Emma Mae is a 1976 blaxploitation film directed by Jamaa Fanaka and starring Jerri Hayes in the titular role. The film follows young Emma Mae, who leaves her home in Mississippi to live with her relatives in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood. Emma Mae's family is initially wary of her southern ways, but she quickly adapts to life in the ghetto and makes friends with her neighbors.
One of Emma Mae's new friends is Jesse, a local drug dealer who takes a liking to her. When Jesse is arrested and jailed, Emma Mae sets out to raise the money for his bail. With the help of her friends, she comes up with a plan to rob a bank. Emma Mae leads the group on the heist and they succeed in getting the money they need, but not without consequences.
The film explores themes of poverty, racism, and the struggles faced by young people in urban environments. It also showcases the empowerment of black women in a time when they were often marginalized and objectified in popular media.
Emma Mae received mixed reviews upon its release, with some praising the film's authenticity and empowering message, while others criticized its low-budget production values and rough editing. Despite its flaws, the film has gained a cult following over the years and is recognized as an important work of the blaxploitation genre.