Black History Month is the perfect time to reflect on the groundbreaking Black pioneers who paved the way in cinema and celebrate today’s and tomorrow’s Black filmmakers. Currently, Black film and television are experiencing a vibrant era, with visionary creators like Ava DuVernay, Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, and Barry Jenkins crafting compelling narratives across genres for both theaters and television, centered on their communities and experiences. As these contemporary artists break new ground, it’s essential to acknowledge the historical figures who laid the foundation for their achievements. These Black Pioneer Movie makers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were instrumental in shaping the modern film industry, directly challenging the stereotypical and racist portrayals prevalent in early Hollywood.
While some of these pioneering writers, directors, and performers are recognized names, many remain unsung heroes in film history, with much of their invaluable work unfortunately lost. They are true folk heroes, and this month, we honor their names, celebrate their contributions, and acknowledge their profound impact on movies and culture.
Maria P. Williams (1866-1932): The First Black Female Film Producer
Maria P. Williams holds a distinguished place in history as the first documented Black female film producer. She was deeply involved with the Western Film Producing Company, serving as secretary and treasurer. This company distributed her groundbreaking 1923 film, Flames of Wrath, and was presided over by her husband. While the exact nature of her role is debated – the lines between “director” and “producer” were often blurred in the silent film era – Williams undeniably wrote, distributed, and acted in Flames of Wrath. Beyond filmmaking, Williams was a dedicated activist and published author. Her 1916 book, My Work and Public Sentiment, detailed her activism and declared that 10 percent of the book’s sales would fund crime suppression efforts within Black communities.
Noble Johnson (1881-1978): Actor and Founder of Lincoln Motion Picture Company
Noble Johnson
Noble Johnson was a significant figure in early black pioneer movie history, determined to overcome the racially limiting roles offered to Black actors during the silent film era. Despite the pervasive stereotypes, Johnson built a successful career as a character actor, appearing in an impressive 144 films after his debut in 1915. His filmography includes critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies such as 1925’s The Thief of Bagdad, 1932’s The Most Dangerous Game, 1932’s The Mummy, and the iconic 1933 film King Kong.
However, Johnson’s ambition extended beyond acting. In 1916, he co-founded the Lincoln Motion Picture Company with his brother George. This studio was groundbreaking as it was entirely Black-owned and operated. Lincoln Motion Picture Company is recognized as the birthplace of “race films,” a genre created to showcase positive portrayals of Black individuals and communities. Johnson served as president of the company from its inception until its closure in 1921, using his acting income to finance the studio’s productions. Although Lincoln Motion Picture Company produced only five films, most of which are sadly lost, it remains a vital inspiration for subsequent Black-owned film companies and a landmark achievement in black pioneer movie history.
Lester Walton (1882-1965): Pioneering Black Film Critic and Advocate
Lester Walton’s contribution to black pioneer movie history extends to the crucial realm of film criticism. He began his journalism career at the St. Louis Star, becoming the newspaper’s first full-time Black reporter. Walton later moved to New York to work for the New York Age, where he became the theatrical editor and manager and started writing extensively about the representation of Black people in the burgeoning film industry.
Beyond journalism, Walton was a multifaceted figure: a Civil Rights activist, diplomat, songwriter, theater owner, and film critic and essayist. He also served as Vice President of the Negro Actors Guild of America, advocating for integration across film, television, and radio. Walton consistently linked art and politics, and in collaboration with the Associated Press, he successfully lobbied for capitalizing the “N” in “Negro,” demonstrating his commitment to racial dignity and respect in language and media.
Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951): The Prolific “Race Film” Director
Everett Collection
Oscar Micheaux is celebrated as the first major Black filmmaker and a central figure in black pioneer movie history. He emerged from a background as a novelist to become a dominant voice in “race films,” a genre developed during the Jim Crow era to counter discriminatory portrayals and create cinema for and by Black audiences. Micheaux directed and produced an astounding 42 feature films between 1919 and 1948, beginning with The Homesteader in 1919, which was adapted from his own novel.
Micheaux’s films unflinchingly depicted Black life under Jim Crow, addressing critical and often ignored issues such as racial violence, sexual assault, economic exploitation, and systemic discrimination. His 1925 film, Body and Soul, starring Paul Robeson in his debut role, is particularly significant and was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 2019. Micheaux’s famous quote, “We want to see our lives dramatized on the screen as we are living it, the same as other people, the world over,” encapsulates his artistic vision and his commitment to authentic representation in black pioneer movie making.
Hattie McDaniel (1893-1952): Oscar Winner Breaking Barriers
Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel was a groundbreaking actress who made history as the first Black performer to win an Academy Award. She received the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her iconic portrayal of “Mammy” in the 1939 classic Gone With the Wind. Her acceptance speech remains a powerful moment in Oscar history. Gone With the Wind elevated McDaniel’s already successful career as a songwriter, musician, stage performer, and radio actress. She appeared in 97 films, including Judge Priest and Show Boat with Paul Robeson, and was among the first Black entertainers to star in her own radio and television series, Beulah.
Despite her groundbreaking Oscar win, McDaniel’s career was often limited by typecasting in “Mammy” roles, both before and after her Academy Award. Roles in films like The Golden West, Alice Adams, and The Mad Miss Manton exemplified this stereotype. Illustrating the pervasive racism of the Jim Crow era, McDaniel was forced to sit at a segregated table at the 1940 Academy Awards ceremony, separate from her Gone With the Wind co-stars. Famously, McDaniel defended her choice to play these roles, stating, “I’d rather play a maid and make $700 a week than be one for $7.” Her experiences highlight the complex realities faced by black pioneer movie actors navigating Hollywood’s racial barriers, a struggle that, as Rotten Tomatoes’ Jacqueline Coley has noted, continues to impact Black actresses today.
Spencer Williams (1893-1969): Prolific Director of “Race Films”
Spencer Williams
Spencer Williams, similar to Oscar Micheaux, is recognized as one of the most prolific Black filmmakers of the early to mid-20th century and a key figure in black pioneer movie history. As a pioneering director, screenwriter, and actor, Williams significantly advanced the “race film” genre. His 1941 film, The Blood of Jesus, is widely considered his masterpiece, offering a unique depiction of Southern Baptist religion through a Black cultural lens. In 1991, The Blood of Jesus became the first “race film” to be included in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry, solidifying its cultural and historical importance.
Williams also enjoyed a successful acting career, notably portraying Andy in the CBS television series Amos ‘n’ Andy after starting as a character actor in Black-cast Westerns in the 1930s. Despite his extensive contributions, Williams’s work was not fully appreciated until after his death. In the 1980s, a significant number of his films were rediscovered in a Texas warehouse, bringing renewed attention to his pioneering role in black pioneer movie making.
Tressie Souders (1897-1995): The First Black Woman to Direct a Feature Film
Tressie Souders holds a unique and vital place in black pioneer movie history as the first Black woman to direct a feature-length film, A Woman’s Error. Distributed by the Afro-American Film Exhibitors’ Company in 1922, A Woman’s Error represents an early and important instance of Black female creative leadership in cinema. Unfortunately, no known copies of A Woman’s Error have survived, and biographical details about Souders herself remain scarce, adding to the elusive nature of this pioneering figure. Despite the lack of surviving film and biographical information, Souders’s achievement as a director and writer is a crucial recognition of the often-overlooked contributions of Black women in early cinema.
Paul Robeson (1898-1976): Actor, Activist, and Cultural Icon
Everett Collection
Paul Robeson was a towering figure of the 20th century, renowned as a Civil Rights activist, concert artist, author, professional athlete, and acclaimed stage and screen actor. His acting career began with Oscar Micheaux’s 1925 film Body and Soul, launching him into a phenomenally successful career. Robeson starred in notable films like The Emperor Jones and Show Boat, and achieved stage acclaim in productions of Othello and The Emperor Jones.
Despite his Hollywood success, Robeson remained a powerful and outspoken voice for social justice. His activism and his sympathetic views towards Communist policies drew the attention of the FBI, leading to his blacklisting during the McCarthy era. Although McCarthyism’s influence eventually waned, Robeson faced significant obstacles in reviving his career and ultimately chose a quieter life. His legacy as a gifted actor and a courageous advocate cements his importance in black pioneer movie history and American culture.
Fredi Washington (1903-1994): Actress and Civil Rights Pioneer
Everett Collection
Fredi Washington was a talented actress who contributed significantly to black pioneer movie history and the Civil Rights movement. Her career flourished during the Harlem Renaissance, encompassing nine films and numerous Broadway productions. Washington is best remembered for her powerful performance in Imitation of Life (1934), an Academy Award Best Picture nominee, where she portrayed Peola Johnson, a light-skinned Black woman who chooses to pass as white.
Following her film career, Washington dedicated herself to Civil Rights activism, working closely with NAACP President Walter White and co-founding the Negro Actors Guild of America. She also remained engaged with the entertainment industry as the entertainment editor for The People’s Voice, a progressive Black newspaper founded by Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and as a casting consultant for musical productions like Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess. Washington’s multifaceted career as an actress and activist underscores her lasting impact on both the arts and the fight for racial equality.
Thumbnail image courtesy the Everett Collection
