Priest (Ron O’Neal), a suave top-rung New York City drug dealer, decides that he wants to get out of his dangerous trade. Working with his reluctant friend, Eddie (Carl Lee), Priest devises a scheme that will allow him make a big deal and then retire. When a desperate street dealer informs the police of Priest’s activities, Priest is forced into an uncomfortable arrangement with corrupt narcotics officers. Setting his plan in motion, he aims to both leave the business and stick it to the man.

Freedom: The American Hustle, is a multi-media art exhibition opening Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Arcade Contemporary Art Projects at the Webster University Gateway campus at 812 Olive Street in downtown St. Louis.

The exhibit takes its title, and much of its inspiration, from seminal films from the 1970’s Blaxploitation genre: Sweet, Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971), Superfly (1972), and The Mack (1973).