Stereotypes In Birth Of A Nation

The Birth of a Nation depicted African-Americans in a way that was detrimental to African-Americans progress towards equality, freedom, and eliminating discrimination. This film portrayed African-Americans with numerous stereotypes and had a lasting effect on the view of African-Americans that still is relevant today. This film caused hatred for black men by reinforcing the stereotype of the black buck and the coons. The black buck is stereotypical character that refers to a black male who is abrupt and a sex-craved man who is pursuing white women. The coon is a character who is injudicious and very indolent and who is basically good for nothing. In later films, the black buck and coon will still be shown in negative ways that affects African-Americans
The black men in the film were portrayed as coons and there was the most infamous character the black buck that attempts to rape the innocent white female. This portrayal shows black males in a terrible light, portraying them as savages and brutes without a purpose. This film probably was sent as a message to black people as to why white men despised them. Birth of a Nation wanted to give a clear indication for their hatred by justifying it with dignity, courage, and doing the right thing and to justify it they needed to demean African-Americans character and culture. Another example is in the Good lynching they begin to lynch Gus because he raped a white woman and this portrayal of the black buck character continues on and is another example of white people justifying their actions (Good Lynching, fig.7, 100). In reality the Ku Klux Klan is a domestic group that terrorized black Americans for a long time and this film viewed them like heroes. In addition, the film caused hatred and agitated so much violence that was the result of how white men felt about black males. This film in the eyes of white people would potentially cause them to hate black people especially black men without any motives or even a reason. White America would find no fault in killing black men for wanting to date a white woman or being with a
This could have been viewed as attempt to make black people seem as nice people, but it actually continues to hurt them by reinforcing stereotypes and demeaning their character. In addition to the portrayal of African- Americans there were not many films that showed them in a absolutely positive way; they were either an individual who catered to the white man and was seen as harmless. They never showcased black actors as leaders or heroic in film. In the early twentieth century there were not many films that showed African-Americans as heroes especially when white males are present in the film. If a white male and black are in the same film the white male is typically the hero or most important character. In most films with white and black individuals, the black male or woman is shown as a victim of circumstances and overcomes it, they are never shown as heroes just someone who overcomes obstacles. They are sometimes shown as subordinates while white men would either be shown as heroes, warm-hearted individuals or amiable characters. This is a