Thursday, January 2, 2020

January 02 - Oscar Micheaux


Happy Birthday, Oscar Micheaux! Born today in 1884 as Oscar Devereaux Micheaux, this pioneering African-American author, independent producer and film director of more than forty-four films was, without a doubt, the most famous producer of race films. 

Of his features, he is best known for writing, producing and directing the groundbreaking 1920 American silent black and white drama film 'Within Our Gates'.

The film tells of kindly Sylvia Landry (Flo Clements). She takes a fundraising trip to Boston in hopes of collecting $5,000 to keep a Southern school for impoverished black children open to the public.  
  
There, she then meets the warmhearted Dr. Vivian (William Smith), who falls in love with Sylvia and travels with her back to the South. There, Dr. Vivian learns about Sylvia's shocking, tragic past and realizes that racism has changed her life forever. 
  
Micheaux had been active from 1919–1948. 

#borntodirect 
#BlackDirectorsMatter 
@tcm
@Kanopy 

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