Movies by Us, for Us - Rest in Power John Singleton

John D. Singleton
January 6, 1968 - April 29, 2019

When I  heard the news last week that John Singleton had suffered a stroke, my heart sank.  

I know first-hand about African American men having strokes at a higher rate and earlier age than their white counterparts.  

We can definitely do some things like watching our blood pressure, getting regular health screenings and the like, but considering how tough it is for Black folks in this country and in the world overall, sometimes everything we do isn't enough.

Yesterday, when the family announced his passing, I immediately reflected on the time I was watching "Baby Boy" for the umpteenth time, and my then 15 year old daughter said "What movie is that?"  My astonished response was, "Baby Boy!"  "You haven't seen "Baby Boy," it's a classic!"

And every thing that John Singleton touched was an immediate hit.  A classic.  Movies for us, by us, featuring us - something no one other than Spike Lee was really doing at that time.  Now we're blessed with Ava Duvernay and many others since, but John Singleton was a trailblazer for sure.

His movies made us feel important and noticed and heard.  And while tragic in the story lines, they felt good.  "Boys in the Hood," "Poetic Justice," "Shaft."  

John Singleton was the man.  

Sending warm thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and fans around the world.

Gone too soon.