A young African American orphan (Mario Van Peebles) is taken in by the proprietor of a Los Angeles, California brothel in the 1940s. While working there as a towel boy, he is raped by one of the Prostitution at a young age. The women name him "Sweet Sweetback" in honor of his sexual prowess and large penis. As an adult, Sweetback (Melvin Van Peebles) works as a performer in the whorehouse, entertaining customers by performing in a sex show.