Essay On African American Films And Directors In The 1990s

African American Films and Directors in the 1990s Many of the African-American films of the 1980s depicted the community as violent and unsafe. Hollywood was not interested in filming the success stories of thousands of young blacks. And rather than dealing the realities of street life and black neighborhoods, many films portrayed the communities as gang-ridden and violent-- with frequent drive-by shootings and alternating chase sequences. This was because these over-the-top scenes resonated well with young black males in the audience, and ensured profits. One example is the Menace II Society by the Hughes Brothers. The film, which provoked controversy during its release, contains a brutal and despairing depiction of the hood. It also casually deals with murder, drug dealing, victimization of women, and hopelessness While inner-city and suburban adolescent audiences loved the film, others were much more critical. Many complained …show more content…
Spike Lee, an established director by then, made films like Jungle Fever and Clockers. The former tells the story of an inter-racial love, and the latter criticizes inner-city life and the brutal cycle of drug-dealing. John Singleton, who made his directorial debut with the film Boyz N’ The Hood, was another prominent black director. The film, a critical and commercial success, focused on gang violence in Los Angeles. It became the highest-grossing black film ever, and Singleton was nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards. In addition, Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes were a prominent directing duo in the 90s. They made films like Menace II Society (1993) and Dead Presidents (1995). The latter explores the life a young black man from his birth in the Bronx to his tour of Vietnam. And Mario Van Peebles too, with his film New City Jack, realistically portrayed inner-city drug dealing and