Boyz N' The Hood- Liz Eisler
Bakari Kitwana, who reviewed the film Boyz N’ The Hood, declares that, "Despite his middle class status, Tre is caught up in the same drama faced by his less fortunate peers" (125). Although a majortity of social movements were occurring, and African Americans were beginning to demand equality and power, the youth of society still faced the infinite challenge of fighting for the same rights their parent’s sought after. Although young blacks were not fighting for their civil rights, which Kitwana suggests, but instead, they were fighting for their right to apply those rights to their every day life.
During this time black women not only faced the challenge of fighting for their rights to exercise the same liberties black men endured, but they basically had to advocate for themselves as women; fighting for respect. Throughout the film, women seemed to represent nothing more than sex objects and ultimate screw-ups (such as showing the mistake Ricky’s girlfriend made when becoming pregnant and the consequences to follow). There were hardly any instances within the film when the audience was able to receive a perspective from a women’s point of view, entailing the hardships they endured and the effects that the derogatory language used to describe them had upon them.
Although the film may seem to appear one-sided only detailing perspectives from the black male population, Boyz N’ The Hood was able to demonstrate the continuation of racism and discrimination within the United States. Through illustrations of oppression, the film was able to break down the colorblind barrier and ultimately erasing the notion that racism and discrimination within the world no longer exists.