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Before Shaft, badass movie detectives were white. Shaft starred Richard Roundtree as a black detective, prowling New York City’s tough streets, saving lives and taking no guff, especially from ‘The Man.’ Directed by Gordon Parks, who spent part of his youth in Minnesota, Shaft was a huge hit in 1971. This seminal film turns 50 this year. KFAI’s Todd Melby reports.

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