The #OscarsSoWhite controversy may have dwindled momentarily, but it’s clear that there are major issues in the film industry that need to be mended when it comes to women and people of color. Even Google recognized film pioneer Lotte Reiniger recently with their interactive animation, so when the general public and massive companies like that are in the know, the Hollywood problem is only highlighted as being that much more serious.
That being said, though African-Americans were not specifically recognized at this year’s ceremony (Sylvester Stallone‘s nod for Ryan Coogler‘s terrific “Creed” is lamentable), there are dozens of spectacular African-American directors whose work has been influencing popular culture for decades. Spike Lee is a household name who has brought essential pieces of African American history to the mainstream; the brilliant Ava DuVernay did the unthinkable with last year’s “Selma” and compressed the lucid, unforgettable life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. into a historically perfect film.
READ MORE: The 20 Worst Examples Of Hollywood Whitewashing
Over at Slate, Aisha Harris, Jacob T. Swinney, and Dan Kois created a mash-up of the top 50 films by African-American directors for The Black Film Canon. On one hand, it’s quite sad that this list is separate when so many of these inimitable films should be included on the minds of those at AFI and Sight and Sound, but on the other hand, this collection just proves what stunning mastery is out there. Hopefully, for some, it will be a wake up call.
Starting with Oscar Micheaux‘s 1920 silent commentary on racism in the United States, “Within Our Gates,” the list catapults through the past nearly 100 years of intricate, intelligent African-American-helmed cinema. The late Gordon Parks, master of both word and picture, makes two appearances with “Shaft” and “The Learning Tree,” whereas his son, Gordon Parks Jr., pops up with his unforgettable “Super Fly.”
Spike Lee appears on the list several times for “Do The Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” and others; and Coogler appears twice for the aforementioned “Creed” and his breakout “Fruitvale Station” (both starring the tremendous Michael B. Jordan).
READ MORE: The Films Of Spike Lee: A Retrospective
Several female directors make the list including DuVernay, Kathleen Collins for her only film, “Losing Ground,” Julie Dash for “Daughters Of The Dust,” Amma Asante for her critically acclaimed “Belle,” and Cheryl Dunye for “The Watermelon Woman,” just to mention a few.
In hindsight, this list is mesmerizing. It’s a 10-minute amalgamation of some of the best cinematic work of the last century, all by people of color who overcame boundaries to express themselves, and deserve a lot more credit than they have received.
What’s your favorite film on the list? Steve McQueen‘s “12 Years A Slave” or F. Gary Gray‘s “Friday,” perhaps? Let us know in the comments below.
