The 27 Greatest Films by Black Directors that Shaped Reshaped Cinema

Respect Where it's Due
by: Hashim R. Hathaway
In 1989's Do the Right Thing. Buggin' Out (Giancarlo Esposito) lamented the lack of black people on Sal's Famous Pizzeria's Wall of Fame Directed by Spike Lee not just black cinema the film was a flash point in cinema as a whole, not just black cinema. Now 30 years after the release of "Do the Right Thing" Lee finds himself finally nominated for Best Director at the 2019 Academy Awards. For so long black directors have been largely left out when discussing great films, even though they've always been there, some in plain sight and other waiting to be discovered. In honor of Lee's long-awaited nomination, here is a list of the 27 greatest films by black directors.