Pioneers of African-American Cinema facts for kids

Pioneers of African-American Cinema is a special collection of films. It was released in 2015. These films were made by Black filmmakers in the early 1900s. They show important stories about Black life.

These movies are often called "race films." They were made outside the big Hollywood studios. They explored important topics like social class, gender roles, and politics within the Black community.

Discovering Early Black Cinema

The collection features many talented directors. One of the most important was Oscar Micheaux. He made groundbreaking films.

Famous Filmmakers and Their Stories

Oscar Micheaux's films are a big part of this collection.

• Within Our Gates (1920) bravely faced the topic of racism.
• The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920) showed Black homesteaders. They fought for survival against groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
• Body and Soul (1925) starred the famous Paul Robeson. It was his first movie role.

Other important filmmakers are also included. These include Spencer Williams, Richard Maurice, and writer Zora Neale Hurston. Films from the Ebony Film Corporation and Solomon Sir Jones are also featured.

Bringing Old Films Back to Life

This collection is very special because the films were restored. This means old, damaged films were carefully repaired. Now they can be seen clearly again. The full collection runs for over 25 hours!

Historians and film fans find this restoration very important. It includes films that were hard to find before. The collection has more than 12 full-length movies. Some examples are Hell-Bound Train, Within Our Gates, Birthright, and The Flying Ace.

It also has shorter films, trailers, and interviews. Some films are shown in pairs to give more historical background. For example, Hot Biskits is paired with The Blood of Jesus. New music was added to many of these silent films. Famous musicians like DJ Spooky and Max Roach created new scores.

How the Collection Was Made

This project received funding from a Kickstarter campaign. Many important organizations helped create it. These include the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art. The National Museum of African American History and Culture also helped.

Experts Charles Musser and Jacqueline Najuma put the collection together. Kino Lorber distributed the films. This company often shares important art house films.

The collection is available to watch online. You can also buy it on BLU-RAY and DVD. The DVD set comes with a 76-page booklet. The New York Times praised the collection. They suggested it would be great for schools and colleges.

Anthology Contents