Throughout the picture, Griffith portrays African American men as animalistic beasts possessed by a desire to have relations with white women. The film displays what happens to an African American for trying to lust after a white woman in the early 1900’s. Since interracial relationships were illegal during this time period, the man is castrated and lynched when he attempts to break this law. White actors, in blackface, played the main characters, which sparked debate. However, Griffith would have had a hard time finding willing African Americans to play the parts due to the film’s portrayal of racial stereotypes. Birth of a Nation, “initiated a serious discussion in the black community over white control of blacks imagery in film” (Lecture Notes February 22,
Throughout the picture, Griffith portrays African American men as animalistic beasts possessed by a desire to have relations with white women. The film displays what happens to an African American for trying to lust after a white woman in the early 1900’s. Since interracial relationships were illegal during this time period, the man is castrated and lynched when he attempts to break this law. White actors, in blackface, played the main characters, which sparked debate. However, Griffith would have had a hard time finding willing African Americans to play the parts due to the film’s portrayal of racial stereotypes. Birth of a Nation, “initiated a serious discussion in the black community over white control of blacks imagery in film” (Lecture Notes February 22,