Pointy hats and obviousness aside, much of the rhetoric they use in that film corresponds to rhetoric many use today to justify bigotry. A particular sign that was quite poignant, to me, is where blacks hold up signs that push for "equal rights and equal marriage." When blacks achieve both, Griffith shows the supposed end result--"dumb" blacks ruling in anarchy, using their power to eliminate all white power, and blacks forcing marriage upon beautiful young white women.
"What about white rights"? That's precisely what Griffith asks, but, by all accounts, "Birth of a Nation" is nothing more than "romanticized" historical fiction being passed off as true, and as a "modern" reminder that "separate but equal" (Plessy v. Ferguson, 1892) that established racial segregation was the only way to prevent blacks from usurping power to destroy whites and rape their daughters.
Needless to say, as laughable as this is (and should be), I find that D.W. Griffith is still alive and well, particularly with GOP fearmongering against homosexuals. But I digress...
...to all of us white people here, look around you and count your blessings. You don't *need* white clubs, because white culture surrounds you, even if you don't know it. You don't need a white history month, because everyday focuses on white, Western history. If you had to live one day as a minority, then you'd realize how utterly preposterous this entire thread is, because you don't need to worry about integrating into society. It is already yours and now it is time to share. If these groups help minorities cope with being a minority in society, then great! Count your dominant hegemonic blessings.
Melon
