This is Vol. 2 of The Interviews, a sequel to Every Step a Struggle. While Vol. 1 recalled the performers who fought to give black artists a voice and a presence, this new ground-breaking book focuses on the personalities who replaced the pioneers and refused to abide by Jim Crow traditions. Presented against a detailed background of the revolutionary post-World War II era up to the mid-1970s, the individual views of Mae Mercer, Brock Peters, Jim Brown, Ivan Dixon, James Whitmore, William Marshall and Ruby Dee in heretofore unpublished conversations from the past reveal just how tumultuous and extraordinary the technological, political, and social changes were for the artists and the film industry. Using extensive documentation, hundreds of films, and fascinating private recollections, Dr. Manchel puts a human face both on popular culture and race relations. "A worthy successor to Every Step a Struggle, Exits and Entrances combines superb historical research and astute analytical insights with the inimitable voices of the next generation of African-American artists. This book ensures that the contributions to American cinema of these determined and courageous rebels will never be forgotten. The film studies community owes a debt of gratitude to Manchel for this, the finest achieve- ment of his illustrious career. Exits and Entrances should be required reading for everyone interested in the politics of race in America, film studies, and African-American studies. It belongs in every research library. Denise Youngblood, University of Vermont, author of Cinematic Cold War. "Using the method of oral history and the mature thinking of a senior scholar, Exits and Entrances enhances our understanding of the difficult slog to create a truthful, "round" image of African-Americans in U.S. commercial films. This collection is a gold mine of information for future research and should be in all libraries which value film research." Peter C. Rollins, Emeritus EIC, Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal

This book pays tribute to the sacrifices and achievements of seven individuals who made difficult and controversial choices to insure that black Americans shared in the evolution of the nation's cultural heritage. Transcriptions and analyses of never-before published uncensored conversations with Lorenzo Tucker, Lillian Gish, King Vidor, Clarence Muse, Woody Strode, Charles Gordone, and Frederick Douglass O'Neal reveal many of the reasons and rationalizations behind a racist screen imagery in the first three-quarters of the twentieth century. This primary source, replete with pictures, documentation, and extensive annotations, recounts through the words of important participants what happened to many film pioneers when a new generation of African-Americans rebelled against the nation's stereotyped film imagery. "A unique historical resource, this book is a fitting tribute to these artists, reminding us of their courage, integrity, and perseverance to succeed against great odds. The thorough, meticulous annotations make it an indispensable addition to collections in film studies and African American studies." -Denise Youngblood, Professor of History, University of Vermont, author of Russian War Films. "The author has taken a unique approach and may have even created a new genre of writing: the interview embellished with scholarly commentary. It is a fascinating experiment. . . This book belongs in every research library and in all public libraries from mid-size to large cities. It fills in lacunae between existing studies." -Peter C. Rollins, Editor-in-Chief of Film & History.

This is Vol. 2 of The Interviews, a sequel to Every Step a Struggle. While Vol. 1 recalled the performers who fought to give black artists a voice and a presence in film and on stage, this new ground-breaking book focuses on the personalities who replaced the pioneers and refused to abide by Jim Crow traditions. Presented against a detailed background of the revolutionary post-World War II era up to the mid-1970s, the individual views of Mae Mercer, Brock Peters, Jim Brown, Ivan Dixon, James Whitmore, William Marshall and Ruby Dee in heretofore unpublished conversations from the past reveal just how tumultuous and extraordinary the technological, political, and social changes were for the artists and the film industry. Using extensive documentation, hundreds of films, and fascinating private recollections, Dr. Manchel puts a human face both on popular culture and race relations. "A worthy successor to Every Step a Struggle, Exits and Entrances combines superb historical research and astute analytical insights with the inimitable voices of the next generation of African-American artists. This book ensures that the contributions to American cinema of these determined and courageous rebels will never be forgotten. The film studies community owes a debt of gratitude to Manchel for this, the finest achieve- ment of his illustrious career. Exits and Entrances should be required reading for everyone interested in the politics of race in America, film studies, and African-American studies. It belongs in every research library. Denise Youngblood, University of Vermont, author of Cinematic Cold War. "Using the method of oral history and the mature thinking of a senior scholar, Exits and Entrances enhances our understanding of the difficult slog to create a truthful, "round" image of African-Americans in U.S. commercial films. This collection is a gold mine of information for future research and should be in all libraries which value film research." Peter C. Rollins, Emeritus EIC, Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal

This book pays tribute to the sacrifices and achievements of seven individuals who made difficult and controversial choices to insure that black Americans shared in the evolution of the nation's cultural heritage. Transcriptions and analyses of never-before published uncensored conversations with Lorenzo Tucker, Lillian Gish, King Vidor, Clarence Muse, Woody Strode, Charles Gordone, and Frederick Douglass O'Neal reveal many of the reasons and rationalizations behind a racist screen imagery in the first three-quarters of the twentieth century. This primary source, replete with pictures, documentation, and extensive annotations, recounts through the words of important participants what happened to many film pioneers when a new generation of African-Americans rebelled against the nation's stereotyped film imagery. "A unique historical resource, this book is a fitting tribute to these artists, reminding us of their courage, integrity, and perseverance to succeed against great odds. The thorough, meticulous annotations make it an indispensable addition to collections in film studies and African American studies." -Denise Youngblood, Professor of History, University of Vermont. "The author has taken a unique approach and may have even created a new genre of writing: the interview embellished with scholarly commentary. It is a fascinating experiment. . . This book belongs in every research library and in all public libraries from mid-size to large cities. It fills in lacunae between existing studies." -Peter C. Rollins, Editor-in-Chief of Film & History.