Oscar Micheaux
- MAVERICK
- Feb 10, 2019
- 2 min read
Oscar Micheaux
January 2, 1884 - March 25, 1951
Oscar Micheaux was down for the culture.
Novelist and a film-maker, he would go down as one of the most successful black producers and directors of all time.
Ironically, D.W Griffith’s anti-black film “the Birth of Nation”inspired Micheuax to use his abilities as a filmmaker to make his novels even more compelling. Micheaux received an offer from black owned Lincoln film Company (Nebraska) but turned it down, instead choosing to move to Chicago and make his own version of his hit novel the Homesteader.
That’s exactly what he did and produced the first full-feature film written, produced, and directed by an African-American.
Now only was this groundbreaking it also brought in the chips! The Homesteader was a commercial success, grossing over $5,000.
Michaeaux would go on to utilize his desire to control his production and distributions to give opportunities to black actors and better representation to black audiences. The rapidly growing black audience wanted films that portrayed something other than false narrative of the lazy, ignorant and hyper-sexualized negro.
In addition to his Maverick film making, he was innovative and disruptive in tackling complex subjects through film in the black community including interracial romance, skin color hypocrisy and corrupt clergymen.
He produced films from 1919-1948, receiving criticism for his "amateur film making" often by his white counterparts.
However, the black audience applauded him for producing films and positive representations of black actors and actress in during the time.
Oscar Michaeaux would go on and produce films with some of the biggest black actors often for less money because of societal impact.
Oscar Michaeaux died 1951 as one of the best to ever do it in directing and film making and a trailblazer for his style.
Today, Maverick Innovation embodies the spirit of this Maverick Innovator. Pushing pass limitations, relentless self-reliance and a steadfast conviction to break barriers to move culture.
Oscar Michaeaux was a pioneer that provided opportunities for others to be great and for that he most definitely is MAVERICK.
MAVfact: Eventually Hollywood recognized both Micheaux’s genius and his crucial role in opening opportunities for African Americans in front of and behind the motion picture camera. In 1987 Oscar Micheaux was memorialized with a Hollywood Walk of Fame “Star.” Two years later he was given posthumous awards by the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame (1989) and the Director’s Guild of America (1989). Each year Gregory, South Dakota, Micheaux’s adopted home town, stages the Oscar Micheaux Film Festival.
Comments