An excellent critique of Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" - probably one of the most balanced I have read. As a movie buff, a theatre arts educator and an African-American, I appreciate that the article acknowledged the filmmaker's art and his contributions to the industry. However, I also applaud the fact that the article does not use that as a reason to excuse the harmful, long-lasting blatant racism of the film. I was particularly interested in the examination of Griffith's process as a thinker versus those of Thomas Dixon and even President Woodrow Wilson. I find it more than a little ironic that February, Black History Month, should be the anniversary month for the release of this film. I wish it were possible next month to show the film in selected venues under the right circumstances so that we could see how far we have come as a country when it comes to racism and also (despite many achievements and recent events) how far we still have to go.
Sandra Camphor
