June 12, 2025
Some films have significantly dropped the ball when depicting Black dads
Films have significantly dropped the ball with regards to presenting Black dads, they’re both complete stereotypes or simply lacking. This has shifted within the arms of Black filmmakers. We’re seeing Black fathers, from completely different walks of life, highlighted in movies now. From tear-jerking dramas to real-life documentaries that really present Black fathers as they are surely: loving, imperfect, and devoted to their children. BLACK ENTERPRISE chosen 9 films that present all of the advanced layers of Black fatherhood by completely different generations. And it’s about time, proper?
Boyz n the Hood
Boyz n the Hood (1991) is greater than a coming of age story, it digged into what fatherhood appears like within the loopy world of South Central L.A. It highlighted the sophisticated father-son relationship between Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his dad Livid (Laurence Fishburne). Livid is that tough-love dad, preserving his son on monitor whereas the neighborhood’s falling aside round them. What makes this movie hit completely different is the way it reveals one thing we not often bought to see again then: a single Black father who’s really there, defending his child and educating him the best way to turn into a person. John Singleton broke information because the youngest director ever nominated for an Oscar, and the primary Black one too!
The Pursuit of Happyness
The Pursuit of Happyness got here out in 2006. It’s truthfully considered one of my favorites. Will Smith not solely produced it, but additionally starred in it alongside his son Jaden, which makes these father-son moments hit a lot more durable. Director Gabriele Muccino actually captured the gut-wrenching journey of Chris Gardner, an actual man who went by homelessness whereas attempting to provide his child a greater shot at life. Will’s efficiency was on level, and the character’s dedication poured by the display. The Pursuit of Happyness is far more than simply one other tearjerker; it utterly flips the script on how Black fathers are usually proven in films. As an alternative of drained stereotypes, we get this uncooked, stunning story a few dad who would do completely something for his baby.
Fences
Fences (2016) actually hits you within the intestine. It’s a uncooked have a look at Troy Maxson, a father in Fifties Pittsburgh performed by Denzel Washington. The movie is an adaptation of August Wilson’s play that gained a Pulitzer. Troy’s story is fairly heavy. The household man was killing it within the Negro Baseball League scene earlier than ending up as a rubbish man, carrying generational baggage — whereas attempting to love his household the easiest way he knew how.
Denzel completely crushes it each directing and appearing. Along with Viola Davis, the 2 thespians present you what’s occurring contained in the heads of many Black fathers, that inside battle of eager to protect your children whereas in some way making ready them for a world that isn’t at all times type. Fences is hard to look at however well worth the watch.
King Richard
King Richard, launched in 2021, is a film about Venus and Serena Williams’ dad, Richard. Will Smith additionally crushes this function. The movie reveals how this decided father had this loopy however genius plan for his daughters to turn into tennis legends, and wow, did it work out. Richard’s cussed, outside-the-box parenting fashion really paid off. Richard confronted so many obstacles however by no means gave up on his imaginative and prescient. It’s dope how the film additionally flips the script on how Black fathers are usually portrayed within the media.
Moonlight
Moonlight, written and directed by Barry Jenkins, created fairly the stir in 2016. Jenkins actually knocked it out of the park together with his tackle what fatherhood can really appear like past the everyday. The film doesn’t trouble with a organic father storyline in any respect, however Juan (performed by Mahershala Ali) performed some of the highly effective father figures on display. He’s a drug supplier. He spots one thing particular in little Chiron and takes him underneath his wing, everybody else within the boy’s life is dropping the ball left and proper. Juan really reveals him actual kindness and provides him stable recommendation, and accepts him for who he’s. Moonlight earned its Oscar award. Jenkins’ movie nails how random father figures that pop up in our lives could be absolute lifesavers, giving youngsters that love, identification, and emotional stability they’re so desperately lacking.
A Thousand and One
A Thousand and One snagged the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2024. The story follows Inez (performed by the superb Teyana Taylor), who makes a determined determination to take her son again from foster care. Whilst you’re drawn into the extreme mother-son relationship, I used to be actually moved by Fortunate’s character (Will Catlett), Inez’s associate who steps up in such a good looking approach. The movie showcases Black fatherhood in a robust approach, particularly because it’s chosen slightly than organic.
Crooklyn
Crooklyn is a Spike Lee gem, half humorous, half heartwarming, that appears at rising up in Nineteen Seventies Brooklyn with some real-life Lee household vibes thrown in. Spike teamed up together with his siblings Joie and Cinqué to put in writing it. Delroy Lindo kills it as Woody Carmichael, a musician dad of 5, who’s each the supply of snickers and drama of their cramped brownstone. What makes this movie particular is the way it reveals the attractive mess of a Black household with dad proper there within the combine, inventive, deeply human, and really a lot current by all of the day by day chaos and love.
Daddy Don’t Go
Emily Abt’s 2015 documentary, Daddy Don’t Go, follows 4 younger New York Metropolis dads. Alex, Roy, Nelson and Omar, hustle towards poverty and systemic BS whereas elevating their children. Omar Epps helped fund it with Malik Yoba government producing. The movie debunks drained stereotypes about absent Black fathers who pour into fatherhood regardless of all the pieces stacked towards them.
John Q
In John Q, Denzel Washington performs a determined dad who actually takes an emergency room hostage to save lots of his child’s life. Positive, it’s a jab at our messed-up healthcare system, however at its coronary heart, it’s about how far a father will go for his baby. Washington reveals the uncooked emotional, bodily, and ethical sacrifices that Black fathers make for his or her children.
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