Within Our Gates

(1920)

79 minutes

Black Cast / Drama / Silent

Directed by Oscar Micheaux

Cast: Evelyn Preer, Flo Clements, James D. Ruffin, Jack Chenault, William Smith and Charles D. Lucas

Reaction to D.W. Griffith's " The Birth of a Nation "

Sylvia Landry is a Southern black woman who visits her cousin Alma in the north, while she is awaiting the arrival of her fiancé, Conrad. Problems arise for Sylvia when Alma tricks her into an unflattering situation, leading Conrad to leave her. Broken hearted she returns home where she helps a reverend run a school for young black kids. She discovers the reverend has a hard time denying poor students, but needs to raise $5,000 in order to provide the $1.49 per child per year the state provides or else the school will close down. She returns north to help raise money, but has no luck. She encounters friendly Dr. V. Vivian who recovers her stolen purse. She ends up saving a child from being hit by a car and her luck changes when the owner of the car is a philanthropist.