Actress Lonette McKee (1954)

The American sports drama film, He Got Game (1998), was written, produced, and directed by Spike Lee. It centers around Jesus Shuttlesworth, an exceptional high school basketball player being heavily recruited by top college programs. However, his father Jake is currently serving time at Attica Correctional Facility for accidentally killing Jesus’ mother Martha six years ago. The governor of ‘Big State’, one of the schools vying for Jesus’ talents, grants Jake a work release in hopes that he can convince his son to sign with their program and secure an early release from prison. As soon as he is ...

Malcolm X (1992) tells the story of an African-American activist and is directed and co-written by Spike Lee. Born in rural Michigan, Malcolm Little is raised by his Grenadian mother and African-American father in a strong household. Tragically, their home is destroyed and Malcolm’s father, a passionate advocate for black rights, is killed by the Black Legion. Despite this injustice, his death is recorded as a suicide and the family receives no compensation. With his mother’s mental health deteriorating, Malcolm and his siblings are placed in protective care. Despite facing numerous challenges, Malcolm ...

Gardens of Stone (1987), an American drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is based on Nicholas Proffitt’s novel of the same name. Sergeant First Class Clell Hazard, a hardened veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, would prefer to serve as an instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, preparing soldiers for the conflict in Vietnam. However, he is instead assigned to the 1st Battalion 3d Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer, Virginia. This unit serves as the ceremonial honor guard for fallen soldiers’ funerals and guards the ...

The American musical crime drama film, The Cotton Club (1984), was co-written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was based on James Haskins’ book of the same name. Protagonist Dixie Dwyer, a musician, collaborates with mobsters to advance his career but his plans are disrupted when he falls for Vera Cicero, the girlfriend of gangland kingpin Dutch Schultz. Brothers Sandman and Dixie from the neighborhood join The Cotton Club, a jazz club known for its predominantly black performers and white clientele. Mobster Owney Madden is the owner of the club, which he ...