By Yasmeen Akbar
“Malcolm and Marie” debuted on streaming services on February 5 and has been trending on social media since its release. In light of Black History Month, it is imperative to recognize the rise of black cinematography.
Although the storyline of “Malcolm and Marie” has been considered very controversial in its display of toxic relationships, one cannot ignore the cinematographic effect which supports the idea that African-American cinematography is on the rise.
American cinema got its start over 100 years ago and African-Americans have played a role in it ever since; from blackface to Blaxploitation films, filmmakers and actors have been fighting to be recognized and respected in the film industry.
Take it back to 2018 when the movie “Black Panther” was released; this film single-handedly shifted the false narrative that black films do not have an international range. According to Indie Wire, the film garnered over $1.3 billion worldwide and was the highest-grossing film in North America that year.
With the influx of black actors, screenwriters, directors, producers and even film critics, African-Americans are going to continue to soar in the film industry. It is amazing to see the growth of black cinema when you think back to the days of Jim Crow and how Hollywood would never even consider making movies with a predominantly African-American cast.
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