American Slavery on Film

"A catalog of the most important and influential media depictions of slavery as a resource for cinema scholars and media historians in particular....It will be a solid starting point for more detailed work in this area." – CHOICE

A comprehensive and timely resource on the depictions in film of enslaved African Americans and slavery from the Antebellum Period to Emancipation. American Slavery on Film highlights historical and contemporary depictions in film of the resistance, rebellion, and resilience of enslaved African Americans in the United States from the Antebellum period to Emancipation. Through such films as Uncle Tom's Cabin (1914), a silent movie adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel; the groundbreaking and successful television miniseries Roots (1977); and the Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet (2019), this book analyzes how African American slavery has been and continues to be portrayed in major studio blockbusters and independent films alike.

Separating the romanticized and unrealistic depictions of slavery from the more accurate but often unflinching portrayals of its horrors, this resource covers a wide range of topics, including the impact of slavery on popular culture, the Underground Railroad, Maroon communities, and the Los Angeles Film Rebellion of the 1960s. As a result, this book delivers a comprehensive, readable, and timely examination of enslaved African Americans and slavery in America's film history.