African American Silent Film

As film started to become more popular, other filmmakers quickly rose in the scene. One of these filmmakers was Oscar Micheaux, an educated African American writer who had an eye for cinema. Micheaux became famous for his films that combated controversial issues in America, such as the racism that was portrayed in D.W Griffith's film Birth Of A Nation. The biggest reason why Micheaux's films are so important is because they were some of the first to be fully directed by an African American. This lead to Michael's films combating racial stereotypes of African Americans, proving that they can make these works of art as well. Along with being the first African American to direct a film, he was also the first to direct a "talkie," a film with a synchronized soundtrack. Without the influence of Micheaux, it could've been an even longer time for the film industry to accept African American directors.