How the film “Boyz N The Hood” became a Rite of Passage

By: Darnell Durrah, Ph.D.

Changing Our Narrative

On a weekend where a rendition of an animated movie of a father and son is being highly marketed, unfortunately, that reality is not something I can relate to firsthand. Especially, as a father who is geographically separated from his children for several work-related factors.

Meanwhile, 11 years ago the birth of my first son was one of the proudest moments of my life. I vividly recall my mother jubilantly shouting; “Jr, that is your twin!” Only minutes after my son’s delivery. From being the first to hold him due to the emergency cesarean, accompanying him on his first days of school (childcare, preschool, and elementary), being his first coach and even barber. The connection we have developed is unique and extremely rewarding.

Unfortunately, the last year or so has been extremely frustrating for both my son and me. As a result, we have had to deal with numerous challenges and obstacles. This last school year he attended four elementary schools and three states (Alaska, California, and Florida.)

For the last few months, I have explored several options to address our concerns. However, the one option that never went away was sitting down together and watching Boyz N the Hood. Its depiction of an influential middle class African American father who navigates his fatherhood obligations so fluidly and eloquently was key.

Although raised in Compton, I’ve always related to the character “Tre” in the movie. Despite many that only hear the word Compton associates me with “Dough Boy.” Meanwhile, like “Tre” I did not attend the neighborhood high school. Instead, I attended Verbum Dei High School, an All-Boys College Preparatory Catholic School. Despite being in the heart of Watts and adjacent to the Nickerson Gardens Housing Authority. I was no “Dough Boy.”

My son, who at the age of 11 years old, and born in Alabama has traveled extensively throughout the United States and even Canada, experiencing things his peers have probably have not. Thus, there is a piece of him that is similar to “Tre.” He is a young smart African American Male who has difficulties identifying and expressing his emotions. Therefore, the John Singleton film was an ideal option for us.

After the conclusion of the movie we talked about it. I asked him to write a paragraph on what he took from it. An example response was, “It’s hard being a Black boy, Tre daddy really loved him, and they all (alluding to the characters in the movie) had each other’s back no matter the lifestyle they lived.”

Lastly, I realize my son does not fully grasp the full context of this film. However, I believe this will continue to spark the conversation and interest in the mind of my 11-year-old.