Intro to Black History

There’s something oddly daunting about presenting material for Black History Month. Every year since 1926, February has reminded us that there is more than one voice, one vision, one version, or one relationship to the American past. In short, there is more than one history. Full Article

The African-American Silent Film Years

It is with no small hesitation that I chose “Birth” as an operative word in approaching the discussions around early American film. By 1915 David Wark Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation cemented its place as the foundation of feature length cinemascape. Full Article

Milestones of the 1950's

The 1950’s were marked by some incredibly high points in star success and advancement. Two sports and music biopics attempted to address the color barrier while allowing audiences to relate to the personal journey’s of singular and well known men. Full Article

The Renaissance Decades - 60's

In the 60s, black independent films began to flourish. Unlike their predecessors, post-Civil Rights filmmakers were exposed to university training, technical know-how, and contemporary cinema philosophy. Full Article

Oscar Micheaux's Society

In 1919, Oscar Micheaux wrote, directed, and produced his first film, The Homesteader. His consequent career as a filmmaker was the most prominent of his day, and his gritty and controversial work continues to demand attention and exploration. Full Article

Disney's Song of the South

The N.A.A.C.P. and Bill Cosby, among others, think Song of the South is a racist film. It’s because of that widely shared opinion that Disney has refused to release the movie on DVD.Full Article

List of Important Films

The WoKJ has compiled a non-inclusive list of films that we feel are important in the history of Black Cinema. The list is in alphabetical particular order. See the List