What is a Black Film?

     There has been a great deal of concern about what constitutes a Black film. A Black film is a movie with a predominately Black cast, as well as a Black director; furthermore, the main character identifies as a Black person. A Black film does not have to focus on capturing the essence of the Black experience. A Black film can merely focus on the life of a Black person. Furthermore, a Black film does not have to center around race relations. However, Black films tend to involve aspects of the Black experience. Generally, Black films are expected to involve some type of social commentary on the way African Americans are treated in society. 
      In the past, movies with predominately Black casts often featured stereotypical characters. In the 21st century Black films feature African Americans with a variety of characters, from different social standings. Black films are cherished by people of African descent; however; they usually appeal to people of all races. Black films are often viewed as being one type of film; however, there is a great deal of diversity in Black films. Like with any films, there are genres: action, drama, romance, comedy, etc. Interestingly, Black films have a genre that most mainstream films do not have: hood films.

       Hood films are often unquestioned in regard to whether or not they are Black films. The setting of such  films are generally relegated to inner city areas, primarily California and New York.  Critics of hood films feel that they reflect negatively on the Black community. Directors of Black films are expected to paint a certain picture of Blacks. Directors of movies with a Black cast that act out stereotypes are heavily criticized. The term Black film generally refers to films about Black Americans. Films about Black Americans are believed to be separate in many ways from films about Blacks in Third World countries. Often, movies are grouped in as Black films that many critics feel are not Black films. The criteria for what makes a film a Black film is still controversial. Movies that pander to white audiences are often felt to be outside the realm of Black films.

            Some contend that classifying films as Black films is problematic because Blackness is not monolithic. The term Black film has both pros and cons. I feel that there isn't anything wrong about the classification Black film. One of the main arguments against classifying films as Black films is that films with majority white casts are not classified as white films; such films are considered to be normative. Regardless of beliefs surrounding the classification of films as Black films, there are undoubtedly Black films with diverse characteristics; which reflects the diversity within Black culture.