Museum of African American Cinema, Inc. (MoAAC): Rare Black Films Gallery

Films In Our Archives Include:

Please JOIN our mailing list to receive news, updates, and advance notices of our Rare Black Films DVD Fairs.

Please Note: We value your privacy and do NOT share your email address with any 3rd parties! MoAAC uses a 'confirmation system' so YOU MUST CONFIRM your sign-up before you're added to our newsletter list. You will receive a "Confirm Your Subscription" email from MoAAC, please click the link in that email to start receiving our newsletter. Also... YOU can use this same button to unsubscribe at any time. Thanks again for your support.

About Us: Who We Are

The Museum of African American Cinema (MoAAC) is a registered NYS and IRS 501c(3) nonprofit organization based in central Harlem and is the vision of Dr. Ernest N. Steele, Ph.D and Gregory Javan Mills, MA. Founded in 2001, the Museum is an independent community-based institution that provides arts and cultural services and programs to the greater Harlem community and beyond. We are partially funded by: NYS Council of the Arts, local elected officials, private foundations, and private fundraising events.

MoAAC is incorporated in the State of New York and the museum:

Charted by New York State Board of Regents as a non-profit educational & cultural organization in 2001.
501 c (3) NY State Charity Status and
501 c (3) IRS Tax exemption received in 2002.
Official NYS museum designation Charter provision in 2005

In 2008, MoAAC was the proud recipient of the:
Outstanding Community Service Award
from PBS Channel 13 WNET, New York

filmstrip Our Mission
The Museum's purpose is to preserve... collect... educate... and promote the legacy of historical Black Cinema. And our goals are:

To collect, preserve, and interpret objects related to the African American presence in cinema, theatre and television and, to research, document and disseminate information on African American cinema;

To undertake and encourage curation and research in the history, meaning and aesthetics of African American cinema, i.e., films and video;

To assembly, preserve, interpret and to actively exhibit to the public items from it's current 35,000 item collection(s);

To promote moving image archival activities, including the preservation, cataloging, documentation and access, through such means as meetings, workshops, publications, and public screenings;

To expand the museum's collection of Black-orientated cinema and historical artifacts, such as rare movie posters and other theatrical items relating to the history of African American cinema;

To encourage public awareness and interest in the preservation of such cinema as an important educational, historical, and cultural resource and;

To guide and support public appreciation and public exhibitions of such cinema.

Oscar Micheaux

The Dean of Black Cinema

Oscar Micheaux
is our hero! and his historical groundbreaking efforts in filmmaking in early racist Hollywood served as both the model and inspiration for our creating the Museum of African American Cinema. Micheaux is one of earliest and most successful Black filmmakers, who is known as "the Dean" of Black cinema who wrote, directed, and produced over 30 black films from 1919 to 1940.
Take a trip back in time and view vintage and rare African American movies, old films, and movie posters at the Museum of African American Cinema in New York, NY.

Whether you're a movie buff or a student of the role played by African Americans throughout American media history, you'll be treated to an experience that is as informative as it is entertaining. From the pioneering work of such legends as Bessie Smith -- who could only be hired to work in all Black cast films, known as race movies -- to the major strides of accomplishments made by Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and others today -- who can raise and command millions of dollars for their film ventures -- you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about African American films from beginning to present. And NO DOUBT, you'll be surprised and enlightened!

Please visit our tribute to African American Cinema in New York City, USA, -- showcased in the heartbeat of Harlem on 125th Street -- to celebrate the rich legacy, to screen rare Black movies and old Black films from back in the day, or tour our special nostalgic exhibits of rare Black movie memorabilia you didn't know existed.

"There is always somethin' going on!"

This Rare Black Film Gallery is from the private collection of and presented by The Museum of African American Cinema

Films In Our Archives Include:

This Rare Black Film Gallery is from the private collection of and presented by
The Museum of African American Cinema