D. W. Griffith's Birth Of A Nation

D. W Griffith’s Birth of a Nation was considered both a cinematic masterpiece as well as the flame that burned and altered race relations in the early 20th century. The movie explored themes such as race, power, Southern honor, and visions of the ideal South. Based on Dixon’s novel “The Clansman,” Birth of a Nation tells the story of the “slave-holding Camerons of South Carolina and the abolitionist Stonemans from the North” (Boyd. 2-2-17) After the start of the Civil War, the two families remained friends despite being on opposing sides. After the assassination of President Lincoln, Senator Stoneman is put in command. With Stoneman in control, African Americans were allowed to gain power. With this newly gained power, the black soldiers soon

The release of the movie started “a serious discussion in the black community over white control of African American imagery in film” (Boyd. 2-7-17) Because of this, many of the early black independent film companies were created. Film companies such as the Foster Photoplay Company, the Fredrick Douglass Corporation, the Lincoln Motion Picture Company and others began releasing films that focused on reviving the black image. “Black manhood” and “middle-class values” were important themes that African American directors focused on during this crucial period. Casting roles for these films was a very important part to the process of creating films that promoted the African-American community and culture. Although there were many black directors creating these films, Oscar Micheaux would become one of the most famous black film directors of the time. Oscar Micheaux would only cast fair skin actors and actresses based on their similarities to “white Hollywood personalities” (Boyd. 2-9-17) Although Micheaux was later criticized for this, his focus on black middle-class values was more important than the evident colorism in his films. Through Micheaux’s films and the films of other prominent black directors, African Americans made strides to repair the black image in film. Even though these were steps in the right direction, blacks were still being haunted by the effects that

The book on which the movie was based was dedicated to the author’s uncle “Colonel Leroy McAfee, Grand Titan of the Invisible Empire of the Ku Klux Klan” (Carter. pg 348) The homage shown throughout the book was ultimately transferred into the plot of the movie. Grieving the loss of his sister, Ben Cameron is inspired to “invent what becomes the costume of the Ku Klux Klan” (Wallace pg. 89). Appointing himself as the leader of the newly founded Klansmen, Cameron alongside his allies saves the citizens and reclaims the white South back from its black oppressors. With this belief that the KKK was “a part of an ‘Aryan’ tradition” being used at a such a crucial point in the film, it made white racists nostalgic about the good old days (Carter. pg 355). Racist whites believed that civilization needed saving, and the South needed to be “redeemed from shame” (Carter. pg 349) Seeing their people defend their “Aryan birthright” initiated the need for order and for the South to return to its ideal state (Carter. pg 356). This fictional activism would eventually become a reality and alter race relations in the South. After the release of the movie, thousands of whites renewed their KKK memberships. With this new influx in membership, the Ku Klux Klan began to terrorize people and instill fears among African Americans across the South. The KKK craved to have a society based upon white supremacy and