Tag: bert williams

Two years before D.W. Griffith’s abominable masterpiece Birth Of Nation pulled a Clockwork Orange on white folks, portraying black people as monstrous savage animals, the silent 1913 film Bert Williams: Lime Kiln Field Day (a working title) was portraying blacks quite differently. They weren’t super heroes, intellectuals or persevering under dogs. It’s a romantic comedy starring Bert Williams, a famous black entertainer who performed on Broadway and in black face. He performs in black face in the film as well. Museum of Modern Art curator Ron …