Spencer Williams – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

THE BLOOD OF JESUS (1941) – Retroview by Marilyn Ferdinand

February 2, 2022February 2, 2022 Marilyn Ferdinand (Archived Contributor) black history month, Cathryn Caviness, James B. Jones, Rogenia Goldthwaite, Spencer Williams, the blood of jesus

Among the creators of the race films that brought stories by and about African Americans to segregated Black audiences from the 1920s through the 1940s, Spencer Williams holds a prominent place. He acted in 33 films, including the 13 films he directed, and made the most of his low budgets and largely unskilled actors, showing impressive growth in technique, storytelling, and versatility as he worked. The Blood of Jesus was the first feature film he directed and shows what a formidable talent he was.

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT January 2022: Jacqueline Stewart, Film Scholar, Archivist, and Curator

January 1, 2022January 5, 2022 Marilyn Ferdinand (Archived Contributor) “genius” grant, African American film cultures, Black Cinema House, Jacqueline Stewart, MacArthur Foundation, Migrating to the Movies, Miriam Hansen, She’s Gotta Have It, Spencer Williams, spike lee, spotlight, tcm, Turner Classic Movies, University of Chicago

As a deeply committed film scholar whose work is resurrecting forgotten figures—particularly African American artists—in cinematic history, Jacqueline Stewart is changing face of American culture. Her contributions as an educator, curator, archivist, author, and popular presenter will ensure that diversity both of narrators and narratives will enrich our culture for years to come.