Poetic Justice

Poetic Justice

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Los Angeles uprising—one of America’s largest and most devastating civil disruptions. On April 29, 1992, four white Los Angeles police officers were acquitted on all but one charge connected with the torture of an African American motorist in March 1991.

Post-screening conversation with writer Justice Singleton and location manager Kokayi Ampah. Moderated by Jasmine Simpkins.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Los Angeles uprising—one of America’s largest and most devastating civil disruptions. On April 29, 1992, four white Los Angeles police officers were acquitted on all but one charge connected with the torture of an African American motorist in March 1991. In response, violence broke out in and around South Central Los Angeles. More than 50 people were killed, more than 2,300 were injured, thousands were arrested, and thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed.  

Opening with the title card, “Once upon a time in South Central Los Angeles,” writer-director John Singleton’s sophomore feature Poetic Justice blends tragedy with romance for a searing portrait of a community rebuilding from the ashes. Janet Jackson stars as the titular Justice, a young beautician who finds solace in her poetry. Befriending the charismatic postal worker Lucky (Tupac Shakur in his second film role), she embarks on an impromptu road trip and search for self-discovery. Singleton’s only film with a female protagonist and the rare studio film of the era focusing on a Black woman, Poetic Justice was written for Jackson and boasts an original song “Again” (written with James Harris III and Terry Lewis) that received an Academy Award nomination. Also lookout for cameos from Q-Tip, Tone Loc, and Maya Angelou.

DIRECTOR: John Singleton. WRITTEN BY: John Singleton. CAST: Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Regina King, Joe Torry. 1993. 110 min. USA. Color. English. 35mm. Print courtesy of the Academy Film Archive with special thanks to Shelia Ward.

This program is generously supported by Gigi Pritzker Pucker and the Pritzker Foundation.

Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.

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