Described as an "Eastern Western," Kung Fu was one of the seminal television programs of the 1970s. Starring David Carradine as the character Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest who wandered about the American West during the mid-1800s, the show dealt directly with issues of racism, chronicling the experiences of Chinese immigrants in the West and often aligning them with other marginalized communities, such as African Americans and the working class.

During the early 1970s, the economic dominance of Hollywood was failing, allowing room for experimentation and the development of new genres. Inspired by the success of the independently produced Sweet Sweetback's Baadsasssss Song (1971), directed by Melvin Van Peebles, the mainstream industry co-opted the film's revolutionary aesthetic and politics to create Blaxploitation films—urban action movies featuring African-American casts. Also influencing the industry were films by the world's third largest producer, Hong Kong. Imported...