Film director, screenwriter and producer, John Singleton, died Monday in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke on April 17. He was 51.
A two-time Oscar nominee for writing and directing his debut film Boyz N the Hood (1991), Singleton was a trailblazer in black cinema. Shining a light on black narratives in the ’90s, and adding his pioneering voice to the need for inclusive voices in the industry.
Boyz N the Hood along with movies like Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, Baby Boy and more helped launch the careers of Hollywood heavyweights such as Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr. Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Regina King, Nia Long, Janet Jackson, and Tupac Shakur.
Although he is gone John Singleton’s legacy will continue to live on and be a shining example of pushing boundaries.