Showing posts with label Donald Bogle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Donald Bogle. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Hollywood Black by Donald Bogle

Hollywood Black
The Stars, The Films, The Filmmakers
by Donald Bogle
TCM and Running Press
Hardcover ISBN: 9780762491414
264 pages
May 2019

AmazonBarnes and Noble Powell's

“Hollywood Black presents a gallery of important talents, both in front of the camera and behind it – actors, actresses, writers, directors, producers – who struggled against the odds to make unique statements on-screen.” - Donald Bogle

If ever there was a primer on the history of African American cinema, Hollywood Black by Donald Bogle is it. This new book out from TCM and Running Press offers a comprehensive look at the contributions made by black performers and filmmakers from the birth of cinema to the present day. Bogle offers insights, breaks down misconceptions and fills in the gaps of knowledge. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about black film history whether they know little or a lot. It offers a bounty of information without being overwhelming. The hybrid format of a coffee table book meets non-fiction history book makes it as approachable as it is educational.





For me context is key and Hollywood Black offers that it in its chronological approach to telling the history of African American cinema. We learn about the trends, the milestones, the movements, the struggles and how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Each chapter is devoted to a particular decade from the silent era to modern day. We learn about how black representation in film changed and evolved through the Great Depression, WWII, the Civil Rights movement, etc. Within each chapter are themed essays with a focus on one or two particular players.

Subjects discussed include:
Stepin Fetchit
Bill Bojangles Robinson
Hazel Scott
Theresa Harris
Herb Jeffries
Clarence Muse
Hattie McDaniel
Lena Horne
Dorothy Dandridge
Ruby Dee
James Edwards
Ethel Waters
Sidney Poitier
Harry Belafonte
Eartha Kitt
Sammy Davis Jr.
Cicely Tyson
Pamela Grier
Melvin Van Peebles
etc.

Each decade is given equal amount of coverage which becomes a problem when we get to the 1970s and beyond because there are many more movies and filmmakers to discuss. However it's necessary to include every decade to appreciate the depth and breadth of this history.

Hollywood Black features a foreword by the late, great John Singleton which I found to be quite touching. This is book would serve as a fine addition to any home library but could also be great for an introductory course to African American cultural or film studies.

If you want to learn more about how the book is structured, watch my video book review below. And make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel! I'm trying to reach the milestone of 1,000 subscribers and every little bit helps!




You can hear me chat about Hollywood Black and other film books with Carl Sweeney host of The Movie Palace Podcast here.




Thank you to TCM and Running Press for sending me a copy of Hollywood Black to review.



This is my third review for the Summer Reading Challenge.


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