Oscar Micheaux i początki kina afroamerykańskiego
Oscar Micheaux and the Beginnings of African-American Cinema

Summary/Abstract: The author discusses the beginnings of African-American cinema on the basis of the films by Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951), who was one of the most prominent representatives of the so-called race film, and situates his work in broader social, cultural and political contexts. The author juxtaposes Micheaux with other directors who attempted to make films intended for black audiences in the second and third decades of the twentieth century. Attention is drawn to a number of aspects shaping the film culture of the African-American community, such as the distribution and promotion system, exhibition practices, or the influence of censorship on the final shape of the work. The author also takes into account stylistic issues and topics taken up in “race films”, e.g. social advancement, emancipation narrative, polemics with racial stereotypes, the “passing” strategy, and the presence of controversial themes (such as lynching or interracial marriages).

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