A Window into Black Culture through Black Movies

The very first black movies were race films, produced in the early part of the twentieth century. These films featured mainly black cast and were produced with the black audience in mind; hoping to create a more accurate portrayal than that seen in early white films. The most prominent producer of the black film was Oscar Micheaux.
 

Oscar formed his own film production company and between 1919 and 1948 independently released over forty black movies. Oscar's first black film was the 1919 silent film "The Homesteader," the first feature-length production created with a black cast and crew. Oscar's next film "Within Our Gates," directly addressed racism and depicted lynching. Both starred well known black actress Evelyn Peer.
 

In 1929, MGM became the first major studio to release an all black film, with the release of "Hallelujah!" The MGM produced musical was notable for its attempt to create a more positive portrayal of black life, than contemporary while films of the time. 1943 saw the release of two notable black musicals each featuring actress Lena Horne, "Stormy Weather" and "Cabin in the Sky."
 

Black movies allowed black actors and musicians a chance to play starring roles instead of being relegated to supporting roles as domestic characters in mainstream films. In Hollywood's' early days, it was not uncommon for white actors to appear in blackface and carry off stereotyped portrayals of blacks. Actress Hattie McDaniel became the first black person to win a best supporting Oscar, for playing a housemaid in the 1939 production of "Gone with the Wind."
 

The Civil Rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s paved the way for a change in black movies, by addressing racial tensions and depicting accurate black experiences. Black actors also began to star with white actors and reach a greater audience. Leading black actor Sidney Poitier won a best acting Oscar for the 1963 film, "Lilies of the Field." Dorothy Dandridge was the first black woman to receive a best actress Oscar nomination for her role in the all black musical, "Carmen Jones."

The 1970s brought Blaxploitation black films such as "Shaft" starring Richard Roundtree and "Foxy Brown" starring Pam Grier to the big screen. Black comedians also benefited from the increased exposure of black movies. Richard Pryor starred in a number of successful projects during this time, including "Car Wash" in 1976.

 

With the 1980s and 1990s, black actors were able to become major film stars and earn big bucks. Eddie Murphy starred in the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise while Danny Glover starred in the "Lethal Weapon" franchise. Denzel Washington was the leading black actor of the day and won a best supporting actor Oscar for starring in the black film "Glory," in 1989. Influential directors: Spike Lee, Mario Van Peebles and John Singleton all left their mark. Black films covering science fiction, fantasy, romance, hip hop culture and other genres gave black actors more freedom than ever before.
 

Oscar wins by Halle Berry and Jamie Foxx further show appreciation for black movies in the 21st century. Black film makers such as Tyler Perry continue the tradition of the black film with primarily black cast. However, major films featuring an ethnically diverse casts offers the most opportunity for black actors and a chance to play nontraditional roles.
 

Black directors, actors and writers frustrated with getting major studios to promote and green light black movies are creating their own production companies, building web sites, and turning to social networking and black film festivals as a way to network and gain exposure for black films.