Oscar Micheaux, American Filmmaker and Producer

Oscar Devereaux Micheaux (January 2, 1884 - March 25, 1951) was an African-American author, film director and independent producer of more than 40 films. Although the short-lived Lincoln Motion Picture Company was the first movie company owned and controlled by black filmmakers, Micheaux is regarded as the first major African-American feature filmmaker, a prominent producer of race film, and has been described as the most successful African-American filmmaker of the first half of the 20th century. He produced both silent films and sound films when the industry changed to incorporate speaking actors. Micheaux's films were made during a time of great change in the African-American community. His films featured contemporary black life. He dealt with racial relationships between blacks and whites, and the challenges for blacks when trying to achieve success in the larger society. His films were used to oppose and discuss the racial injustice that African-Americans received. Topics such as lynching, job discrimination, rape, mob violence, and economic exploitation were depicted in his films. He died in 1951, of heart failure, at the age of 66. No photographer credited, undated

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

Filmmaker Negro Negroes Screenwriter Scriptwriter

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > PHR