Why was DW Griffith's movie so controversial?

Answer 1

I assume you mean (The Birth of a Nation). The title of this l9l5 film is somewhat misleading. It deals with the events of the Civil War and not those of l776 or l8l2! The second half of the film dealt with the aftermath of the war, trouble with the newly-freed Blacks- in short racial strife- and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan who come off qs ( Good Guys) . In fact the novel on which the film was based was originally called The Clansman ( after the movie came out- to take advantage of the craze- the newer title was assumed). There are incidents where Black men assault white women- on screen or very neatly implied- This was in effect- a war film that went beyond the trench and fox hole and into the aberrations which accompany warfare- and the aftermath- not the usual Hollywood touch- then or now. To this day, the N.A.A.C.P has opposed showing of the picture- even as an educational exercise. Amazing, a Ban that has lasted over ninety years!