E L E C T R O N I C   M E S S A G E
 
                                        Date:     16-Jun-1994 07:51am EST
                                        From:     Stephen Hart
                                                  HARTS2
                                        Level:    Post-secondary/University
                                        Tel No:   904-644-4839
 
TO:  Remote Addressee                     ( _jnet%screen-l@ua1vm )
 
 
Subject: re: Griffith as racist
 
I recall reading that movie attendance in the South was quite great;
unfortunately, I cannot cite my source, either.  However, the market was
important enough where Hollywood made it so scene with African-Americans
(scenes where they were more than buffoons) could be easily eliminated for
the southern market.  The inclusion of blacks in Hollywood films for any
role of importance was usually limited to light skinned blacks, unless,
like Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington, the name was big enough to
"cross-over".  Roles for darker blacks were the comedic and/or supporting
roles, a separating that was practiced even the early black cinema.  The
latter is found in "A separate cinema" by John Kisch.
 
Stephen Hart
HARTS2@firnvx