feb 8, 1915 - Birth of a Nation

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Regarded as the first American blockbuster and said to have shaped the moviegoing experience from then on out, Birth of a Nation broadcasted a revisionist take on the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the founding of the Ku Klux Klan while radiating racist ideology and disseminating damaging ideals. It was seen by an approximated 10 million Americans in its first two years and was the first film ever screened in the White House. The influence of this film can’t be understated; it has been credited with both the rise of the Hollywood industry as well as the resurgence of the KKK and extreme acts of racial violence. It is a testament to the influence of cinema on the perceptions and opinions of the public and the damage it can do.

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