During the beginning of the 19th Century African-American actors or filmmakers were not allowed to make movies. During this time, African-American actors were not even allowed to act in the movies to play the role of an African-Americans. Actors would paint themselves black to look like an African-Americans instead of just letting them be in their movies. 

When Oscar was 16 years old, he worked as a railroad attendant. Here he spoke to many successful individuals that let him know for him to make it in America he needed to own land of his own.  

Oscar used all of his life's savings to use and buy land of his own. When he tried to buy the land they did not let him buy any because he was an African-American.  

This made Oscar very upset. He decided to write his own book about what happened to him. He named his book "The Homesteader".

It became such a popular book that someone in Hollywood wanted to make a movie out of it. Oscar really liked the idea. He thought it would be great to make his book into a movie.