The book Lester Jackson: More Than an American Hero details the complete filmography of Lester Jackson and Paul Mueller's collaborations for White Mule Pictures. They each include running time, and full descriptions of plot, characters, and reviews, when applicable. It also includes many excepts from Lester's first novel, From Black and Communist to Black and Democratic. The following are from More Than an American Hero.
THE FILMS
"Between 1945 and 1956, Lester Jackson starred in seven films. While most of these films are out of print, we have managed to speak to many people who worked on the films - including the director.
In his career, Lester played only one character, "Juice Jones." Conceived by German filmmaker Paul Mueller, "Juice Jones" was to represent the black race of the 1940s and 1950s. While "Juice" was a pimp, hustler, theif, and narcotic salesman, he was most commonly recognized by his distinct dress. Common attire for "Juice" was a dark silk suit and a tie, with a titled brim hat. His walk was distinct - huge strides with one arm swinging back and forth in front of him. He was a magnet for women of all races, which stirred controversy in the first three films.
The "Juice Jones" films were perhaps most popular in Harlem, New York, although they were also distributed in black communities in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Perhaps the films could've enjoyed a wider release if Mueller hadn't produced and distributed them independently. As a result, even most film archive houses do not have them."
COMPLETE FILMOGRAPHY
Juice Jones (1945) 63 min; Drama
Black Like The Night (1947) 72 min; Drama
The Juiciest (1948) 75 min; Comedy
Nothing Orange About The Juice (1950) 126 min; Epic
Don't Squeeze The Juice (1952) 65 min; Action
Juice Jones, Not Sambo (1954) 70 min; Action
Juice of All Trades (also known as Juice of All Traits) (1956) 63 min; Drama
NOVEL
"As a young man growing up dissatisfied in Communist Russia, Lester Jackson had desires to explore the West. Like so many others worldwide, Lester dreamt of coming to America, which to him was a country that exemplified personal, spiritual, and racial freedom.
In 1964, while living in Accra, Ghana with his wife Dee, Lester Jackson began work on his first novel, From Black and Communist to Black and Democratic. Through his writing, Lester immigrated to the United States in the early decades of the 20th century."
The following are select excerpts from the novel:
About Ellis Island...
"As I stood there, cold at the foot of Libery, I read The New Colossus, 'give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free... Send these homeless, tempest-tost to me.'
"Twelve million immigrants had walked those grounds; passed through that portal. I followed the footsteps of my people - the people of the world seeking freedom in this land of equity. But my face was slapped by the looks of clerks, officials - who saw my pigmentation as a threat - and separated me from my Russian countrymen. They branded me "Knee-grow" and my mouth began tasting what would soon come".
