D.W. Griffith, Birth of a Nation
Birth of a Nation is based on the novel and screenplay "The Clansmen" by Thomas Dixon Jr. The film portrays the white confederates as the heroes and the "marauding" black men as the villains. After their reformation in the 1920s, the KKK started using "Birth of a Nation" as a recruiting tool. The film was widely criticized for its portrayal of American Americans, shown the black men as rampaging, unintelligent and sexually aggressive towards american white woman.
In response to "Birth of a Nation" Africa American born director Oscar Micheaux made "Within our gates". The film portrayed a different America, showing what life was like for colour minorities under white supremacy.
D.W Griffith followed the film up with "Intolerance", a movie that tried to give off a much more liberal vibe.
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