How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation.
Quote #4
INTERTITLE: This is an historical presentation of the Civil War and Reconstruction Period, and is not meant to reflect on any race or people of today.
Now this is just crazy. The Reconstruction Era had ended barely fifty years prior to the release of The Birth of a Nation, which means that there were plenty of people alive then who actually lived through it. And we're expected to accept this disclaimer that it's not supposed to reflect on them?
Quote #5
INTERTITLE: The Senator urges a less dangerous policy in the extension of power to the freed race.
And what's this dangerous policy he's opposing? It's that Black people are fully equal to white people—for real. We wanted to give The Birth of a Nation the benefit of the doubt, but this is some next level racism.
Quote #6
INTERTITLE: Even while [Ben] talks, their own faithful family servant is punished for not voting with the Union League and Carpetbaggers.
Related to the idea that freed slaves are manipulated by Northerners is the idea that the only good Black people are those who remain loyal to white people—i.e., the people who formerly owned, abused, and subjugated them. It doesn't make much sense to us.