The history of African-American cinema is a long, winding road.
Since the days of Oscar Micheaux and Paul Robeson, black actors, actresses, writers, directors, and producers have been fighting for respect. The black nationalism of films like Carmen Jones and A Raisin in the Sun fueled the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s, while blaxploitation films like Shaft and Sweet Sweetback’s Badasssss Song echoed the revolutionary sentiments of the 1970s.
During the 1980s, black film earned mainstream respect thanks to the bravery of directors like Spike Lee and Robert Townsend. The scene exploded during the ‘90s, with everything from comedies to brutally honest depictions of urban life finding critical acclaim. Since then, black film has been largely unpredictable and difficult to classify.
