If there's a definitive black American motion picture, it's this one. Starting out as a novel in 1976 by Alex Haley about nine generations of African descendants, Roots was developed into a TV miniseries one year later, and just about everybody in the country tuned in, setting viewership records. There's nothing like it.

Roots: The Next Generations picks up where Roots leaves off and finishes at a high note. Although there are scores of thespians spread over seven episodes, there are four black standouts: Georg Stanford Brown, Stan Shaw, James Earl Jones, and Al Freeman, Jr. The writing is terrific throughout, and the postscript by Alex Haley is a bonus, reminding everybody the purpose of watching the entire saga.

A landmark in black cinema, The Color Purple captures the human spirit so well that it's a strange yet moving work of art with powerful scenes. Making her astonishing film debut is Whoopi Goldberg. There's so much for the characters to overcome such as domestic violence, incest, forced separation, rape, slavery, pedophilia, poverty, racism, and sexism.

It can't be any more dramatic than the scene when Tre yelled out to Ricky after the sight of the red Hyundai Excel. Simply put, Boyz n the Hood is the game changer of the genre and sets the standard that all black films are forever burdened to match. Of the ensemble cast, Ice Cube is unbeatable as Doughboy.

Mandingo is extremely raw and honest when it comes to slavery in the United States during the 19th century, making Roots look like a puppy. On why he took on the project, director Richard Fleischer said, "The whole slavery story has been lied about, covered up, and romanticized so much I thought it really had to stop...the only way to stop was to be brutal as I could possibly be."

The title may look strange to you, but it has an enormous reputation as landmark picture in black cinema history. Hence, the tagline reads: "This is the movie the Man doesn't want you to see. Rated X by an all-white jury!" Not the first black film made, it's, along with Shaft, credited with the creation of the Blaxploitation genre and is about racism, alienation, misery, persecution, police brutality, escape, and survival.

Lady Sings the Blues is a depressing biopic about Billie Holiday all the way through. Diana Ross of the Supremes had no acting experience prior to being cast, and it's a stunning debut for her. She has many sad moments. Now, you know Billy Dee Williams, but this is the film, along with Brian's Song, that made him a household name. Richard Pryor is impressive as Piano Man.

Shot on location in Houston, Texas, Jason's Lyric is a unique, powerful Southern Gothic picture with strong performances. The love story may be ordinary, but it's sexually charged and gets better as time goes on because of the compelling thread between two brothers which leads to a shocking ending. Not to miss is the wonderful acting job by Bokeem Woodbine.

You can't have a Best Black Films list without including Shaft. It's the poster child of the Blaxploitation genre. Not a flashy picture, Shaft has style and gritty realism, especially against the wintry conditions of New York City. Unforgettable is the Oscar-winning theme song by Isaac Hayes. Richard Roundtree will always be famous as John Shaft who's the first non-stereotypical black hero.

One of the strangest things I've noticed in regard to Martin Luther King, Jr., is everybody knows who he was, but most don't have any idea of what he specifically did or the events he was involved with. Therefore, King does an outstanding job of summarizing them all in a five-hour biopic with an exceptional performance by Paul Winfield.

In some actors' lifetime, there's only one film they'll forever be associated with and nothing else matters, and for Ron O'Neal, it's Super Fly. He's iconic as Youngblood Priest. Unlike a lot of movies in the Blaxploitation genre, it's at once serious and original. To go further is the amazing music by Curtis Mayfield which is a rare example of a soundtrack outgrossing the film.

Riveting and moving, Glory is the top film of 1989 and ranks among the very best of the decade. Without doubt, the most spectacular performance comes from Denzel Washington who clinched the Oscar during the flogging scene. The 54th's assault on Fort Wagner underscores how dramatic the whole thing is. The night before is incredible because these men knew they were going to die and felt prepared about it.

Based on Clifton Taulbert's autobiography, it's a powerful slice-of-life film about black folks growing up in rural Mississippi during the era of Jim Crow. What's impressive is the wholesome feel the cast brings to the table. There are many outstanding black role models who have built a kind of community to make life in Glen Allan more bearable for black residents.

The king of high school pictures, Lean on Me is a heartwarming tale that's based on a true story about how Joe Clark created a storm of controversy by using unconventional methods of discipline at Eastside High in Paterson, New Jersey, during the 80's. Thanks to Morgan Freeman's stirring performance, it's scene-by-scene brilliant in a moving way that captures the essence of the human spirit.

Giving an insight into the black underworld of pimps and harlots that's heartily supplied by the city of Oakland during 1973, The Mack is a prime example of the Blaxploitation genre. By far the most interesting aspect is the "Players Ball" scene, an annual gala honoring the most successful pimps from the Bay Area. It was largely Richard Pryor's idea which was aided by Oakland's real-life black pimps.

Black residents were lynched. The state government of Florida knew about the incident but did nothing about it. The town was never rebuilt, and no black residents talked about what happened until the 1980's, hence Rosewood. Filled with great acting, it's a rare film that's about the dark history of racism which existed in the United States for hundreds of years.

Once in a while, somebody makes a film that's inspiring and uplifting. This time, it's Antwone Fisher by Denzel Washington in his directorial debut. He and Derek Luke turn in powerful performances as their characters try to find answers to unlock the naval seaman's mystery with an unforgettable ending.

A brilliantly written masterpiece that manages to break the mold of the usual black gang pictures, Fresh has deep Shakespearean elements, most especially the analogy of a chess match that's played out in real life. The characters around Fresh are used as pawns, and Esteban acts as the king and is therefore the objective of the game. Fresh's reward is his sister.

Based on Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, A Soldier's Story is one of the most remarkable pictures made with a top-flight black ensemble cast. Howard E. Rollins is terrific and has a powerful screen presence while Adolph Caesar gives a performance that's timeless. Not to miss is the outstanding job by Denzel Washington.

Who could play Muhammad Ali in a film about himself? The answer is nobody other than Muhammad Ali. I remember when ESPN ran a rubbish contest to find out who the best North America athlete was of the 20th century. It turned out to be Michael Jordan. They did another version and came up with Bo Jackson. Wrong on both counts, and it's not even close. Muhammad Ali was the greatest North America athlete of the 20th century, having an unparalleled worldwide impact.

To counteract the wave of raw films coming out of the Blaxploitation genre, Sounder is a tough, uncompromising Louisiana picture about a family of black sharecroppers. Filled with gospel music, it was shot on location in two parishes: East Feliciana and St. Helena. Powerful performances demonstrate the black experience of living in the Jim Crow South during the 30's.

New Jack City is The Godfather of black cinema and continues to be an underrated hip-hop gangster picture. There's an edge to it that exudes style through captivating storytelling and hard-to-beat editing. Wesley Snipes and Ice-T are unforgettable. Using the crack epidemic that ravaged New York City during the late 80's and early 90's, it's a perfect backdrop for a black drug lord like Nino Brown to make his presence known.

It's the most famous case in U.S. history of education which started with Plessy v. Ferguson and concluded with Brown v. Board of Education. In between is a 58-year black struggle for equal rights. The final verdict was the beginning of the end for racial segregation that dominated race relations for so long in the United States. Hence, there's a lot to learn from this film.

A realistic portrayal of what life is like for the inner city youth and, more importantly, how they think, it's Poetic Justice meets Straight Out of Brooklyn. Ultimately, Leslie Harris makes a statement: "A film Hollywood dared not do." Ariyan Johnson is powerful and unforgettable as Chantel. It's easy to see why the critics hate her character, but that's the whole point.

Unusual and gripping for a cinematic experience, Purple Rain is Prince's magnum opus. The sex symbol was 26 when he composed the songs and starred in the movie. Some of the most famous songs are "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," and "I Would Die 4 U." Because of Prince's electrifying presence, Purple Rain is a moving work of art.

Memorable for being a funny movie with one of the strongest black ensemble casts, Coming America is Eddie Murphy's best work next to Beverly Hills Cop. There are many classic scenes and lines. The story is very good as well. Rick Baker's makeup job for Eddie Murphy's and Arsenio Hall's multiple supporting characters is remarkable.

The top-notch opening sequence is what ensures film's high replayability value. Because of how smooth the editing is, the transition from one scene to another is hypnotic. In a way, Belly feels like a long but highly-stylized music video with an overriding message that it's about destruction while the black ghetto culture comes alive with emphasis on fashion and style.

A young black man who attempts to escape the dangerous projects but is doomed by choices gone awry is the name of the game in Strapped which is shot on location in Brooklyn with great music. Making his screen debut, Bokeem Woodbine is amazing. The reality of black-on-black violence in the projects is spot-on, and it doesn't matter how young the perpetrators are.

During World War II, there existed a U.S. fighter squadron of black pilots, trained in Tuskegee, Alabama, that fought overseas and was one of the most decorated groups in military history despite the overwhelming racism at the time. The adversity these men went through is nothing short of inspiring.

Thanks to the debuting actors Omar Epps, who was 17 at that time, and Tupac Shakur, Juice is a fast-paced classic 90's urban youth picture that takes a look at black-on-black violence. Put a gun in the hands of a black male, and he suddenly thinks he owns the world. That's the reaction of Bishop which struck the beginning of the end for him and his crew.

Although The Gods Must Be Crazy is defined as a comedy, it's been educationally enlightening. The story is so simple that it's ingenious in many ways. N!xau is outstanding. The Gods Must Be Crazy proved that a film with an unknown cast could be successful.

Scam and The Antidote were authored by Jesse Lee Peterson about the current state of Black America: fatherless households, idle/joblessness, high rate of incarceration, children born out of wedlock, multiple baby mamas, mooched-off mothers, males with feminine behavior and Oedipal complex, black-on-black violence, and so on. Showcasing all of them, Baby Boy is a damning indictment against the black race.

Whenever you're in Kansas City, be sure to check out the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum as it's an inspiring place to be at. Then, watch the film Soul of the Game which explains how black ballplayers labored for the chance to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). It's black history of professional baseball at its finest.

Heavily influenced by Boyz n the Hood, Menace II Society goes around the same block by presenting a survival story in the black ghetto. The direction by Allen Hughes and Albert Hughes is strong. It's absorbing to follow Tyrin Turner's steps as Caine "Kaydee" Lawson. Hence, the movie becomes real this way with a killer soundtrack to boot. These people are dangerous, hence the title Menace II Society.

Here's another reason why Wesley Snipes is an underrated actor: Sugar Hill. This one has great acting from others such as Michael Wright and Clarence Williams III. It's the direction of Leon Ichaso that makes the film work atop a well-written screenplay. The ending is fantastic and powerful. Sometimes, the pace can be slow. Maybe it's deliberate, who knows? But the performances make up for it.

Bill Duke shows what style is all about, and he does this with a big dose of neo-noir. Laurence Fishburne is the coolest ever when he glances at somebody with his sexy eyes. That's when he becomes special. At the same time, the story is filled with twists and turns in an intricate maze of drug dealing.

Lynn Whitfield gives a terrific performance as Josephine Baker and seems to have taken on a lot of tasks to fulfill the demands of her character. Although the biopic ranges across the spectrum from the beginning to the end of Josephine's life, The Josephine Baker Story is highly informative.

This one proves any black director can make better pictures than Spike Lee, regardless of film experience. The 19-year-old Matty Rich wrote the short story two years prior and shot it as an 8-minute short for his high school, turning it into a full feature film under a budget of $450,000. The result is astonishing. Filled with nonprofessional actors in Brooklyn's Red Hook projects, it's almost on the same level as Boyz n the Hood.

Nothing But a Man is the perfect choice if you want to know what it is like being a black person in the Jim Crow South. While the photography is excellent, the acting passes muster. There are many newcomers and unfamiliar faces alike: Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, Yaphet Kotto, Julius Harris, Gloria Foster, and Esther Rolle. Also, this is the first film to use music from Motown Records.

Next to Deep Cover, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned is Laurence Fishburne's best film. It's a true gem. He plays a quiet, unsung hero who's a good example to the black community although his anger control needs work. There's a Boyz n the Hood angle to his character. Many lessons can be learned from what he believes in.