In 1910, William D. Foster, an employee of the Chicago Defender, started the Foster Photo Company, in direct opposition to the prevailing negative images of African Americans that existed in mainstream silent cinema. Foster was a publicist for Black vaudeville acts such as Bert Williams and George Walker. Because of his network, he had access, and assembled cast and crews to produce a cinema that the African American community could be proud of.
In 1912, with the financial aid and assistance of Robert S. Abbott , founder of the Chicago Defender, he produced “The Railroad Porter.” The film was acclaimed for it’s positive and humanistic portrayals of the black community.
3 years Later, Oscar Micheaux would found the Micheaux Film and Book Company in Chicago. George and Noble Johnson open Lincoln Motion Picture Company to produce Black films in Los Angeles, and the rest is history.
This is the true birth of independent Black Cinema.
It’s out of this spirit that The Black Box Office was born.
So throughout 2010, we celebrate the history of Black Cinema — while we keep an eye on the future.
Celebrate Black Cinema history with us!
WATCH!
Every month we’ll highlight films from our history with reviews and exclusive screenings, online and in theaters.
LEARN!
Through interviews and live Q&A sessions with filmmakers, actors, critics, and historians, you’ll discover the challenges we’ve overcome to tell our stories.
SHARE!
Every month is an opportunity to share your story through the Black Box Office. Show your work online or on screen all year!
