The Song of HIAWATHA: The Life and Times of the First Black Hippie is getting a special screening in U.S. film festivals. The documentary focuses on the life and music of underground icon Hiawatha Bailey, the first Black hippie.
Most people from Ann Arbor, Michigan know about Hiawatha Bailey from the underground punk scene and social movements. Bailey formed his own band, Cult Heroes, where he saw and played with bands such as the MC5 and The Stooges. He was also a member of the White Panther Party, an anti-racist group similar to the Black Panther Party.
Given Bailey’s status as an underground punk icon, other recognizable names also make an appearance in the film. Iggy Pop makes an appearance in the documentary alongside Patti Smith. Additionally, the documentary uses rare footage and photographs of Bailey and his time in the underground from the 1950s to the 1970s. The soundtrack consists of tunes from the MC5, Static, and Pure Hell.
Iggy Pop and his band, The Stooges, often hung out with members of the White Panther Party. Bailey is sometimes called the “black Iggy Pop” for the similar sound and style found in his band. He makes a cameo appearance in the documentary along with close friend and fellow punk icon, Patti Smith.
Patti Smith, along with Iggy Pop, were often at the forefront of the counterculture movement. Smith is known for her beliefs in women’s and human rights. Her close association with the White Panther Party came from her husband, Fred Smith, guitarist for MC5. As a result, these punk icons often frequented the same circles as Hiawatha Bailey.
The documentary has a psychedelic feel, with the trailer filled with the aesthetics of 1960s hippie culture. It emphasizes many things from Bailey’s life and the pressing issues of the time, including music, race, sexual identity, politics, and prison time.
Director Jeffrey Wengrofsky’s previous work has focused on counterculture history and its most prominent figures. Despite this, the documentary marks his first feature film on the same topic. Steven Blush, director of American Hardcore, worked as a producer on the film.
Film festivals across the United States are already screening the film in its entirety. A special premiere will take place at the Sound Unseen Film Festival on August 6.
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