Written and Directed by Oscar Micheaux
Based on the novel by Thomas Sigismund Stribling
Starring Carmen Newsome
USA, 1939
Probably the best sound production Oscar Micheaux undertook, BIRTHRIGHT is the story of a Black Harvard graduate who returns to his home in the south hoping to open a school of his own only to be blocked at every turn by racism.
Most of the plot is taken up by stuff involving the college graduate’s war veteran buddy who becomes his romantic rival in the pursuit of affection from the same woman.
But, as usual, the plot’s not that important, as the continual barrage of racism comes to the forefront, showing how all of southern society, from the top down, is stacked against Blacks by unscrupulous, greedy and hate-filled whites.
Like most of Micheaux’s films, this one only exists in an incomplete format. In this case, the film is missing its first two reels, so opening title cards fill us in on the action thus far. Luckily the third reel begins with our hero’s homecoming, so it doesn’t seem like we’ve missed much.
This Micheaux film is easier to watch than some of his others because it is more technically proficient – there isn’t as much figurative noise in the way of trying to get a clear signal. It doesn’t go any easier on Micheaux’s usual no-nonsense portrayal of racial injustice, however.
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