Visions of color

This chapter examines the interplay between religion, race, and film, noting how film has been used to shape and perpetuate concepts of race which include religious identity. It also shows how race itself operates as a religious belief system which can be accepted (racial theism), questioned (racial agnosticism), or rejected (racial atheism). Examples from the early history of film include “race films” which were targeted to audiences identified by racial labels which functioned to reinforce societally prescribed racial identities. There is also consideration of later films of the Civil Rights era and afterwards, which implicitly or explicitly interrogated racial categories and representation. The chapter concludes with a consideration of global cinema and streaming shows as well as recent films from self-identified Black filmmakers who are advancing the representation of race.