Within Our Gates by Oscar Micheaux

Within Our Gates (1919) was written, produced and directed by Oscar Micheaux. It was a film created as a protest against as well as, a response to the film by D.W. Griffith entitled, The Birth of a Nation. It is also the earliest surviving film directed by Micheaux.

The theme of using religion to keep African-Americans from uplifting their race and obtaining rights such as an education and the ability to vote was a very interesting and reoccurring theme within the film. One great example of this is when the Reverend Ned preaches to an all African-American congregation about how African-Americans would be the first to go to Heaven because the whites were too wrapped up in their material possessions and education which God disliked. But, since the African-American congregation did not have such material possessions or an education they should not have any worries about going to Heaven. A few scenes later the same Reverend is seen talking to two white men saying that he believed what he was preaching, when in all actuality he thought that everyone should have equal rights.

During another scene in which Mrs. Warwick, the kindly old lady who helped Sylvia was discussing her plan of funding the school with Mrs. Stratton the topic of using religion to oppress others was brought up. Mrs. Stratton was deeply racist and gave Mrs. Warwick the advice of not giving the school any money but instead giving a lesser amount to a known African-American reverend who would keep the African-Americans in their place. Although Mrs. Warwick told her friend she disagreed with her ideas and was going to fund the school but instead give them even more money than asked for!

The theme of religion was greatly intertwined with the themes of education and literacy throughout the film. I appreciated the subtle and blatant ways in which Micheaux discussed and portrayed these themes because they were crucial points of the film.