I guess the best thing you could say about The Negro Soldier today is that it provided work for black players which did not involve stereotyping. This film under the auspices of the Office Of War Information is directed at our black citizens to tell them why it is in their best interests to join in the fight against Hitler.
The most obvious argument of course is Nazi racial theories which don't have much appeal to those outside who the Nazis viewed as inferior races. Seems logical to me.
But sad to say racism was alive and well in the USA and in a quarter or so of the country vigorously in place legally with formal segregation.
This film managed to give an overview of black history by barely mentioning slavery. What else could they do. The OWI had to get its funding from Congress where several powerful senior Representatives and Senators from the South controlled things. So we heard everything from Crispus Attucks to Joe Louis. No mention however of Nat Turner or Jack Johnson.
I think that most people and not just blacks would find this film patronizing and offensive today. But it was a product of the times.
The most obvious argument of course is Nazi racial theories which don't have much appeal to those outside who the Nazis viewed as inferior races. Seems logical to me.
But sad to say racism was alive and well in the USA and in a quarter or so of the country vigorously in place legally with formal segregation.
This film managed to give an overview of black history by barely mentioning slavery. What else could they do. The OWI had to get its funding from Congress where several powerful senior Representatives and Senators from the South controlled things. So we heard everything from Crispus Attucks to Joe Louis. No mention however of Nat Turner or Jack Johnson.
I think that most people and not just blacks would find this film patronizing and offensive today. But it was a product of the times.