1 6 – 1 9 2 1 ), ▁and ▁most ▁not ably ▁Oscar ▁M iche aux ' s ▁Chicago - based ▁M iche aux ▁Film ▁Corporation , ▁which ▁operated ▁from ▁ 1 9 1 8 – 1 9 4 0 . ▁On ▁his ▁post ers , ▁M iche aux ▁advert ised ▁that ▁his ▁films ▁were ▁script ed ▁and ▁produced ▁exclus ively ▁by ▁African ▁Americans . ▁Ast or ▁Pictures ▁also ▁released ▁several ▁race ▁films ▁and ▁produced ▁Bew are ▁with ▁Louis ▁Jordan . ▁ ▁The ▁race ▁films ▁van ished ▁during ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 5 0 s ▁after ▁African - American ▁participation ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁contributed ▁to ▁the ▁st arring ▁of ▁black ▁actors ▁in ▁lead ▁roles ▁in ▁several ▁Hollywood ▁major ▁produ ctions , ▁which ▁foc uss ed ▁on ▁the ▁serious ▁problems ▁of ▁integration ▁and ▁rac ism , ▁such ▁as ▁P ink y ▁with ▁Eth el ▁W aters ; ▁Home ▁of ▁the ▁Bra ve ▁with ▁James ▁Edwards ; ▁and ▁In tr uder ▁in ▁the ▁D ust , ▁all ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 9 ; ▁and ▁No ▁Way ▁Out ▁( 1 9 5 0 ), ▁which ▁was ▁the ▁debut ▁of ▁the ▁notable ▁actor ▁Sid ney ▁Po it ier . ▁ ▁The ▁last ▁known ▁race ▁film ▁appears ▁to ▁have ▁been ▁an ▁obsc ure ▁advent ure ▁film ▁of ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁called ▁Car ib ▁Gold . ▁ ▁Ven ues ▁▁ ▁In ▁the ▁South , ▁to ▁comp ly ▁with ▁laws ▁on ▁ra cial ▁seg reg ation , ▁race ▁mov ies ▁were ▁screen ed ▁at ▁designated