Considered the definitive film record of everyday Black life at the beginning of the Great Migration, these films are a poignant and inspiring tribute to Black life, culture, and community. Rev. Solomon Sir Jones traveled throughout the South, Midwest, East Coast, and Colorado; as well as to France, England,
Palestine, Switzerland, Italy, Northern Africa, and Germany. And wherever he went, during the years 1924-28, he took his trusty movie camera.
Solomon Sir Jones Films, 1924-1928 - The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University has digitized 29 of Jones' silent black and white films and made them freely available online. Click on the link, and when the new page opens, scroll down the page to find all the films. Note: The description says that the films are about African-American communities in Oklahoma, but, while there is a lot of Oklahoma, there's also much more, including his international travels.
Films of Reverend Solomon Sir Jones - This 21-minute film, prepared by the Detroit Institute of Arts, offers a selection of scenes from Jones' films set to music.
Living Black History on Film: The Remarkable Movies of Solomon Sir Jones - Shadow and Act, the Black media and entertainment website, discusses the significance of Rev. Solomon Sir Jones' films in Black history and in the history of film generally.
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