This volume presents new research on D. W. Griffith's notorious film The Birth of a Nation. Released in 1915, Birth has been the subject of study, debate and activism for over a century, notably concerning the tension between its artistic merit and its racist depiction of Black Americans. As this book shows, there is still much to explore. Examining the film, its reception and its legacies from fresh perspectives, the book provides productive approaches to studying Birth in the twenty-first century. Contributors address a range of topics, including how Griffith's rewriting of history relates to today's political controversies over 'fake news' and how contemporary Black artists have sabotaged the film's racist visual language. Presenting discussions of celebrated and sometimes controversial practitioners Oscar Micheaux, Kara Walker, Kehinde Wiley, DJ Spooky, Nate Parker, Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino, they make a convincing case for the film's ongoing significance to American art and cinema.

White supremacist activity and struggles over racial inequities remain very much a part of the contemporary world. Arguing that The Birth of a Nation is a pivotal text for understanding this state of affairs, the volume offers a model for unpacking the meaning of Hollywood's most consequential film.