“Either they don’t know, don’t show, or don’t care about what’s going on in the hood” were the words spoken by the young black-male character named “Doughboy” in the 1991 John Singleton directed movie entitled Boyz N the Hood. Although Doughboy was referring to the nonexistent news coverage of the murder of brother “Ricky”, his words spoke to an entire Los Angeles culture that filled was filled sex, drugs, gang violence, and police brutality. Director John Singleton is able to capture a very unique time in history as it relates to black 90s culture and he is also able to bring the world into the everyday life of a young black male growing up in the streets of South Central, LA. The theme of Boyz N the Hood is able to be presented through the eyes of the main character “Tre Styles” and this particular movie is able to be deemed a “hood classic” by its viewers.
The year 1991 was a very critical year as it relates to race relations in the United States. Racial tensions in 1991 rose to high levels after the brutal beating of Rodney King by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). This particular incident was able to spark serious conversations surrounding race in America. From “political” rap to “hood” films the issues of Rodney King and the LAPD were addressed. The film was able to put numerous stereotypes on display while at the same time having a message for the viewer. In a time when the world had its eye on Los Angeles, Boyz N the Hood was able to take advantage of that while the world was watching.
Throughout the film, there are a number of memorable moments that showcase black love, black families, and black violence. Each scene is able to incorporate one of these particular elements and tie it back to the overall theme of black culture in the 90s. One of the most heart wrenching scenes from the film is when the character Ricky is murder by what appears to be members of the California-created gang “The Bloods”. Being murdered on the same day his above average SAT scores came in the mail, Ricky represents the good kid that played football, but is still not exempt from the everyday struggle of the “hood”. On one hand John Singleton is able to show that even the hood cries after Ricky’s death, but he is also able to showcase the numbness of death and that retaliation is mandatory. By allowing one of the “positive” characters to die in the film, Singleton promotes the idea that bullets do not have any name on it which definitely resonates with the black lives taken throughout the 90s.
Rather it’s the individual story of Doughboy or the story of Tre Styles who had an active father and mother in his life, the viewer is able to find one major similarity between the two. This similarity is that both characters were black men living in a country that deemed their life less important. Boyz N the Hood continues to push this particular belief throughout the movie as a way of putting the “truth” in society’s face. This is what makes the film highly important because it does not “sugarcoat” the politics that were going on in America during the time. It forces the viewer to come outside of their comfort zone which much of the different forms of art did in the 90s. There have been many that have argued that films such as Boyz N the Hood have added to the destruction of black culture, but depending on who is asked, the film simply pulls back the veil that has covered the issues surrounding black communities. —Andy Reid
