Black History Month: '80s Black Cinema

A roundup of classic flicks of the 1980s.

(Photo: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks)

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Do the Right Thing (1989) - For this Black History Month, here's a look at groundbreaking and classic Black films of the 1980s.Let's start with Do the Right Thing, where Spike Lee tackled the sensitive issue of racial violence in New York City. Lee played man-child pizza delivery guy Mookie, whose Brooklyn neighborhood explodes into a race riot on the hottest day of the summer. Film critics swore the flick would set off urban uprisings. Fortunately, it sparked something better: a national dialogue on racism. Lee even garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Director. (Photo: Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection)

Photo By Photo: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

The Color Purple (1985) - This adaptation of Alice Walker's novel by Steven Spielberg introduced two new talents to the world: Oprah Winfrey, in her acting debut, and newcomer Whoopi Goldberg. But even in the face of all that female talent, Danny Glover managed to hold his own as "Mister." At the time of the film's release, the movie was protested by the NAACP but the film is considered a classic today. (Photo: Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection)

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The Color Purple (1985) - The film adaptation ofThe Color Purple, based on an Alice Walker novel, has become a beloved classic. Whoopi Goldberg made her film debut as Celie, an abused woman trying to find herself. Although the film received 11 Oscar nods (including Best Actress for Goldberg), it won none. Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover also starred. (Photo: Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection)

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Coming to America (1988) - In the classic ensemble comedy Coming to America, Eddie Murphy played African prince Akeem, who comes to America to find a bride he can respect as an equal. Borrowing from Richard Pryor's multiple roles in Which Way Is Up, Murphy also played several unforgettable characters. The cast also included Aresenio Hall and John Amos.  (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Photo By Image Courtesy Paramount Pictures

Purple Rain (1984) - Pop icon Prince made his film debut in Purple Rain portraying aspiring music star The Kid. Navigating his family (terrorized by an abusive, failed musician father) and a cut-throat Minneapolis music scene, Prince delivered a solid performance as an actor. The Oscar-winning soundtrack turned Prince into an international superstar.  (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Purple Rain (1984) - Pop icon Prince made his film debut in Purple Rain portraying aspiring music star The Kid. Navigating his family (terrorized by an abusive, failed musician father) and a cut-throat Minneapolis music scene, Prince delivered a solid performance as an actor. The Oscar-winning soundtrack turned Prince into an international superstar.  (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Joe Clarke - In Lean on Me, Morgan Freeman played a tough-as-nails principal at Eastside High who mentored several of his students through issues such as drug addiction, gang violence and teenage preganancy as well as academics. (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Lean on Me (1989) - Morgan Freeman was cast as the lead in this hit film based on the life/career of celebrated prinicipal Joe Clark. Hired to turn around an academically crumbling high school in Paterson, New Jersey, Clark dishes some tough love and benevolent tyranny to turn around the school and the lives of its students.  (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Hollywood Shuffle (1987) - During the resurrgence of independent Black cinema, Robert Townsend released the hit indie comedy (paid for with credit cards) Hollywood Shuffle. This satire, starring Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Paul Mooney, lampooned Hollywood's stereotyping of Black people in film.  (Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.)

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Hollywood Shuffle (1987) - During the resurrgence of independent Black cinema, Robert Townsend released the hit indie comedy (paid for with credit cards) Hollywood Shuffle. This satire, starring Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Paul Mooney, lampooned Hollywood's stereotyping of Black people in film.  (Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.)

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) - Keenen Ivory Wayans began the Wayans family spoof-film dynasty with this parody of the blaxploitation movie era. Playing an urban hero wannabe, Keenen reunites former Black heroes of the '70s to take down Mr. Big. This hilarious send-up also stars Issac Hayes, Jim Brown and Antonio Fargas.  (Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.)

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I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) - Keenen Ivory Wayans began the Wayans family spoof-film dynasty with this parody of the blaxploitation movie era. Playing an urban hero wannabe, Keenen reunites former Black heroes of the '70s to take down Mr. Big. This hilarious send-up also stars Issac Hayes, Jim Brown and Antonio Fargas.  (Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.)

Taimak and Vanity in The Last Dragon\r - Think of this as a 'hood version of The Karate Kid, which came out the year before. Replace Los Angeles with Harlem, Ralph Macchio with real-life black belt Taimak, and Elizabeth Shue with self-proclaimed nasty girl Vanity. Add a killer soundtrack produced by Berry Gordy, and you have a film that achieved cult status before it even left the theater.\r(Photo: Courtesy Tristar Pictures)

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The Last Dragon (1985) - Motown Records founder Berry Gordy executive produced this martial arts action comedy. Actor and martial arts enthusiast Taimak landed the starring role as "Bruce" Leroy, a karate student in search of a fighting mastery level known as "The Glow." Along the way, he must save a singing star (Vanity) from an evil kung-fu gang.  (Photo: Motown Productions)

(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Harlem Nights (1989) - Eddie Murphy directed and starred in this star-studded comedy about a 1930s Harlem speakeasy owner (Richard Pryor) and his adopted son (Murphy). Their gang of lovable criminals conspire against a white mobster trying to take over their rackets. Other legendary members of the cast include Della Reese and Redd Foxx.  (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Paramount Pictures

Krush Groove (1985) - Based on the beginnings of Def Jam Recordings, this hit hip hop film not only became an instant classic but a launch pad for the pop careers of rap music icons Run-DMC and LL Cool J. Blair Underwood made his film debut playing Russell Simmons. The who's who cast also included Rick Rubin, Kurtis Blow and Sheila E. (Photo: Crystalite Productions)

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Krush Groove (1985) - Based on the beginnings of Def Jam Recordings, this hit hip hop film not only became an instant classic but a launch pad for the pop careers of rap music icons Run-DMC and LL Cool J. Blair Underwood made his film debut playing Russell Simmons. The who's who cast also included Rick Rubin, Kurtis Blow and Sheila E. (Photo: Crystalite Productions)