for the lead role of Sweetback, this character shows up and delivers the line with a major stutter. Although he is mocked by the other auditionees, Melvin embraces the man's stutter as "real" and casts him in another role. When the time comes to shoot the scene, though, the actor is shown to have taken speech classes, getting rid of his speech impediment. The situation is easily remedied, though, when Melvin takes the actor's gun from him. In his angered and flustered state, his stutter returns and the scene is shot without a problem. John Singleton as "Detroit J" Joy Bryant as Priscilla, Melvin's young, ambitious secretary. Every time she enters the room to notify Melvin or give him some important information, she turns it into an audition, promoting herself all the time to be in his movie. Although Melvin relents and gives her a role, she ends up turning down the part because her boyfriend does not approve. Although this proves to be a minor setback, it is Priscilla that recommends her boyfriend, Maurice, to Melvin to get his group Earth, Wind, & Fire, to do the music for the movie. Karimah Westbrook as Ginnie, Melvin first meets Ginnie at a party hosted by Bill, and they sleep together. Although she appears to be minor at first, Melvin later calls her to be in the movie. After Priscilla quits, Melvin is desperate to cast Ginnie in an early scene of the movie. Although she initially believes it to be an erotic piece, threatening to leave the set and throwing another obstacle in Melvin's path, Melvin manages to convince her of its true purpose, to create something that portrays Blacks with an eye to reality instead of in a continually subservient role. After being convinced, along with some money upfront, Ginnie is convinced to star. Khalil Kain as Maurice, Priscilla's Boyfriend, and a member of the (at-the-time) fledging R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire. His initial action is to restrict Priscilla from acting in the movie, but he, with his group, later create the soundtrack with Melvin. Their production is spurred on by a $500 check Melvin cuts them, even though it ends up bouncing when they try to cash it. Khleo Thomas as Mario, young Mario has a role in the film as the child Sweetback. Len Lesser as Manny Goldberg / Mort Goldberg, twin owners of one of