Carlton Moss
Encyclopedia
Carlton Moss was an African American screenwriter and film director in the racial segregation
era. His only major film as a director was the short documentary Frederick Douglass: The House on Cedar Hill.
Moss was raised in both North Carolina
and Newark. He attended Morgan State University
where he formed an acting troupe. Later he wrote The Negro Soldier
for Frank Capra
, a propaganda film encouraging racial harmony among World War II
soldiers and specifically encouraging African-American men to enlist. After this film he became an important figure in independent cinema of African American
s He would have the chance to work with Elia Kazan
on Pinky
, but left the project as he felt it demeaning to blacks. He later taught at Fisk University
and did educational films about African American history.
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
era. His only major film as a director was the short documentary Frederick Douglass: The House on Cedar Hill.
Moss was raised in both North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and Newark. He attended Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
where he formed an acting troupe. Later he wrote The Negro Soldier
The Negro Soldier
The United States Army's First Motion Picture Unit created the documentary The Negro Soldier in 1944 during World War II. The film was produced by Frank Capra as a follow up to his successful film series Why We Fight. The army used this film as a means of propaganda to convince African Americans...
for Frank Capra
Frank Capra
Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was six, and eventually became a creative force behind major award-winning films during the 1930s and 1940s...
, a propaganda film encouraging racial harmony among World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
soldiers and specifically encouraging African-American men to enlist. After this film he became an important figure in independent cinema of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s He would have the chance to work with Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan was an American director and actor, described by the New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history". Born in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, to Greek parents originally from Kayseri in Anatolia, the family emigrated...
on Pinky
Pinky (1949 film)
Pinky is a 1949 American drama film adapted from the Cid Ricketts Sumner novel by Philip Dunne and Dudley Nichols and was directed by Elia Kazan. John Ford was originally hired to direct the film, but was replaced after one week because producer Darryl F. Zanuck was unhappy with the dailies...
, but left the project as he felt it demeaning to blacks. He later taught at Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
and did educational films about African American history.