Within Our Gates

Within Our Gates is a 1919 silent film about an African-American who goes North and helps a minister in the Deep South raise money to keep a school for poor Black children open. Directed by novelist Oscar Micheaux, it is the oldest known surviving film made by an African-American director. The film, which was written and directed by Micheaux, stars Evelyn Preer, Flo Clements, James D. Ruffin, Jack Chenault, William Smith and Charles D. Lucas.

The plot

The film opens with Sylvia Landry (Evelyn Preer), a young African American woman, visiting her cousin Alma in the North, while she waits for Conrad to return and marry her. Alma, however, is also in love with Corbin, and prefers to see Sandra married off to her brother-in-law Larry, a gambler and criminal. She hides a letter sent by Conrad, announcing his arrival, and arranges for Sylvia to be caught in a compromising position by Conrad when he finally returns. Conrad storms off and leaves for Brazil, while Larry kills a man during a game of poker. With nothing to keep her up North, Sylvia returns to the South.

Related Topics:
Evelyn Preer - Brazil - Poker

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There she meets a minister, who runs a school for Black children. People from all over turn to the minister to educate their children and give them a chance for the future, but the school is already overcrowded, and he cannot continue on $1.49 he receives from the local government to educate each child. With the school faced with closure, Sylvia volunteers to return to the North to raise $5,000.

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At first, the trip is a failure. She cannot raise the money, and her purse is stolen, though a local man, Dr. Vivian, manages to get it back for her. Then Sylvia is involved in an autombile accident when she tries to save a young child playing in the street from being hit by a large car. The car belongs to a wealthy philanthropist, Mrs. Elena Warwick, who hears of Sylvia's mission and decides to give her the money. Mrs. Warwick's friend, Mrs. Stratton, a southerner, attempts to discourage her, but this only enfuriates Mrs. Warwick, who increases her donation to $50,000. The school is saved, and Sylvia can return home.

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Meanwhile, Dr. Vivian has fallen in love with Sylvia. He goes to Alma, who tells him about Sylvia's past. She was raised by a poor Black family, the Landry's, which managed to provide her with an education. However, Mr. Landry is wrongfully accused of the murder of an unpopular but wealthy landlord, Mr. Gridlestone, and the family is hunted down and lynched. Sylvia escapes, but she is chased by Mr. Gridlestone's son, who tries to rape her, only to notice a scar on her breast. He realizes that Sylvia is actually his daughter through his marriage to a local Black woman, and that he has paid for her education.

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