Singleton Breaks Barrier With ‘Boyz’
John Singleton’s nomination as best director for “Boyz N the Hood,” his coming-of-age drama set in gang-infested South-Central Los Angeles, broke two barriers. Not only is he the first African-American in the 64-year history of the Oscars to win a nomination in that category, but at age 23, he is the youngest.
Orson Welles was three years older when he was nominated for his 1941 classic, “Citizen Kane.” Welles went on to lose the directing award to John Ford (“How Green Was My Valley”), but the controversial Wunderkind shared an Oscar with Herman Mankiewicz for best screenplay. Singleton also received a nomination Wednesday for best original screenplay.
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