Photo Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty
To commemorate the legendary film director, screenwriter and producer, John Singleton, the city of Los Angeles has declared May 21st as “John Singleton Day.” According to theJasmineBrand.com, Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson Jr. will honor Mr. Singleton at the Bovard Auditorium at his alma mater, the University of Southern California. Herb Wesson gave this touching statement regarding “John Singleton Day:”
“There is not enough that can be said about John Singleton and the profound impact he made in his 51 years of life. In a time and in an industry where all the odds were stacked against him, John overcame and became the best at his craft. And more than maybe anyone, he opened people’s eyes to a reality and an experience of South Los Angeles that had been overlooked by society. Now in Los Angeles this day is a time to celebrate John and his legacy. It’s far sooner than we should have to, but there is so much to celebrate.”
He adds:
“Singleton’s work spanned genres and showcased his curiosity and creativity: the remake of Shaft, paying homage to his mentor, Gordon Parks; his historical adaptation of Rosewood and action film 2 Fast 2 Furious; to his return to films highlighting the life of men and the crisis in American masculinity like Baby Boy and Four Brothers. He also lent his talents to television on shows such as Billions, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Empire, and Snowfall, which he co-created and executive produced.”
Singleton passed away at the age of 51 following a stroke in mid-April. Singleton was in a coma and remained on life support until his family made a decision to take him off.