Purpose and Passion: The Cinema of John Singleton

When the late John Singleton (1968–2019) was nominated for a Best Director Oscar for his groundbreaking debut feature Boyz n the Hood, he became both the first African-American filmmaker and, at age 24, the youngest person ever to be nominated for the award. It was an auspicious start to a trailblazing career that saw Singleton bring stories of black urban life to the screen with never-before-seen depth, introduce hip-hop culture to mainstream cinema, and launch the film careers of superstars like Janet Jackson, Ice Cube, Taraji P. Henson, and Regina King. Writ with searing intensity, his films grapple with big picture ideas—racism, masculinity, and the American Dream—with profound humanity.
Sep 13—20, 2019