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“Boyz N’ The Hood” was created by John Singleton in 1991 starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, and Ice Cube.  He was the perfect person to introduce the world to this view of inner city living having made this because he was, "Writing and directing a film version of his growing up in South Central Los Angeles."<!--more--> (Berry)  The story is one about four friends growing up in the ghetto and the challenge it is to get out of that lifestyle.  Two of them have options to make a better life for themselves, although with a grim ending only one does due to their surroundings.  One of the friends as well meets a grim ending although he idolized the life of South Central aside from his friend’s aspirations.  It shows how there are not many options for young African Americans at the time to get themselves out of this lifestyle.  I believe that “Boyz N’ The Hood” should be preserved because it captures the true picture of the bottlenecks young African Americans faced during the time and the rampant racism that still existed at the time.

There is no question that future generations should be aware of this piece.  It depicts the level of living conditions are fellow Americans were faced with.  It shows the abuse of power that occurred by police, especially ones who had deep seated amounts of racism.  There is a scene in which a racist police officer pulling the boys over places the end of his gun in one of their mouths asking if they are scared to die.  Can you imagine being worried about the people that are put in place to protect you despising you?  Not to mention the constant worry of possibly being attacked or hit with a bullet on a day to day basis.  The unbridled wrath and harsh living conditions of this environment are something those generations to come must see.

This work was innovative for its time and was running the same course as some other films showing the deep seated reason for issues America was facing.  The first piece that runs hand in hand is “South Central” which was released in 1992.  It is about a young African American man who is sentenced to 10 years living the life of a gangster.  After spending time in prison educating himself he is released and wants nothing more than to leave that life behind for good.  However once out he comes to find that his son has been recruited by his old friend and is now on the same path his father.  Once again depicting the trials young African Americans faced and the ways they dealt with them.

Another wonderful view from the other side of the race line is what is seen in “American History X”.  This shows a young white male whose father is killed in a bad neighborhood doing his job.  This incites a deep seated rage and breads a figurehead in the local skin head society.  From that point his view and anger over this incident has him doing anything from breaking into locally owned minority stores and trashing them, to what lands him in prison when he crushes a thieves head on a curb.  The most powerful scene being after he has done so he turns around with a evil smile on his face; until he sees his brothers face who is standing behind him.  In turn he goes to prison and sees his skin head brethren doing business with the Hispanic gangs and he rebels.  This is his realization of how skewed his perception is when he is attacked not by a minority gang, but by his own.  At this point his eyes open and he educates himself.  Once getting out of prison the skin head figurehead is no more and all he wants is his brother to get out of that life.  Unfortunately it might be to late regardless of the things he has told his younger brother.  Another wonderful film (if you can stomach watching parts) that shows how the situations that were lived in by some molded them into different people.  In the end only to find out that is not the answer and they need to continue with life if possible.

During the time it was received well as it, "Garnered Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director, making Singleton the first African American and the youngest person to be nominated for the latter honor." due to his groundbreaking work. (Zellars)  Although it was not very typical of its era as films regarding this subject were just beginning to come out.  Tons flocked to the theatres to see this raw view into the workings of the inner cities.  So many saw this that one critic has even stated that, " His hardcore urban-drama was a realistic portrayal of the violence and hardships of growing up black in the inner cities, and gang violence sometimes erupted in the theater." (Berry)  Showing just how big of an impact this had on people of different age, race, and color.  His focus in making the film was not to prove a point to white people but is described as, "According to the director, it was extremely important to him that his film communicate to audiences, both black and white, the essential relationship between Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne) and his son, Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.)." (Calhoun) And once all was said and done the people received it with, " When the film was received with raucous applause and critical praise". (Calhoun)

I think that this piece is absolutely wonderful.  I have seen it many times either on television or in movie format.  And it sucks you in every time you watch it.  No matter how many times you have seen it the story will keep you watching from the start.  The issues that plagued South Central at the time were enormous.  From friends going out wanting to have a good time and being held up by police, to young kids with so much to offer the world being gunned down in cold blood over some made up feud.  It shows the public how hard times were and the things that young people living their had to deal with on a day to day basis.  The obscurity of how times were then compared to now is baffling, although unfortunately still remains true in some parts of the country.  It makes one wonder how long the deep seated amount of hate and depravity that spawned in these areas will continue to effect them.

Today the film is still viewed in the same light.  Not only is it groundbreaking for some, but it also shows people of how things were during that time period.  Critics will describe what Singleton has done with "Boyz N' The Hood" as, " this 23-year-old wunderkind had not authored and directed a film that could be blamed for anything more than depicting, accurately and movingly, the coming to manhood of a group of young black men in South Central. Gang life, and the endemic violence and police reaction it fosters." (Palmer)  Even today since its release twenty years ago the film in no way has died down.  Even now other than mainstream movie networks it can be seen on local cable.  Showing that regardless of how old it is the deep seated meanings it carriers are not forgotten and won't be.

Among his amazingly powerful works "Boyz N' The Hood" is a groundbreaking film from this wonderful director.  He encompasses the struggles that he and anyone else living there at the time would face.  His work is described as, " Singleton's works are populated with archetypes drawn from the black community who represent different aspects of black thought and culture." (Puckett)  There is no doubt in my mind "Boyz N' The Hood'" should be preserved due to its raw and uncut look into the trials that have faced generations.  He spares no detail about the struggles that faced many American's at the time due to social norm bottlenecks, and deep seated racism that still can be seen today just as then.  It deserves to be viewed for years and years to come so that people can truly see how debilitated some had to live during these times.

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<p align="center">Work Cited</p>
            "Singleton, John (1968–)." <em>Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema</em>. S. Torriano Berry and Venise T. Berry. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2007. 303-304. Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts 12. <em>Gale Virtual Reference Library</em>. Web. 14 Nov. 2011.

Calhoun, Lucas. "Boyz N’ the Hood." <em>Movies in American History</em>: <em>An Encyclopedia</em>. Ed. Philip C. DiMare. Vol. 1. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2011. 65-66. <em>Gale Virtual Reference Library</em>. Web. 14 Nov. 2011.

Palmer, R. Barton. "Singleton, John." <em>International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers</em>. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. 4th ed. Vol. 2: Directors. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000. 919-921. <em>Gale Virtual Reference Library</em>. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.

Puckett, Caleb. "Singleton, John." <em>Movies in American History</em>: <em>An Encyclopedia</em>. Ed. Philip C. DiMare. Vol. 3. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2011. 805-807. <em>Gale Virtual Reference Library</em>. Web. 21 Nov. 2011

Zellars, Rachel. "Singleton, John." <em>Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History</em>. Ed. Colin A. Palmer. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006. 2041. <em>Gale Virtual Reference Library</em>. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.