by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
Born in Senegal in 1923, Ousamane Sembene grew up in a blue collar environment, working a variety of manual labor jobs. In 1947 he made his way to France, became involved in the labor union movement, joined the Communist Party, and was introduced to the works of writers like Claude McKay. Inspired by his experiences, Sembène wrote his first novel in 1956. Le Docker Noir (The Black Docker) was the first of nine books written by Sembène, who would go on to be regarded as on the greatest authors from Africa. His books often dealt with issues regarding colonialism, racism and the plight of the working man, but were seldom translated in other languages. Sembène understood that his books would have trouble reaching the immigrant, working class and disenfranchised audience of which he wrote, prompting him to explore film.
In 1963, at the age of 40, Sembène made his first film, the short Barrom Sarret. He would make twelve more films over the course of the next forty years, with his first feature being the critically acclaimed Black Girl, and over the decades Sembène would go on to become considered the “Father of African Cinema.” His 1987 anti-war film Camp de Thiaroye is also a brilliant look at colonialism, and remains one of the most powerful films of all time. Ousamane Sembène passed away in 2007 at the age of 84, but not before leaving behind a rich legacy of literature and film.
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
An antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, UNCLE TOM’S CABIN; OR, LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY, was first published in 1852. It was a bestseller, as well as one of the most popular works of 19th century American literature, and it help foster a growing antislavery sentiment in the years leading up the American Civil War. By the 1860s, numerous live stage adaptations began to appear, none of which were approved by Stowe. Live performances of UNCLE TOM’S CABIN were among the most popular theatrical productions in America throughout the second half of the 1800s, and with the advent of motion pictures, it was only a matter of time before version of UNCLE TOM’S CABIN showed up on film. Between 1903 and 1927 there were nine film versions of Stowe’s book, six of which starred white actors in blackface as Uncle Tom. In reality, none of these films were inspired by the original book, but were instead derived for the numerous stage productions, all of which had done away with Stowe’s abolitionist message, and all re-imagined Uncle Tom as the docile slave committed to pleasing his owner, which was a drastically different from the character in the book.
To learn more about movie adaptations of UNCLE TOM’S CABIN, check out my new book Black Film: A History of Black Representation and Participation in the Movies will be released by Ten Speed Press on March 24, 2026. You can pre-order the book here.
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
I just wanted to share with all of you this advertisement for Jaguar Jackson’s B.A.M.F. Combat Academy. This is an ad that will appear in the upcoming one-shot comic The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein). That’s right…this comic will be more than just a comic, it will be an immersive experience that will forever change your life!
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
At long last, I am pleased to share the not-quite-final design for the cover of The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein). This amazing work of art is by the one and only Joe Jusko, and I am honored to have him be a part of this creative journey. I knew that this comic needed an incredibly iconic image for the cover, but I never really thought that it would have something this monumentally badass.
The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein) is a one-shot comic that will serve as an introduction to your new favorite monster. The comic includes a full-color, 24-page story drawn by Marcelo Di Chiara and colored by Pedro Estouco (see sample page above), as well as a bonus pin-up gallery. There will be a crowdfunding campaign starting next month, as well as an art contest to find artists to include in the pin-up gallery (details on the Kickstarter campaign and the art contest coming soon).
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
Founded by Richard Norman, and based out of Jacksonville, Florida, the Norman Film Manufactuting Company was one of the first while-owned production companies to start making race films following the release of DW Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation in 1915. Also known as Norman Studios, the production company made several notable race films between 1916 and 1928, including The Crimson Skull and The Flying Ace. Norman is perhaps best remembered for the 1921 film The Bull-Dogger, which featured world famous cowboy and rodeo star Bill Pickett.
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
We’re one day away from debuting the cover of the one-shot comic book The The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein), but for now, I want to share a few other special images. In addition to the 24-page story, the comic book will feature a bonus gallery of pin-ups by an incredible line-up of artists.
BUT WAIT!!! THERE’S MORE!!! I’m going to be hosting an art contest to find more pin-ups to include in the comic. And yes, there will also be cash prizes. Look for more about the art contest as well as the crowdfunding campaign for The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein) in the coming weeks.
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
History has not been kind to actor Mantan Moreland, who is mostly remembered for the many roles he played that were steeped in negative tropes and racial stereotypes. But the truth is that Moreland, a former vaudeville performer that broke into the films in the 1930s, was one of the greatest comedic actors of all time. He was also incredibly popular, with both white audiences and Black. With more than 131 roles to his credit, Moreland was arguably one of the biggest Black stars of the 1940s, working as a leading man in race films such as Professor Creeps, Mr. Washington Goes to Town, and Mantan Messes Up. Moreland also regularly appeared in low-budget movies produced by Monogram Pictures. He was paired with white actor Frankie Darro in nine films, where he often received co-star billing (an uncommon status for Black actors in the 1940s). Moreland also appeared in fifteen of Monogram’s Charlie Chan movies, where he co-starred as Chan’s chauffeur, Birmingham Brown. One of his best roles was in the 1941 film King of the Zombies, which also featured Madame Sul-Te-Wan. No other Black actor worked as regularly in both race films and mainstream Hollywood movies as Mantan Moreland. He was a star in both the all-Black race films of the 1940s, as well as a key supporting actor in mainstream (though low-budget) Hollywood movies.
To learn more about actors like Mantan Moreland and companies like Monogram Pictures, check out my new book Black Film: A History of Black Representation and Participation in the Movies will be released by Ten Speed Press on March 24, 2026. You can pre-order the book here.
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
I’m excited to announce that the much-talked-about comic The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein) is done! This is a super special one-shot comic written (and lettered) by yours truly, with incredible art by Marcelo Di Chiara and colors by Pedro Estuco. Here is an unlettered page from the 24-page story…
For those of you that know me, The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein) has been a special project that seems to have been in development for years. I came up with the idea a long time ago, sketched out several rough designs (below), and even penciled a piece that was inked an colored by Aaron Beatty (see the image at the top of this post. I wrote a short story that I used as a proof-of-concept before expanding the story into 24 pages. But there is much more of The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein) coming in the near future. Later this year, after the one-shot is released, there will be regular short stories on my Pateron.
There will be a crowdfunding campaign for The Monster of Blackenstyne (not to be confused with Blackenstein) one-shot starting next month. And on this coming Friday, February 13, 2026, I’ll be posting the cover of the comic.
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
Born in 1866, Mattie Edwards is quite possibly the first Black leading lady in mainstream film. Her career started in vaudeville in the late 1880s, and she began working in film as early as 1913. Edwards was part of a company of Black actors that worked for the Lubin Manufacturing Company, an early production company that made silent short films between 1896 and 1916. Lubin produced notoriously racist films starring white actors in blackface, but between 1913 and 1915 the company produced a series known as “Colored Comedies.” Keep in mind that these shorts were almost as racist as the movies Lubin produced with white actors in blackface. Edwards was Lubin’s leading Black actress, and she starred in at least twenty-four of the company’s shorts. Her co-star was often John “Junk” Edwards, though it is unclear if they were related in some capacity, or just shared the same last name. Mattie Edwards also appeared in movies produced by Essanay Studios (which produced early Charlie Chaplin movies) and the Ebony Film Company, as well as appearing in two Oscar Micheaux productions. Mattie Edwards died in 1944, and has been largely left out of film history.
To learn more about actors like Mattie Edwards and companies like the Lubin Manufacturing Company, check out my new book Black Film: A History of Black Representation and Participation in the Movies will be released by Ten Speed Press on March 24, 2026. You can pre-order the book here.
by David F Walker | May 9, 2026 | News & Updates
Best known as the founder and host of “amateur night” at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Ralph Cooper was a prominent player in the world of race films. Known as “Dark Gable” (after Clark Gable), as well as the “Bronze Bogart” (after Humphrey Bogart), Cooper starred in several films, including BARGAIN WITH BULLETS and GANGSTERS ON THE LOOSE, as well as DARK MANHATTAN and THE DUKE IS TOPS, both of which he also wrote and directed. Cooper was closely associated with the gangster movies he helped produce with brothers Harry and Leo Popkin’s Million Dollar Productions. The Popkins (who were white) and Million Dollar Productions made a series of low budget race movies, all shot in a week or less, including THE DUKE IS TOPS, the first major starring role for Lena Horne.
To learn more about filmmakers and actors like Ralph Cooper, check out my new book Black Film: A History of Black Representation and Participation in the Movies will be released by Ten Speed Press on March 24, 2026. You can pre-order the book here.
