Hollywood would be nothing without the breakthrough of some of the most influential and impactful black filmmakers and directors that we know today.
This month is Black History Month, and in discussion of culture and film, it is important to consider how different the entertainment industry would be without these talented directors.
Oscar Micheaux, a renowned pioneer in the breakthrough for black filmmakers, paved the way for the future of cinema.
Micheaux, born 1884, produced over 40 films during his lifetime, before his passing in the 1950s.
His films, most notably Within Our Gates (1920) and Body and Soul (1925), portrayed by film the racial discrimination and injustice endured by African-American people at this time.
With many of his most famous works being directed in the early 19th century, this was a breakthrough in a heavily prejudiced era of society.
Micheaux’s first film, however, The Homesteader (1919) was the first feature-length, silent, black and white movie.
Oscar Micheaux, who went on to change the scene of filmmaking, was the first black director to have his works shown in a white cinema.
His works influenced a generation of talented black directors and filmmakers that are famous today, including Spike Lee, Barry Jenkins, Ava DuVernay amongst others.
Spike Lee is a multi-talented screenwriter, actor, director and film producer known for Do the Right Thing (1989) and Malcolm X (1992).
His works often centre a predominately black cast with a central message that explores and challenges racial stereotypes and prejudices surrounding the African-American community.
Born in 1957, Lee was educated in the world of film, earning himself a Master of Fine Arts in film.
Lee’s films explore a range of topics surrounding crime and political issues when discussing the racial experience as a black man in America.
2016’s Moonlight was an award winning and emotionally moving film directed by filmmaker Barry Jenkins.
Jenkins, born 1979, is a fresh take on modern cinema with almost poetic screenwriting and emphatic films.
One of his more notable works, Moonlight, depicts a young man’s path through life, while struggling with homophobia, masculinity and self-acceptance.
Jenkin’s Moonlight became the first film to win an Oscar for Best Picture featuring an all-black cast, as well as an LGBTQ categorical film.
Without forgetting a classic through the decades, Boyz n the Hood (1991) was a crime drama directed by John Singleton, starring none other than hip-hop icon Ice Cube.
The gritty realness of the coming of age tale of three friends, Singleton’s work is often still discussed when talking about influential and powerful filmmaking.
There are an infinite more black filmmakers that deserve recognition for breaking through barriers in the entertainment industry, whether it be Michaeux in the 1920’s or Jenkin’s Moonlight with an Oscar.
It is important to appreciate and consider the influence and the heart that has gone into these films and celebrate black filmmakers and directors.