I love you, man. I can’t believe this is happening, again. Black heroes who are not supposed to say goodbye that early and here we are, again.
I’ve seen most of your movies, of course. I also moved to your city and neighborhood though it wasn’t totally related to Hollywood or blackness but here I am. Re-watching Boyz hits differently now.
I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that you wrote and directed this movie as a barely out of film school 23 year old. Absolutely brilliant social commentary. Although gang violence decreased by a ton, nothing much has changed. Gentrification is fucking everything up. Just yesterday on a Sunday morning police handcuffing homeless folks next to a new, generic ass probably AI-generated street art piece that says “angeles elevate”. I can’t make this shit up. It makes me want to throw up.
Your work has been so important. Representation. Our angles. Yes sometimes it didn’t age well or it became a bit corny. But all in all, those movies were fine and needed. They always got me in my feelings like no other.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.