Oscar Micheaux and the American West (9/30-10/3/09)
This panel will explore Micheaux's relationship with South Dakota and the American West. The Western Literature Association Conference will be holding its annual meeting in Spearfish, South Dakota, this year (September 30-October 3, 2009). This is the first time since 1977 that the conference has been in South Dakota and represents an opportune time to re-examine Oscar Micheaux's work in the context of his western experiences. The years Micheaux spent homesteading in South Dakota had a continuing influence on his writing and filmmaking throughout his career. Individual papers might focus on Micheaux's books, his films, or a combination of the two.