Acts of Love


Acts of Love is both a fascinating and moving examination of early Black cinema and performance history. Allyson Nadia Field brings remarkable life and context to the rediscovered film Something Good—Negro Kiss (1898), revealing not only its historical importance but also its emotional power.

Blending film history, cultural analysis, and detective work, the book reshapes the understanding of American cinema. This book is highly recommended to film historians, students of African American history, and anyone interested in the hidden stories of early Hollywood and popular entertainment.


This book is available for purchase here.