John Singleton’s passing undoubtedly still stings, and as we continue to keep his family in our thoughts and prayers, we also have a dope update! Los Angeles has declared May 21 as John Singleton Day! According to Ebony, Los Angeles City Council, President Herb J. Wesson Jr., will make the announcement at a celebration of life for John at the University of Southern California.
“There is not enough that can be said about John Singleton and the profound impact he made in his 51 years of life,” Wesson’s statement reads. “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.”
The statement continues, “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.”
As most of you know, John passed away on April 28 after his removal from life support. His medical troubles became a major topic of discussion following reports of him experiencing pain in his legs on April 17. Following that pain, he suffered a massive stroke which led to him being placed on life support. He was 51.
After he passed, we heard many great memories of John, including one from Spike Lee:
“We met while he was a film student at USC. Over many years people have told me ‘I’m going to be a filmmaker,’ when John said that to me the first time we met, I believed him right away,” Lee wrote. “It was no surprise. With his passion, his heart, the way he talked about his love for cinema and black folks I could see John would make it happen, and he did. From day one, we have remained close over the decades, cheering each other on in this industry that is not set up for us to win. John Singleton’s films will live on forever.”
TSR STAFF: Chantel Kelli! @_popchanny!
Photo: Getty Images
