Denzel Washington is one of America's most-loved contemporary movie stars. An active member of the black community, he has shown how men of conviction have negotiated racial injustice through memorable portrayals of individuals important to the community, including Malcolm X, anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, boxer Hurricane Carter and football coach Herman Boone.

Examining Washington's remarkable career – from his time as a skilled actor in theatre and television in the 1980s, to his leading man roles in landmark films of the 1990s and his place in Hollywood's elite in the 2000s – Cynthia Baron shows how Washington both inhabits his characters and creates a powerful onscreen presence. Also highlighting connections and contrasts with Paul Robeson, Sidney Poitier and New Black Cinema, Baron outlines how and why Washington became a key figure in the wave of contemporary African American artists who have transformed mainstream media and American popular culture.