Race Films

Race film's (circa 1915-1950) a genre in the United States, were movies produced (primarily, but, not exclusively) for an all-black audience, featuring black casts. Approximately five hundred race films were produced, but, less than one hundred remain. Race films were largely produced outside the Hollywood studio system, and have been - sadly - mostly forgotten by mainstream film historians. In their day, race films were very popular among African American theatergoers. Their influence continues to be felt in cinema and television marketed to blacks. While primarily produced by and made for black audiences, race films were also made with Luther minorities, such as the 1926 film Silk Bouquet (also known as The Dragon Horse), starred the Asian-American actress Anna May Wong and was marketed to Chinese-American audiences.