By: Kira Demund, contributing intern (@kiracarinaa) The red carpet was rolled out for an exclusive screening of The Birth of a Nation at Atlantic Station’s Regal Cinemas on Tuesday (Sept. 20). Guests in attendance included V-103’s Joyce Littel, HGTV’s Egypt Sherrod, “Fashion Queens” co-host Derek J, and the host of the night, David Banner. In what perhaps might be perfect timing amid recent controversy and tension following Colin Kaepernick’s kneel and Terence Crutcher’s death, Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation reminds us of how far we have come, yet how far we still have to go as a country. The Birth of a Nation, which uses the same title as D.W. Griffith’s 1915 film, tells the story of slave Nat Turner and how he uses the bible to enlighten, not just himself, but others during slavery. Earlier this year, Snoop Dogg, along with others, expressed contempt for slave movies even calling for a boycott of the remake of Roots. David Banner spoke on the controversy of films like The Birth of a Nation which revisit our slave history saying, “They do it all the time. They shove their history in our mouths all the time. I’m sick of slave movies too, but this movie is needed. It shows a different aspect that we haven’t seen before. We don’t have any movies showing black people in any other position for the most part but a thief or a slave. For me, it’s not about not telling our history. History is the only way that our kids can do better. It’s just that we don’t have any other form of history that shows black people in any other life for the most part.” Despite possible disapproval of depicting African-Americans as slaves in films such as this, there is no denying that the film’s story line is pivotal and quintessential to understanding our deeply rooted history in this country. Because of this movie, a slave rebellion is now remembered forever. If there are two words to sum this film up, it would have to be: emotionally provocative. The Birth of a Nation is in theatres nationwide October 7th.
