Glory told the story of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first formal unit of the U.S. Army to be made up entirely of African American men. The movie introduced to the world a little actor commonly known as Denzel Washington, who won a well-deserved Academy Award.
4. Malcolm X
Spike Lee's biographical film is about the life and tragic death of the notorious black nationalist. The film, like its subject, was clouded with controversy over how Lee portrayed Malcolm X, but the role garnered Denzel Washington another Oscar nod.
3. Shaft
C'mon, John Shaft is awesome! Shaft is cooler than ice, tougher than nails and will 'eff you the 'eff up if you cross him.
2. Do the Right Thing
Spike Lee's best work and the film that put him on the map, Do the Right Thing is a movie that openly discussed the realities of racism in this country when no one wanted to talk about them.
1. The Color Purple
Rock it Oprah!
The first Spielberg masterpiece, which highlighted the issues affecting African American women in the 1900s, was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. The film is star-packed with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover and co-produced by Quincy Jones.
