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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| Nationality | American |
| 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 woman who made history! She is known as the first Black woman to produce a film. This was a silent crime drama called The Flames of Wrath, made in 1923.
Maria Williams was once a school teacher. She was also very active in her community and believed in being independent. She loved learning and the arts. This led her to work with newspapers first. Later, she moved into making movies, writing scripts, and acting. She even wrote a book in 1916 called My Work and Public Sentiment. In her book, she said she was a national organizer and speaker for a group called the Good Citizens League. She also said that some of the money from her book would help reduce crime among African Americans.
Contents
Maria Williams' Early Career
Maria Williams started her career in newspapers. From 1891 to 1894, she was the main editor for a weekly newspaper in Kansas City called New Era.
Starting Her Own Newspaper
After working at New Era, Maria wanted more independence. So, she decided to start her own newspaper! She named it the Women's Voice. She wrote and edited this paper from 1896 to 1900. The newspaper was supported by the "colored women's auxiliary" of the Republican party. People said the paper had "many pleasant things to say on a choice of timely topics." In 1916, Maria Williams also published her own book, her memoir.
Entering the Film World
In 1916, Maria Williams married Jesse L. Williams. He was a businessman who owned many things, including a movie theater in Kansas City.
Working in Movies
Maria and Jesse worked together to manage the movie theater. This gave them important experience in how to share and release films, especially for African-American audiences. Maria became the secretary and treasurer for their new company. They started a film company together called Western Film Producing Co. and Booking Exchange.
Maria Williams then wrote the script for Flames of Wrath. She also produced the movie from her script. In the five-reel film, she even acted, playing the role of the prosecuting attorney.
A Sad Ending
Sadly, Maria's husband, Jesse, passed away in the same year, 1916. She later married another man. Maria Williams herself passed away in 1932. Her death was unexpected, and the circumstances surrounding it were never fully understood.
Interestingly, the movie Flames of Wrath that Maria produced was about solving a murder after a robbery. Some people, like Aimee Dixon Anthony, believe Maria Williams could also be seen as the film's director. This is because the jobs of producer and director were often very similar back then. However, the title of the first Black woman director is usually given to Tressie Souders. She directed a film called A Woman's Error in 1922.
Learn More
Pioneers in Film
- You can learn more about the history of African American women who directed films by visiting the Sisters in Cinema Documentary website.
- Read about a time when many powerful people in Hollywood were women in an article from The Atlantic.
- Greenlight Women celebrates Black female directors and actresses over 40.
Early Black Films
