{"id":6637,"date":"2019-01-24T11:07:47","date_gmt":"2019-01-24T16:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.library.duke.edu\/bitstreams\/?p=6637"},"modified":"2019-01-24T11:24:06","modified_gmt":"2019-01-24T16:24:06","slug":"something-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.library.duke.edu\/bitstreams\/2019\/01\/24\/something-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Something Good"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the highlights of the Association of Moving Image Archivists\u2019<\/a> annual conference is \u201cArchival Screening Night,\u201d where members of the AMIA<\/a> community showcase recently-discovered and newly-restored film and video footage. The event usually takes place in a historic movie theater, with skilled projectionists that are able to present the film materials in their original format, on the big screen. At the most recent AMIA conference, in Portland, Oregon, there was a wide array of impressive material presented, but one film in particular left the audience speechless, and is a wonderful example of how archivists can unearth treasures that can alter our perspective on human history, and humanity itself.<\/p>\n

The film, \u201cSomething Good – Negro Kiss\u201d<\/a> was made in 1898. It\u2019s silent, black & white, and is less than a minute long. But it\u2019s groundbreaking, in that it shows the earliest known depiction of an African-American couple kissing, and stands in opposition to the racist, minstrel-show portrayals of black people so common in the early days of American filmmaking. The couple embrace, kiss, and sway back and forth in a playful, spontaneous dance that comes across as genuine and heartwarming. Although it may not have been intentional, the short film seems to be free of negative racial stereotypes. You can watch it here:<\/p>\n