Black History Month: '80s Black Cinema

A roundup of classic flicks of the 1980s.

(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)
/content/dam/betcom/images/2013/01/Celebs-01-01-01-15/011113-celebs-80s-black-cinema-coming-to-america.jpgPurple 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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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

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