Maria P. Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria P. Williams
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Photo of Maria P. Williams, ca. 1916.
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| Born | 1866 Versaille, Missouri
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| Died | 1932 Kansas City, Missouri
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| Occupation | Teacher, Actor, Activist, Director, Filmmaker, Editor, Author, Scriptwriter and Producer |
| Known for | First film producer who was also Black and female |
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Notable work
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1923's Flames of Wrath |
| Spouse(s) | Jessie L. Williams |
Maria Priscilla Thurston Williams (1866–1932) was an amazing and pioneering woman. She was a newspaper editor, a writer, and a scriptwriter. She also made history as the first African-American woman to produce a film! This film was a silent crime drama called The Flames of Wrath, released in 1923. Maria Williams was once a school teacher. She was always very independent and cared deeply about her community. Her interests led her to work in newspapers, then to making movies, writing scripts, and even acting. She also wrote a book in 1916 called My Work and Public Sentiment. In this book, she shared her work as a national organizer and speaker for the Good Citizens League. She also mentioned that some of the money from her book would help reduce crime in African-American communities.
Early Life and Career
Maria Williams started her career as a teacher. She then became the editor-in-chief for a newspaper in Kansas City called the New Era from 1891 to 1894. She wanted even more independence, so she started her own newspaper, The Woman's Voice, which ran from 1896 to 1900. This newspaper was supported by a group of African-American women connected to the Republican Party. It shared many interesting stories and ideas. In 1916, she also published her own life story in a book.
A Pioneer in Film
In 1916, Maria married Jesse L. Williams, a businessman who owned a movie theater in Kansas City. Together, they managed the theater. This experience taught them a lot about how to share and release movies for African-American audiences. Maria and Jesse then started their own company called Western Film Producing Co. and Booking Exchange. Maria was very involved, working as the company's secretary and treasurer.
Maria Williams wrote the script for her famous film, Flames of Wrath. She also produced the movie and even acted in it! She played the part of a prosecuting attorney in the five-part film. The movie itself was about solving a crime after a robbery.
Sadly, Maria's husband, Jesse, passed away in the same year, 1916. She later married another man. Maria Priscilla Thurston Williams passed away in 1932. The circumstances of her passing are not fully known.
Some experts, like Aimee Dixon Anthony, believe Maria Williams might also have directed Flames of Wrath. This is because, at that time, the roles of producer and director were often very similar. However, another woman, Tressie Souders, is usually recognized as the first African-American woman director for her 1922 film, A Woman's Error. Maria Williams's work as a producer, writer, and actress truly made her a trailblazer in early cinema.
See also
