Uplift cinema is a genre of cinema that was prominent in the Black community in the 1910’s – 1920’s. Its general objective is to show the Black community something to aspire to and “uplift” their social positions. In this particular chapter of the book – Uplift Cinema: The Emergence of African American Film and the Possibility of Black Modernity – the author centers the narrative around the exhibition of “A Trip to Tuskegee” by George W. Broome as well as “A Day in Tuskegee.” This narrative becomes the foundation of Field’s presentation of academic argument of the significant effect of uplift film that displayed Black Americans in higher education.
While Field presents this argument, she frames this argument within the circumstances of the evidence that existed at the time of the book. This important distinction allows the reader to understand the validity of these academic arguments and the often conflicting and or bias perspectives embedded within the arguments themselves. For instance, Field noted that Booker T. Washington found it difficult to work with Broome as there was a conflict of motivations behind making the film, and “Though the details of their arrangement are not completely clear from the surviving records, it appears as though Broome filmed with the full consent and cooperation of Tuskegee and without any financial or legal obligation” (Field, 85). Here, the acknowledgement of the lack of information to confirm this claim, helps the reader frame the claim that Washington’s difficultly to work with Broome has a degree of uncertainty, and take this piece of information as one part of an unfinished investigation.
As for the main argument of the significant effect of the two informational films that display Black Americans in higher education at Tuskegee, Field points to how the motion of the pictures, timing of the films, and Washington’s presence gives the films their significance. For example, “An editorial in the Chicago Defender proclaimed ‘that Brooker T. is way ahead of the game’ by displaying his model of education through moving pictures” (Field, 90). This example of excitement from the Chicago Defender illustrates public reaction of learning about Tuskegee was significantly impacted by the motion of the picture. However, Field also takes note of how this was also undermined by the conflict of motivations between Broome and Washington for making the film and the circumstances in which they were exhibited in. Broome treated this film as a commercial endeavor, often running his own screenings without the official approval of Tuskegee. Washington did not approve of this, however he did not do much to stop Broome other than privately criticizing Broome.
Through this narrative of Tuskegee’s public relations mission, it is clear that motion picture of the activities at Tuskegee did play a huge role in the uplift movement as it inspired not only the Black community, but also white folks as well. Field’s work, Uplift Cinema: The Emergence of African American Film and the Possibility of Black Modernity, establishes the role of film in informing the Black community of other Black Americas uplifting their social status through education by framing the situation and arguments with the circumstances of Field’s findings.
It’s really interesting how even though the intent of this film was to help uplift the African American community, there was still so much controversy about how to go about doing that. Seems like your chapter was a really interesting read!
I read the introduction to Field’s book, and it was really interesting to read your description on how she expands her discussion on Uplift cinema. In the section I read, she help up the genre of “local film,” films that feature friends, family, or recognizable community members in juxtaposition to Uplift film. Rather than portraying an ideal, Fields talks about the work that Local Film did by portraying black communities as they were and known to be by those who saw the films. They were personal and intimate. Though they were less mainstream, they were still doing important work, and I think the comparison was worth while.