Birth of a Nation Paper

  The Birth of a Nation is a historically important film made in  1915, that covers the era of reconstruction flowing into the films present day. While the film is controversial, and in this writer's eyes downright disgusting, it is historically important for a number of reasons. Many of which will be listed in this paper. To note, being of African American heritage and having been partially raised by the daughter of black-Indian sharecropper born in 1929, my views on the subject matter, and the film are inherently biased. Despite my fervent hate of this film, and the makers of it, and the experience of watching it, there are some important notes that can be taken away. 

One of the most impactful things the film portrays is a country still grappling with the legacy of the Civil War. The idea of brother against brother or Kin against Kin, that the Civil War did touch upon almost every aspect of American life, and every American life. As shown by the effect it has on both families, and the ties that bind them. Furthermore the portrayal of the assination of Lincoln shows the "nuanced" fallout of such an event on a recently fused together nation. A point that is probably the best thing I could say about this film or the way it portrays America.

One particular aspect or portrayal that  infuriated me to an unhealthy extent is the character of Silas Lynch and his followers. Who are seen stuffing ballot boxes and abusing democracy on the way to their "8 years in power." The title of the book by Ta-Nehisis Coates "We were eight years in Power'' derives its names from a speech given by South Carolina rep Thomas Miller, a black politician who came to power during the time represented in the film. The point of the book and the speech is to highlight the backlash of white community after times of black empowerment. This film is a perfect example of that as the film itself is a backlash to the brief time in power. Going so far as showing of black legislators eating fried chicken and acting intoxicated on the job- exporting only as the worst of stereotypes.

The Same can be said of the use of blackface. I do not have the time or energy to explain why this is offensive, nor should I in 2021. What I will say is that black face is and was America's first form of mass entertainment. Minstrel shows were a major part of creating a connected American "culture" of shared sing-along songs, and commonly known jokes. It's just that most of those jokes and songs involved invoking stereotypes of stupidity and servitude.    

Finally, and the one I find to be most damning of this movie is the creation/ mass spreading of the myth of the black man as the "great super predator" of white women. This can be seen through the character of Gus and the death of Flora. Many, many, many black men were beaten, killed, and yes lynched for even looking at a white woman in a way that could be construed as sexually. Therefore this scene simply okays the practice of mob lynching's.  The "Greenwood Massacre '' occurred 20 miles from my grandmother's home when she was but a 1 year old girl. The riot occurred over a still disputed event in which a young black man made a white woman scream, and was subsequently chased. 6 years after this film was released, under the guise of looking for "the boy that had made the girl scream," a large mob of white Oklahomans marched into "Greenwood" the most affluent black community in America. What took place would be called a pogrom in Europe, where over 800 black people were injured, and hundreds were killed. In essence this film normalized many brutal practices and stereotypes that we as a black community are fighting to this day. So while as an American history nerd, I can say, without a doubt it has historical value to the great story of our nation. I can also say as a person of African American-Creek Indian ancestry, it has no value to me. The lessons "to be learned or reminded of" in this film are and have been thrown in my face throughout my life. In no small part thanks to the film itself regularizing the kind of racism, and hate that I have come to know as a big part of America.