The mission of The Department of Afro-American Research Arts and Culture to identify the global significance of the creative contributions pioneered by an international diaspora of Blackness
Search DAARAC's Archive

Friday, September 23, 2016

Colorizing the Race Film Era

As of late, I have been spending time researching and discovering Black Independent films from the 20s, 30s and 40s. The Race Film movie list is steadily growing, but the unfortunate truth is that many of these films are missing or destroyed. I have been captivated by some of the aesthetics from these films. Showing African-American culture and perspective from Chicago, Harlem, Atlanta and many more cities across the United States; these films represent imagery in a time when African-Americans had to find their way in cinematography within an oppressed society. Nevertheless, here are some photos that I have colorized from the Race Film Era.

  Ethel Moses and Carmen Newsome, Birthright (1938)

Lawrence Chenault, Body & Soul (1925)

Tressie Mitchell, Ten Minutes To Live (1932)

 Lena Horne and Bill Robinson, Stormy Weather (1943)

Kathryn Boyd, The Flying Ace (1926)

William Clayton Jr. and Edgar Moore, Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926)

 Fredi Washington, Imitations of Life (1934)

 Starr Calloway, The Girl From Chicago (1932)

 
Willor Lee Guilford, Ten Minutes To Live (1932) 

 Lorenzo Tucker, Veiled Aristocrats (1932)

 Lena Horne, Stormy Weather (1943)

 Cathryn Caviness, The Blood of Jesus (1941)

Evelyn Preer, The Homesteader (1919)

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Race Film Infographics

Lately, we have been presenting Black films from the 1920s and 1930s. This has been an educational experience. It is surely tragic that many of these Race films are lost or destroyed. Here are a couple of infographs I made in dedication for the era. You may use these as you please.





Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Heaven-Bound Travelers (1935)















Written and Directed by: 


Storyline
Silent film that tells the story of a man who falsely accuses his Christian wife of adultery and abandons her and their child. She remains true to her Christian faith and brings up their child in a Christian home. He regrets his decision whilst he battles the devil's temptations. A spiritual battle of good and evil is played out.

Monday, September 5, 2016

The Veiled Aristocrats (1932)




















Starring:



Storyline
John Warwick (Lorenzo Tucker), left home 20 years earlier and has been "passing" as white in a town where no one knew of his background. He returns home to take his now grown sister back with him so she too can live a life as a white woman. He even goes so far as to find her a suitable white man to marry. Unfortunately, she can not get over the young black man she left back home.