{"id":215,"date":"2022-09-29T06:50:05","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T06:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.csusm.edu\/horror-film-history\/?page_id=215"},"modified":"2022-12-06T01:34:53","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T01:34:53","slug":"timeline","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.csusm.edu\/horror-film-history\/timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The purpose of this timeline is to explore the evolution of Black horror by considering films that heavily impacted the way the Black community was perceived by white and non-Black audiences. This timeline looks at white films that have contributed to the stereotypes that have been placed on Black men and women. Most films included are those that Robin R. Means Coleman has defined as \u201cBlack Horror,\u201d films made by Black filmmakers, and \u201cBlack People in Horror,\u201d films made by white filmmakers,<\/a> which include harmful tropes that continued the harmful narrative that Black people are a monolith and not complex human beings capable of individual thoughts and feelings. A portion of the films mentioned are analyzed in Coleman\u2019s text but additional films outside of Coleman\u2019s list uphold old stereotypes and tropes are added as well. Most importantly, through images and summaries of text, this digital tool gives an overview of how Black people are represented in horror shows little change over time.<\/p>\n

Return to Omeka<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1915<\/span><\/div><\/div>
February 8<\/div><\/div>
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Birth of a Nation, 1915<\/a><\/div>
\"Birth<\/a><\/div>

D.W. Griffith’s\u00a0Birth of a Nation\u00a0is well known for its racist depiction and demoralizing of Black people. It also popularized the use of blackface, white actors cosplaying as Black people. The film was a main contributor to the stereotype of the destitute Black woman and the aggressive Black male harassing white…Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1940<\/span><\/div><\/div>
April 4<\/div><\/div>
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Son of Ingagi, 1940<\/a><\/div>
\"Son<\/a><\/div>

Son of Ingagi\u00a0(1940) is known to be the first Black horror film to feature an all-Black cast. The screenplay was written by Spencer Williams Jr. who was a Black creator that held many achievements within the world of film.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1954<\/span><\/div><\/div>
February 12<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
Creature From the Black Lagoon, 1954<\/a><\/div>
\"Creature<\/a><\/div>

Jack Arnold’s\u00a0Creature From the Black Lagoon\u00a0does not feature any Black people as they were ignored in what is considered the “atomic age” of film. The “atomic age” was an era of film released after World War II and consisted of science fiction and monster films. The creature\/monster, in many cases,…Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1968<\/span><\/div><\/div>
October 1<\/div><\/div>
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Night of the Living Dead, 1968<\/a><\/div>
\"Night<\/a><\/div>

While not considered a race film,\u00a0Night of the Living Dead\u00a0(1968) starred Black actor, Duane Jones, and was said to be inspired by the political and racial climate of the 1960s.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1972<\/span><\/div><\/div>
August 25<\/div><\/div>
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Blacula, 1972<\/a><\/div>
\"Blacula,<\/a><\/div>

In the 1970s, blaxploitation films became popular and\u00a0Blacula\u00a0(1972) was the first the first blaxploitation horror film and actor William Marshall became the first Black vampire.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1980<\/span><\/div><\/div>
May 23<\/div><\/div>
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The Shining, 1980<\/a><\/div>
\"The<\/a><\/div>

The trope of the “Magical” and “Sacrificial Negro” became popular in horror films that were predominantly white. It was seen as another form of servitude in which the Black characters role was used as a way to further the storyline rather than any true substance. An example of this is\u00a0The…Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1985<\/span><\/div><\/div>
March 22<\/div><\/div>
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Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, 1985<\/a><\/div>
\"Friday<\/a><\/div>

During the 1980s Black people were more present in horror films but were being sorely\u00a0 misrepresented. During this era the harmful trope of the Black character being the first to die was born. An example of this is\u00a0Friday the 13th: A New Beginning,\u00a01985.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1992<\/span><\/div><\/div>
October 16<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
Candyman, 1992<\/a><\/div>
\"Candyman,<\/a><\/div>

In the 1990s, there was a resurgence of film that was inspired by the ideas of Malcolm X and the Black Power Movement.\u00a0Candyman,\u00a01992 was one of those films as we learn about the Black projects of Cabrini Green, its residents, and the lore behind Candyman. This noire styled film touched…Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

1995<\/span><\/div><\/div>
May 24<\/div><\/div>
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Tales From the Hood, 1995<\/a><\/div>
\"Tales<\/a><\/div>

Tales From the Hood\u00a0(1995) revived the Blaxploitation horror era of film. Just like blaxploitation horror from the 1970s, the film confronts police brutality and the violent history shared with white people because of the legacy of slavery. The film also critiques issues present in the Black community such as domestic…Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

2000<\/span><\/div><\/div>
July 7<\/div><\/div>
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Scary Movie, 2000<\/a><\/div>
\"Scary<\/a><\/div>

Scary Movie\u00a0(2000) is an example of Black people in horror and blaxploitation while also having a Black director, Keenan Ivory Wayans. The film is a parody of other horror films making it a horror comedy. The Black characters are heavily stereotyped and falls victim to “the Black person dies first”…Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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