Maria P. Williams

Maria P. Williams was an African American activist, writer, and filmmaker who produced and acted in The Flames of Wrath (sometimes written as Flames of Wrath), a silent crime drama, in 1923.[1] She is considered the first African American woman film producer. In Silent Women: Pioneers of Cinema, Aimee Dixon Anthony states that she might be considered the film's director as well, as the producer and director roles were not as differentiated as they are today.[2] The first African American woman director is generally considered to be Tressie Souders for 1922's A Woman's Error. The Flames of Wrath was produced by Kansas City's Western Film Producing Co., where Williams was the secretary and treasurer. In the film, Williams played the role of "Prosecuting attorney".[1]

In 1916, Williams published the book My Work and Public Sentiment, in which she identified herself as an organizer and speaker with the Good Citizens League and stated that ten percent of the proceeds would go to suppressing crime among African Americans.[3]