A white woman and her Black maid share a moment of female solidarity in a train compartment by switching seats. When a gentleman, hoping for an amorous encounter, makes a move on the lady, the train enters a tunnel. As a result, the white man accidentally kisses the Black maid instead of his intended target, the white woman. The two women laugh together, delighted that they have successfully tricked him.

With Bertha Regustus

Bertha Regustus was one of the first African-American women to appear in silent films. She was a slapstick comedienne, playing the role of the heroine Mandy Brown. Unfortunately, nothing is known about her life except that she appeared in three films that gained more critical attention. Regustus performs as a woman possessing power – she subverts the low social status of her role by dominating white spaces and acquiring agency.

Films with Bertha Regustus
Laughing Gas 1907 | The Servant Girl Problem 1905