Some of the greatest African American movie directors have managed to make some of the best movies that have ever been released. The stories that have been told often feature some hint of racial tension with some directors but do lead to an eventual conclusion that sends a message or at least a cry for unity, tolerance, or understanding. Like many directors they’re out to send a positive message to the world through their films, but they’re also there to entertain.
Thankfully the latter portion is focused on just as much as the former.
5. Sydney Poitier-Stir Crazy
Prison is not an easy place no matter where you’re sent or who you are. Going nuts though might make it a little more interesting if you can switch off the rational part of your mind and make the experience something that can’t touch you on an emotional or mental level. At that point it might become even more dangerous however since you might not care at all.
4. Denzel Washington-Fences
It’s easy to become bitter when you can’t realize your dreams for one reason or another, but it’s far too easy to take it out on those that don’t deserve it such as your kids. Troy is a man that has tried and failed in life more than once, but isn’t willing to allow other to try for fear that they might fail, or fear that they’ll succeed and make him look like a fool for never having gained what he wanted.
3. John Singleton-Boyz N The Hood
Some might argue that this film really sparked the resurgence of gang-related films even if it was just one of many that showed a violent lifestyle and those who were caught up in it. Regardless of all that this film was powerful in that it didn’t pull any punches and didn’t just fade to black when it was time to look away and assume what had happened. You got to see the bloody aftermath of what a vendetta can do to people.
2. Antoine Fuqua-Training Day
Fuqua knows how to paint a grisly picture of the people that are supposed to be protecting the public and how they can go bad in a big hurry. Alonzo is that one cop in about fifty or so that gives at least a hundred or more a bad name. He preaches that he does good and states in vehement tones that prisons are made because of him, but that’s only because the prisoners need shelter after he’s done with them.
1. Spike Lee-Do The Right Thing
Spike Lee has been known for a long time to present material that’s bound to be seen as controversial. In this manner he’s been accused of beating the public over the head with his movies, but at the same time he’s opening the eyes of the audience to what’s been going on in society for far too long. It might be dramatized but the truth is that too much of what he’s shown is really happening in our country.
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