GERTIE BROWN & SAINT SUTTLE βSomething Good-Negro Kiss,β the newly discovered William Selig silent film from 1898 is believed to be the earliest cinematic depiction of African-American affection. Thanks to scholars at the University of Chicago and the University of Southern California, the footage is prompting a rethinking of early film history. The performance by cakewalk partnersΒ Saint Suttle and Gertie Brown is a reinterpretation of Thomas Edisonβs βThe Kiss,β featuring May Irwin and John Rice.Β The film was announced December 12, 2018 as a new addition to the Library of Congressβ National Film Registryβone of 25 selected for their enduring importance to American culture. The 29-second clip is free of stereotypes and racist caricatures, a stark contrast from the majority of black performances at the turn of the century.
