The first producer and director of race films made specifically for African-Americans back when "Colored" was an acceptable label. It beat some of the others that were circulating at the time. He made many films, but "The Book" lists only one.
"Within Our Gates" released in 1920, is a simple story of a young black woman who travels north to help raise money for a school for impoverished children. Unfortunately, she in not immune to the prejudices of society. Often sited as a response to D. W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" released in 1915. It can to be said that this film didn't really get around much. It certainly had no appeal to the mainstrean of the early 1900s, it played small theaters, that catered to the minorities. It was considered LOST until a copy was found in Spain in the 70s.
This one has been available on TCM a couple of times over the last three years along with others by Micheaux, most notably, the existing pieces of "Symbol of the Unconquered" which followed "Within Our Gates".
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