George and Noble Johnson founded the Lincoln Motion Picture Company, the first Black-owned film production company in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, the company was created to produce films that portrayed African Americans in a dignified and realistic light, countering the harmful stereotypes prevalent in mainstream cinema.
Their debut film, “The Realization of a Negro’s Ambition” (1916), told the story of a young Black man’s journey to success—an empowering narrative rarely seen at the time.
Lincoln paved the way for future generations of Black filmmakers and actors by proving that African American stories deserved to be told by African Americans.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
