Black Camera

Abstract:

Carlton Moss (1909–1997) was a prolific African American scriptwriter, actor, and educator. He is best known for his work in writing and acting in the 1944 army documentary The Negro Soldier, a United States War Department production. Many historians have analyzed The Negro Soldier, a landmark in African American film history and one of the earliest public statements the War Department produced promoting racial inclusivity. Given the extensive coverage The Negro Soldier has received, it is surprising scholars rarely mention Moss or how he shaped the film. In fact, The Negro Soldier is very much a product of Moss’s lifetime commitment to utilize popular culture to “ameliorate racial tensions” by contributing to “education, recognizing the humanity of these people [minorities].” Moss’s upbringing, his time with the Morgan Players, and his relationship with professor Randolph Edmonds taught him how to use popular culture as a tool to fight for political and economic equality. Moss utilized what he learned throughout his radio, theater, and early film career, leaving his indelible footprint on The Negro Soldier. Moreover, Moss’s career demonstrates that African Americans effectively utilized non-commercial patronage to work free of stereotypes that permeated commercial industries.