Why jody baby boy

Along the way, Singleton weaves in a message through specific encounters like this, and Jody slowly learns that it is his responsibility to change. There will be black empowerment workshops at the BMU Feb. Pick up a flier at the CCLC for more information. Sedaris talks pretty for one night. Rhinos, mountaineers and more: Animation Chico returns. Dead-end labor turns into caprice in circus story. Creativity through the eyes of Chico State artists.

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What a strange curse, to be remembered for your first film…when all of your subsequent films contain the life, style, and energy of your early years. Unfortunately, John Singleton fell into that same boat. He was lauded when his directorial debut Boyz N the Hood hit theaters. Because of that film—which observed urban America and black culture right when Rodney King was beaten by Los Angeles police—Singleton went on to become the youngest person and the first African American nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.

Twenty-eight years later, at the age of 51 on April 29, , Singleton was removed from life support after suffering a stroke. And you know what the one film was that he really wanted you to see? Of all his films surveying the black experience in America, he wished more people had watched one of his worst-performing movies at the box office: the much forgotten Baby Boy. You might think the movie is kinda wacky.

You may see it as a very straightforward film. How could this be the film John Singleton wants to be remembered by? But much more than directorial debut, Baby Boy which came out 10 years later artistically illustrates the black experience in a manner that requires active viewing in order to fully comprehend.

Baby Boy opens with a bizarre shot that lays the foundation for the entire film. Through a voiceover, we hear Jody discuss Dr. She says that because of the system of racism, the black man has been made to think of himself as a baby—a not yet fully formed being who has not realised his full potential. To support her claim, she offers the following: First, what does a black man call his woman?

Second, what does a black man call his closest acquaintances? His boys. And finally, what does a black man call his place of residence? The crib. What are they talking about? Killing each other. Or, they set the notion that you will do prison time.

Everything else is perpetuated toward that end. That path is just there in front of a lot of people. While Singleton's decision to include violence as part of Jody's crossing at first seems disappointing, the truth of the matter is that in this society violence can breed respect.

The hopeful aspect here is that Jody normally rejects that route and Marvin has put it into his past watch for Marvin's 'guns and butter' speech, a great piece of writing, not to mention advice.

All of his characters, with the exception of Rodney Snoop Dogg's really oily in the role , are endearing as they struggle for their piece of happiness.

Singleton's directed one of the year's best ensemble casts. Recording artist and MTV veejay Tyrese Gibson delivers a star-making performance as the titular baby boy. Johnson should be considered as a Best Supporting Actress nominee at year's end for her warm and funny young mom, a woman put into much the same position as Jody's put Yvette, who's now looking for a life of her own. The ever-great Ving Rhames is powerful as the bullish Marvin who turns out to have a lot to offer Jody once Jody lets him.

Rhames also gets some great laughs for a sexual move that Singleton's described as 'the African squat' and the surprise breakfast cooking scene which follows. Taraji P. Henson is also fine as Yvette. Gibson and Henson have good chemistry as they vacillate between childish bickering and mature love.

Tan on the film's theme "Just a Baby Boy. For generations, working class black society in the inner city has becoming increasingly matriarchal, with the mothers and girlfriends of these baby boys bearing the burden of their deeds.

Jody Tyrese Gibson is a streetwise, but misguided, year old who has fathered two children by two different women, Yvette Taraji P. Henson and Peanut Tamara Bass. But, he doesn't have a job, still lives with his mother and seems incapable of taking responsibility for himself or the babies he has made. He also has to contend with the volatility of his best friend Sweetpea Omar Gooding , a young gang-banger who spends his life in and out of prison and in and out of trouble. Meanwhile, Jody's year old mother, Juanita A.

Johnson is finding a new life for herself, a life that includes less and less her son and more and more her new boyfriend, Melvin Ving Rhames , a reformed O. Mom wants to enjoy, finally, the simple things in her life, like her garden and her man. Jody is not part of this picture anymore and the boy resents it, especially the intrusion of Melvin as the man of the house.

Jody is faced with more than just finding a place to stay as his past actions and inability to take responsibility for them force him to the crossroads of his life.