Released in 1915, 50 years after the end of the American Civil War, "Birth of a Nation" was released as a major work of the 7th Art. D.W. Griffith, director of the film, was even considered by some to be the "father" of cinema. However the day of its release on February 8th, 1915, the film caused a real scandal. The film ultimately divided the country in two with the Southerners and the Northerners. For good reason, the film highlights the masked knights of the Ku Klux Klan. To avoid even making black actors play (notably because of Jim Crow laws) the director painted his white actors to embody the desired role.
From these facts, the film was then banned in several cities and riots of people of color exploded in the country. A young black man was even killed by a white spectator.
In addition, this film would have enabled the Klan to come back in force after being blamed by many Americans. "Birth of a Nation" is a powerful work through its cinematographic techniques and also through its racial violence, a radical film advocating white supremacy. The ideology of this cinematic horror would no longer be relevant today, we may think. No, this film is still relevant since America has decided to elect as president, Donald TRUMP ... Indeed D. Trump was openly supported by the Ku Klux Klan and in particular by David Duke (former leader) KKK).
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