Oscar Micheaux\'s 1920 Motion Picture

¶ … Oscar Micheaux's 1920 motion picture "Within Our Gates" provides a complex perspective concerning racism in the U.S. during the early twentieth century. The film is successful in emphasizing the importance of thinking objectively and it is meant to influence individuals in taking on a positive attitude regarding other members of the social order. In spite of the fact that the director is obviously well-intended and refrains from discriminating against white people, it appears that he exaggerated conditions in African-American communities with the purpose of uplifting their image. He uses religion as one of the primary tools assisting him in achieving success, as he acknowledged the fact that people in the U.S. were severely influenced by their determination to be religious.

One of the certain things about this film is the fact that it has the ability to trigger intense feelings in its viewers. However, some individuals might consider that it takes the topic too far and that it deliberately tries to influence audiences in getting the feeling that they should criticize society for how it treats African-Americans. All things considered, the film was made in a period when violent racism still existed in the U.S. And it only seems natural for the director to express interest in wanting to persuade audiences to see things from the perspective of African-Americans.

Although some might be inclined to believe that the film fails to provide viewers with sophisticated artistic power, it actually succeeds in doing so and it can be considered to be one of the most advanced motion pictures created during the era. Within Our Gates manages to produce the exact effects that its producers wanted it to put across. Micheaux wanted people to accept that a great deal of wrongdoings was occurring in a society that claimed to be highly developed.

The film educates viewers in regard to the condition of African-American individuals in the U.S. Moreover, Micheux intended to criticize even more aspects of the American society and he did not hesitate to relate to how women were openly discriminated. Many individuals who were discriminated at the time are probable to identify with the film's characters.

In addition to wanting the film to be appealing to individuals interested in white-black relations in the U.S. during the early twentieth century, the director also wants to emphasize the fact that it is especially irresponsible to discriminate individuals. The fact that the characters in his film come across problems experienced by a series of individuals across history makes it possible for viewers to understand that there is nothing different about African-Americans or about women, as everyone is basically the same and people are only differentiated as a result of the fact that other people are inclined to categorize on account of stereotypes.

Considering the feelings that the film puts across, one can even consider that it is meant to take up a place in the pages of history. This is the oldest existing motion picture directed by an African-American and it is most probably going to play in front of numerous audiences interested in conditions in the U.S. during the first few decades of the twentieth century. It is actually difficult to determine whether the director wanted it to provide people with an artistic concept or if he primarily wanted to provide them with troubling information concerning society's hypocrisy.

Micheux uses the concept of a black man being lynched for his presumed attempt to rape a white woman as a stereotypical idea meant to influence viewers in expressing lack of interest in the white woman's condition. The director presents viewers with the harsh reality of the 1920s when the masses took advantage of every opportunity that they came across and were unhesitant about persecuting black people regardless if they were responsible for a crime or not. Many viewers are probable to associate the film with the standard image of an African-American congregation struggling to achieve positive results while performing a series of tasks in a society that employs unwelcoming attitudes in regard to black people.