1915
As stated in Black
American Cinema by Manthia Diawara, George and Noble Johnson found
the first African American owned studio, The Lincoln Motion Picture
Company in Omaha, Nebraska. (Diawara, pg 14). This company became
the first producer of “race movies,” which featured all-black
cast for an all-black audience (Diawara, pg 14). Race films avoided
depictions of poverty, ghettos, social decay, and crime; the
companies purpose was to encourage black pride and to correct the
depiction of African Americans as violent and uneducated people as
seen in “white films.” To comply with racial segregation, race
films were screened at designated black theaters, that were generally
in black neighborhoods (Diawara, pg 15). Race films, although
seldom, were also shown in white theaters that would reserve special
time-slots (matinees and midnight shows) for blacks. Race movies
have had great historical significance, but also showcased the
talents of actors and actresses who would be pushed into
stereotypical supporting roles in mainstream film (Diawara, pg 15).
As stated on Oscar
Micheaux's website(http://shorock.com/arts/micheaux/),
Oscar Devereaux Micheaux was an African American author, film
director and independent producer of more than 44 films. He is
regarded as as the first major African American feature filmmaker, as
well as the most successful. He produced both silent films and
“talkies” for the changing industry.
1919
"The Outcome of Discontent" by Sarah Weiss, states that Micheaux's first novel, The
Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer, which was dedicated to Booker T. Washington, was rewritten and adopted to film and
re-titled, The Homesteader. Micheaux's second silent film was Within Our Gates. Some claim that this film was Micheaux's reponse to Birth of a Nation by D.W Griffith. The NAACP protested agains the film for the films distortion of race and Micheaux raised money to make a film that would showcase African Americans in a positive light while confronting racial issues. He states
that he created this film as a response to widespread social
instability following World War I as stated on
http://shorock.com/arts/micheaux/.
1929
“Encylopedia
of the Harlem Renaissance” by Sandra West claims that Hearts
in Dixie and
Hallelujah are the first
Hollywood “talkie”films with all-black cast. A musical film that
celebrates African American music and dance; it was released by Fox
Film Corporation (West, pg 151).
1931
After surviving the Great Depression, Hollywood pressure, and the invention of sound pictures, Micheaux
releases the first feature-length sound film from a black director,
“The Exile,” as stated on http://shorock.com/arts/micheaux/.
1940
“Finding
the Oscar” by Carter Burlette states that Hattie McDaniel becomes
the first black actor to win an Academy Award. She was named the
best supporting actress as Mammy in “Gone with the Wind.” She
was the first black actor to ever be nominated and was the first
African-American guest at the awards ceremony (Burlette, pg 55).
1942
“Noteable
Biographies”
(http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ho-Jo/Horne-Lena.html),
informs the reader that Lena Horne becomes the first African American
actress to sign a long term contract with a major studio (MGM). She
appeared in several MGM musicals, but was never featured in a leading
role because of her race and the fact that films featuring her had to
be edited for states where theaters could not show films with black
performers. Her most notable work was in Cabin in the Sky
(Notable Biographies website).
Google Images (Lena Horne)
1946
“Song
of the South.” Disney's first live-action/animated musical film is
released as stated on AMC's website
(http://movies.amctv.com/movie/1946/Song+of+the+South).
The film is based on Uncle Remus a fictional character and
narrator of a collection of African American folktales adapted and
compiled by Joel Chandler Harris. The film was never released in its
entirety on home video in the United States. People protested that
the film was politically incorrect and racist towards black people, so Disney made the decision to stop the release
(AMC's website).
Google Images (Song of the South)
1963
Sidney
Poitier is the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Actor
for his role in Lilies in the Field according to "Film Site" website (http://www.filmsite.org/aa63.html).
1971
"The Birth and Demise of the Blaxploitation Era" in the Los Angeles Times (http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/16/entertainment/ca-41409), by Richard Maynard claims that blaxploitation
emerged in the United States and was specifically made for an urban black
audience. These films are the first to feature funk and soul music.
Sweet Sweetback is credited by some, for the
invention of blaxploitation, others claim that Shaft is to credit (Maynard). These films are mainly set in poor neighborhoods,
display ethnic slurs against white characters, such as “crackers”
and “honky.” Film's commercial success from both the black and white population made Hollywood interested
in the urban black market. Independent and major film studios, such as MGM,
release over 200 movies featuring black characters in leading roles and "pimp wardrope became the new urban macho drag" (Maynard).
1982
Eddie
Murphy stars in 48 Hours and becomes the first actor, black or
white, to earn 1 million in a film debut, according to "Show Watcher"
website
(http://showwatcher.com/movie-history-million-dollar-milestones/).
Google Images (Eddie Murphy)
1989
Spike
Lee makes his major studio debut with Do the Right Thing. The
film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay
as stated on AMC's website
http://movies.amctv.com/person/en/spike_lee.
Google Images (Do the Right Thing)
1991
"Film Site" website states, John Singleton becomes the first African American to
receive an Oscar nod for Best Director for his work on Boyz n the Hood. At age 24, he is the
youngest ever nominated in that category
(http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2001/12/john-singleton.php).
2001
As
stated in "Film Site" website,
Denzel Washington for Training Day and Halle Berry for
Monster's Ball became the first African Americans to win
Academy Awards in both the Best Actor and Best Actress categories.
Google Images (Denzel Washinton and Halle Berry win Oscars)
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