By Moody Amarante

(BLACK PR WIRE) The Top 10 most influential contemporary black films list is intended to be a resource list that examines how these films defined and reflected black culture in the time period that they represent. The selections were chosen by comparing other top black film lists as well as having a survey taken here at Black Digital Network. We define a “black” film as having a majority black cast or a predominantly black-related theme or subject matter. These films were not chosen by the amount of money they garnered at the box office, but how they socially impacted and affected black society. These 10 films not only showcase the amazing abilities of the black actor/actresses, but also provide an influential message that audiences can respond to for generations to come.

10. Amistad
“Amistad” was released December 10, 1997 and made a total gross of $44,175,394 at the box office. It starred Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and introduced the world to Djimon Hounsou. “Amistad” is a story of hope. The story begins on a slave ship in 1839, headed towards the United States, in which thousands of Africans are being shipped beyond their will. While at sea, one of the African tribal leaders, along with many others, takes over the ship. The prisoners continue to sail hoping they will find help, only to be imprisoned when arriving to the United States. “Amistad” was a very inspirational film because while so many movies are made to convince us of the evil of slavery, this film focuses mainly on the ways good men try to work realistically within an evil system to spare a few of its victims. Several critics have said that "Amistad" holds one of the true signs of a great film, which is the ability to hold on to its original feelings.

9. School Daze
Spike Lee’s second film, "School Daze," was a look into the black college experience. It was released on February 15, 1988 and grossed $14,545,844 at the box office. Director Lee, with cast Laurence Fishburne, Tisha Campbell and Giancarlo Esposito; took its viewers into the center of conflicts dominating the black college scene. Territory issues between fraternities and sororities, popularity issues, along with self-esteem and discrimination with in our own community were among the issues Lee touches on. “School Daze” began to open people’s eyes to the racism between dark-skinned and light-skinned black people. The true message behind "School Daze" is being comfortable in your own skin and sticking together. Although this film hit the box office almost a decade ago, it is still a great reference for young African Americans.

8. Coming to America
“Coming to America” was released June 29, 1988 and grossed $128,152,300 at the box office. While most will argue as to whether a comedic movie has influential value, "Coming to America" has absolutely made an impact in modern pop culture. “Coming to America” is about a young African king who decides to travel to Queens, New York in hopes of finding his wife. After arriving, the king quickly notices multiple differences between the two cultures and tries to adapt. Director John Landis, and comedians Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy, did an excellent job in engaging their audience. With five critics’ awards and two Oscar nominations, "Coming to America" has enjoyed mainstream success, but it is the film’s interpretation of the American Dream that will truly entice viewers for generations to come.

7. Lean on Me
"Lean on Me" was released on March 3, 1989 and grossed a total of $31,906,454.00. It has been an influential movie to minorities to never give up and to strive for success. This movie begins as Principal Joe Clark, played by Morgan Freeman is given the task to help an inner-city school pass their state exam. Clark, being the headstrong person that he is, will stop at nothing to ensure his students’ success, even if it means breaking the law. This movie taught everyone the significance of education and that people should be measured not by where they came from but from what they accomplish.

6. The Color Purple
“The Color Purple” was released on December 18, 1985 and grossed $98,467,863 at the box office. The film tells the story of a young African American Women named Celie and how she finds strength and empowerment with the help of her two female friends. Although directed by Steven Spielberg, this film is supported by an all-black cast and had immense critical and commercial praise. The film won eleven critics’ awards, and was nominated for eleven Oscars. With its amazing cast of extraordinary actors, including Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey, “The Color Purple” is influential because it shows the problems faced by African American women during the early 1900s, with issues ranging from poverty and racism to sexual discrimination.

5. Glory
“Glory” was released December 15, 1989 and made a total of $26,830,000 at the box office. This drama is based on the history of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment during the American Civil War. The 54th was one of the first formal units of the U.S. Army to be made up entirely of African American men. The white leader, Colonel Shaw, portrayed by Matthew Broderick, was forced to deal with the prejudices of both the enemy (who had orders to kill commanding officers of blacks), and of his own fellow officers. "Glory" received critical acclaim and won Denzel Washington his first Academy Award. This film is influential because it showed the significance of blacks in the war.

4. Boyz N the Hood
“Boyz N the Hood” was released July 12, 1991 and made $57,504,069 at the box office. This Oscar-nominated film depicts life in crime-ridden South Los Angeles, California, and was filmed and released shortly before the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. It stars Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, and Cuba Gooding Jr. In 2002, the Unites States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. "Boyz N the Hood" is considered influential for the introduction of a multitude of themes, which include gentrification of poor neighborhoods, drug abuse, assault weapons, sexual promiscuity, equality in college admission, and cultural bias in standardized testing. This film introduced John Singleton to the world, when he became the first black director ever nominated for an Academy Award.

3. Do the Right Thing
Before the hugely popular film "Crash," which dealt with racism, there was "Do the Right Thing," released June 30, 1989 with a total box office gross of $27,545,445. The film stars Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, John Turturro, and marks the first film appearance of comedy superstar Martin Lawrence. The film tells a tale of bigotry and racial conflict in a multi-ethnic community in Brooklyn, New York, on the hottest day of the year. Spike Lee’s first movie is influential because it shows that racism exists in all ethnicities and also showed the basic stereotypes that exist in society that need to be broken. The film was released to protests from many reviewers, openly stating that the film could incite black audiences to riot. Lee then criticized white reviewers for assuming that black audiences were incapable of restraining themselves while watching fiction. In 1999, the film was deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

2. Malcolm X
“Malcolm X” was released on November 18, 1992 and grossed a total of $48,169,908 at the box office. This film features a stunning performance by Denzel Washington, who carries this film into cinematic excellence. It also stars Angela Bassett and Albert Hall and chronicles the rise and fall of civil rights activist Malcolm Little, more famously known as Malcolm X. The most prominent theme that dominates the story is that of a self-made leader who makes a successful life for himself after experiencing abject poverty, prejudice, and racism as a youth and prison as a young man. This film is also influential because it confronts the racial prejudice, discrimination, and violence experienced by many black people in America. Both Roger Ebert and Martin Scorsese named the film as one of the 10 best films of the decade.

1. Roots
“Roots” was released January 23, 1977 and aired eight consecutive nights on ABC. Although "Roots" is technically a mini-series, there is no denying the lasting impression it made on the television industry, eventually standing as the 3rd highest-rated U.S program ever. The series defied industry conventions about black-oriented programming, and was credited with having a positive impact on race relations and expanding the nation's sense of history. Over the course of the saga, viewers saw brutal whippings, rapes, forced separations of families, and even slave auctions. Through it all, however, "Roots" depicted its slave characters as well-rounded human beings, not merely as victims or symbols of oppression. Black and white critics alike praised "Roots" for presenting African American characters that were not tailored to suit white audiences. Overall, “Roots” had a powerful and diverse impact as a cultural phenomenon, an exploration of black history, and the crown jewel of historical mini-series. It captivated American television audiences, successfully crossing racial lines and piquing the interest of families in all ethnic groups.

If you’ve noticed, out of all the black films that have been released in the past 30 years, none of the top 10 movies are from the new millennium. What does that say about the quality of movies that have been made in the past decade? As with every list, there are bound to be agreements and disagreements, so please feel free to post your opinions or your own personal review of the films.

For more information on each film, visit “The Internet Movie Database” at imdb.com or to purchase these films, visit amazon.com.

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