One Disturbing Movie. What was D.W. Griffith Thinking?

Rating: Null/10 (3 January 2006)

I'll give it a '6' for directing and cinematography.
I recently saw "Birth of a Nation" on TCM's May programs honoring African-American actors. I use to wonder what D.W. Griffith was thinking? He and writer, Thomas F. Dixon Jr., must have had some major problems with prejudice. But we need to remember what Reconstruction in the south was like to understand the writing of the book and the making of the movie. It was a grim, harsh time for the people who lived it. A juicy topic for authors and directors.
It's hard to believe that a lovely young woman like Lillian Gish made her career with a movie like this one. She either did it for the part or, maybe, changed her views radically as she mellowed with age. But I have to remember that many actors play parts with which they don't agree.
This movie is an insult to the Confederate veterans of the Civil War who were too busy rebuilding their lives, families and homes to join the Ku Klux Klan. More of the southern politics should have been represented. A better representation of southern black politics should have been shown. Not every African-American man interested in government, was an ignorant oaf. Most of the problems there was a lack of education.
It's, also and especially, an insult to the African-Americans. They were portrayed as rapists and murderers during a time when they could be hung, usually in the middle of the night, for simply looking at a white woman in the wrong way. And on top of that many of the parts were done in black face. What, there weren't enough African-Americans who needed acting jobs to fill the bill?
In spite of it's excellent and insightful camera usage (Griffith knew directing and filming) this movie is a sad commentary on our country's entertainment history's ability to insight upheaval.
Why would "Birth of a Nation" be allowed to be made to encourage a political influence such as the Ku Klux Klan? Because, like it or not, it is a fact that we still have freedom of speech in the USA. And, though I disagree with their politics, I like the freedom of speech!