As we end this year, we pay tribute to Oscar Micheaux, an amazing black film producer/director/writer and independent studio owner. Starting in silent films, and going to ‘talkies’ when they arrived on the scene, Oscar Micheaux challenged racism, classism, stereotypes, and other social injustices long before current writers and directors. His movies and message were direct, and called out the poor behavior on everyone’s part with simple, clean stories. A number of his films are lost to time, so far, but those that have survived are works of art that every social-message artist should needs to see.  Jim and Dani cover Oscar’s life and his works. Also discussed is the bravery and conviction Oscar Micheaux had to stay true to himself and his message in the early to mid 1900s.

Places to learn more about Oscar Micheaux and see his films:

Filmography 

https://archive.org/details/oscar-micheaux-filmography/6+The+Exile+(1931)+First+Black+Feature+Talkie.mp4

Committee

https://www.micheaux.org/oscar-micheaux

Reference

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oscar-Micheaux

https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/film-and-television-biographies/oscar-micheaux

https://daily.jstor.org/how-oscar-micheaux-challenged-the-racism-of-early-hollywood/