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 hard fought against those who resisted that change through racism, bigotry, and blatant discrimination. African American cinema is shrouded in history that depicts these themes of racism, struggle, and deprivation. However, this same cinema also displays 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 days of 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. Progress in the industry was hampered by blaxploitation films like Shaft, but even these were surpassed with films from the 1950s. 70's like Song. The true creativity and experiences of African Americans began to be showcased in the 1980s with directors like Robert Townsend and Spike Lee. These directors contributed to the expansion of black cinema in the 1990s by creating works that range from brutal yet honest depictions of urban life to comedies. Analyzing Spike Lee's film Bamboozled, director John Singleton's Boyz in the Hood, and films such as Coming to America and House Party indicate that the experiences of African Americans and the way they are represented in cinema have a direct impact on the way society traditional perceives them. , while proving that African Americans are a major driving force behind the creativity and inventive inspiration behind many aspects of American life. The lack of meaning that minority cultures in general have been given in American cinema is distasteful. This neg... middle of the paper... in 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 abilities have been hidden by racist producers and directors. American society was not ready to see the genius, sophisticated skills, and powerful themes that come from African American culture. These films not only help showcase the lives of African Americans, but also that of the entire American society. Future films will help audiences measure how far America has come when it comes to racial tolerance and how far they still have to go. Works Cited Friedman, L. (1991). Unspeakable images. 1st ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.Guerrero, E. (1993). Shot of darkness. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Massood, P. (2003). Black city cinema. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.