Hollywood museum celebrates Black cinema

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has long come under fire for its lack of recognition of African Americans' contribution to the film industry. Finally, an exhibition at the Academy Museum aspires to acknowledge and honour the crucial work of Black people in the world of cinema, from its very inception in the 1890s through to 1971.

Film director Ava DuVernay delivered a speech at the launch of the exposition.

Ava DuVernay: "They illustrate in this exhibit a long hidden fact. Are you ready for the secret? That we, Black folks, have always been present in American film, right from the start. Present not as caricatures and stereotypes, but as creators and producers and innovators and eager audiences."

Thanks to the Academy's exhibit, "Regeneration", previously unseen footage of Black actors playing dignified parts has emerged, a far cry from the customary racist caricatures of African Americans as chicken thieves, butlers, or fools.

Raúl Guzmán, assistant curator, recognises the import of Black representation, then and now.

Raúl Guzmán: "Many of the conversations that we have about representation, really were happening at the beginning of cinema. I think many audiences saw the potential of cinema to really change how people and their communities were perceived."

One clip amidst the Academy's rich collection is that of actor Hattie McDaniel being awarded "best supporting actress" at the Oscars for her superlative performance as a housemaid in the iconic film "Gone with the Wind". Such was the racism of the time that she was compelled to take a seat at a segregated table during the ceremony. McDaniel had earlier been barred from attending the premiere, which had played at a "Whites only" cinema.

Organisers are confident that this exhibition will spark a debate regarding Black representation in films, galvanising Black filmmakers both on and off the set.

Ava DuVernay: "For the first time, we can now see the grand sweep of Black American filmmaking in cinematic artistry, in all its richness and daring, in all its defiance and exuberance. We should have seen it long before now, but this is the day it begins."

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