Forgotten African-American musical achievements are being rediscovered. Summer of Soul, "Harlem's answer to Woodstock", has just been released as a feature film. Now, thanks to the work of Lisa Williamson of Yale, we now know that before Show Boat, even before Shuffle Along, there was a book musical which presented African-Americans as members of civil society, not as caricatures. The Red Moon even featured a story line involving native Americans as well as a mixed-race character. Sadly, it would almost certainly not be capable of revival in its 1908 form since, according to Lisa Williamson, it does contain stereotypes of naming and language which would not be acceptable today.
Perhaps more remarkable than the firsts represented by The Red Moon and The Shoo-Fly Regiment which preceded it was the fact that the writers, Bob Cole and the Johnson brothers, were able to negotiate contracts on advantageous terms with producers and music publishers. One wonders what heights the partnership would have reached if Cole had not died in 1911 and the US had not entered the Great War.
Thanks to the Musical Assumptions blog which contains a link to an illustrated talk on the writers by Lisa Williamson.
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