting role. Nowadays you can catch him in plays and hawking his own fitness videos. Lastly, a big R.I.P. to Sho'Nuff.



Steve James as "Kung Fu Joe"

Kung Fu Joe was a "master of karate, kung fu, jujitsu and all the other sh*t you ain't never heard of." All that knowledge didn't stop him from getting Rodney King-ed in "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka". Sadly, the late Steve James who portrayed Joe was better known for being Michael Dudikoff's sidekick in those "American Ninja" movies. The name of James' character's in said flicks: "Curtis Jackson."




Forest Whitaker as "Ghost Dog"

"Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai" has all the makings of a classic film. It's directed by Jim Jarmusch, boasts a RZA cameo (and RZA produced soundtrack), and . . . Forest Whitaker playing a modern day samurai (in what looks like New Jersey).Um yeah, that's great casting. Did we mention Ghost Dog has cornrows and pet pigeons?



Wesley Snipes as "Blade"

Blade is half human, half vampire, African-American and carries around a sword. Ergo, the Marvel character's mastery of the martial arts, and guns, is essential. It can only help when kicking undead ass. This was more of an action flick, but we have to give the Blade character props for making chop suey out of his blood sucking foes in the film. By the way Wesley Snipes ducks his taxes, the man was born to play the role in the live action movie adaptations.



Afro Samurai

Set in a feudal Japan of the future, you got a samurai named "Afro" looking to avenge his dad's beheading, all while a myriad of bad guys try to off him. A RZA soundtrack/score and let's not forget Afro is voiced by Samuel L. "I hope they all burn in Hell" Jackson.



BONUS:

Dragon Fly Jones
The Martin Lawrence character may have studied under Bruce Lee ("He was on the second floor, and I was on the first," said Jones), but Dragon Fly stayed catching beat downs. Hilariously.