432
Although today we celebrate outstanding talents such Ava DuVernay, Lena Waithe, Hollywood’s Youngest Producer Marsai Martin amongst others who are doing super amazing things behind the cameras, a trip down memory lane makes us recognise the amazing contributions of pioneers who laid the groundwork making it all possible for black stories to be brought to screens.
Maria P. Williams (1866 – 1932) made history as the first Black woman to produce, write, and act in her own movie in 1923, arguably titled – The Flames of Wrath.
Prior to filmmaking, Williams was an activist and author. She wrote a book in 1916 on her activism entitled My Work and Public Sentiment.
