The United States has long been a country that has accepted that change is a necessity for prosperity and growth. However, every change in the nation's history has been fought hard against those who resisted such change, either through racism, intolerance, and blatant discrimination. African American cinema is immersed in a story that depicts these themes of racism, struggle and deprivation. But this same cinema also shows scenes of hope, artistic spirit, intellectual greatness and joy. Black actresses, actors, directors, producers and writers have been fighting for recognition and respect since the great Paul Robeson. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was fueled by black cinema through films like A Raisin in the Sun. The industry's progress was hampered by blaxploitation films such as Shaft, but these were also overcome with 1970s films like Song. The true creativity and experiences of African Americans began to be shown in the 1980s with directors like Robert Townsend and Spike Lee. These directors contributed to the development of black cinema in the 1990s with the creation of works ranging from brutal but honest depictions of urban life to comedy. By analyzing Spike Lee's film Bamboozled, director John Singleton's Boyz in The Hood, and films like Coming to America and House Party, they indicate that the experiences of African Americans and the way they are represented in cinema have a direct impact on how the dominant society perceives them. , while showing that African Americans are a major driving force behind creativity and an ingenious source of inspiration behind many aspects of American life. The lack of importance given to minority cultures in general in American cinema is unpleasant. This negative...... middle of paper ......n American communities. Regardless, African American performances have always had the ability to express elements of the African American community on the big screen. For decades, these skills were hidden by racist producers and directors. American society was not ready to see the genius, sophisticated skills, and powerful themes coming from African American culture. These films not only help show the lives of African Americans, but also the lives of all of American society. Future films will help audiences gauge how far America has come in racial tolerance and how far it still needs to go. Works Cited Friedman, L. (1991). Indescribable images. 1st ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. Guerrero, E. (1993). Framing the darkness. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Massood, P. (2003). Black City Cinema. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.