Night of the Living Dead, directed by George A. Romero and released in 1968, stands as a landmark film in the horror genre, not only for its groundbreaking contributions to the zombie subgenre, but also for its progressive casting choice of a black leading man, Duane Jones.
In a cinematic landscape where racial representation was scarce, Jones’ portrayal of Ben shattered stereotypes and marked a significant step forward in the fight for diversity in mainstream cinema.
Duane Jones takes on the role of Ben, a resourceful and assertive character who becomes the de facto leader of the group. In an era when black actors were often relegated to stereotypical roles, Ben's prominence was revolutionary.
His character was not only defined by his race, butby his intelligence, leadership skills and courage in the face of the undead threat.
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