Darth Vader: And now, your highness, we will discuss the location of your hidden rebel base
You probably recognize that voice.
Long before Black narrators became increasingly popular with the rise of audiobooks, one voice … one distinctive voice captured the ears and imaginations of audiences. In the process, listeners were being primed to appreciate Black voice acting.
You’re listening to Remarkable Receptions—a podcast about popular and critical responses to African American novels and more.
Iconic voices are often the heart of iconic lines.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....
Those words open the Star Wars movie and universe in 1977. The series of films, animations, comic books, television shows, symphonies, and merchandise associated with Star Wars have gone on to earn billions of dollars.
One of the most popular characters in Star Wars is of course the villain Darth Vader, who was played by English actor David Prowse. After initial filming for the movie was completed, Star Wars creator George Lucas decided that he wanted Vader to sound, hmmm, darker, so he employed actor James Earl Jones to do voiceovers for the character’s speaking roles.
Jones was brought in to a studio and completed the lines for the movie in two hours. He was paid $7,000. Star Wars was released on May 4, 1977, and the rest is cinematic and cultural history.
Darth Vader: If you only knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.
Luke: He told me enough! He told me *you* killed him!
Darth Vader: No. *I* am your father.
Jones would reprise the speaking role in sequels, prequels, spinoffs, and Star Wars animated series. The popularity and iconic status of Darth Vader are due in part to the vocal contributions of Jones. And in retrospect, Jones’s role in Star Wars represents a critical moment in the history and reception of Black voice acting.
Jones made Vader sound powerful and menacing, and at the same time, amid the overwhelmingly white voices of Hollywood blockbuster films, Jones diversified auditory experiences and expectations for audiences. Imagine if a Black voice actor could bring something special to a major franchise like Star Wars, then certainly additional Black voices could bring something special to other movies, to documentaries, to cartoons, to commercials, to audiobooks, and hey, to podcasts.
Jones is not the first Black voice actor, but with the Star Wars franchise, his voice has become one of the most iconic, which is to say, the vocal performance of James Earl Jones as Darth Vader has received a remarkable reception.
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This episode was written by Howard Rambsy. The episode was edited by Elizabeth Cali.
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This podcast, Remarkable Receptions, is part of the Black Literature Network, a joint project from African American literary studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the History of Black Writing at the University of Kansas. The project was made possible by the generous support of the Mellon Foundation. For more information, visit blacklitnetwork.org.