Once Upon a Time in South Central La John Singleton's Hood Trilogy

"Cunningham's in-depth examination of place sets a solid foundation for understanding the stories Singleton creates. As well as I know Singleton's work and the area he foregrounds, I learned a great deal about Los Angeles and Black communities from Cunningham's insight and, thus, deepened my appreciation of many Singleton films." - Beretta E. Smith-Shomade, Department of Film and Media, Emory University

"Mark D. Cunningham delivers the definitive study of the influential yet underexamined filmmaker John Singleton, finally placing his work within broader cinematic and scholarly conversations. Focusing on his 'hood trilogy,' Cunningham moves fluidly between close formal analysis and cultural critique, offering a sharp, insightful account of Singleton's style, significance, and impact. This is a rigorous and essential auteur study." - Samantha N. Sheppard, author of Sporting Blackness: Race, Embodiment, and Critical Muscle Memory on Screen