Birth of a nation and American Crucible
How the film reflects ideas of particular races’ inherent ability for self-governance
According to the film, it is inherent that race plays an important role in terms of how self-governance is done. In particular, it echoes the actual belief during the American earlier days when race determined and defined the freedom and liberty. The film shows other races as very aggressive and violent persons towards other races. For instance, the White race was believed to be superior to other races like the Black American, Latin America among others. In terms of self-governance, other races were particularly accepted to be inferior to others, leading to slavery and other acts that were directed at elevating the White Race above others (Franklin 23). A look at the film shows instances of slavery where Blacks were to work in farms. This seems to have influenced entrenchment of slavery into the constitution at the birth of the American nation.
How the film reinforce the fear of a “mongrel race?”
The idea of a “mongrel race” comes out strong as the struggle continues between the races. For instance, there seems to be advancement by other races as they come strongly in order to fight for their rights and their place in the society. According to other people, especially the ruling class, there is a pioneer race that must rule over other mongrel races (Franklin 31). This ideology echoes what other legislators wanted in 1920s wanted by declaring that the American pioneer race was quickly being replaced by the mongrel race. This ideology comes strong as other races come up with ways of fighting their way into self-governance. In the film, it is obvious that the White people are afraid of the achievements that other races have made.
How the film reinforces Teddy Roosevelt’s view of history
Roosevelt plays an important role in history, especially when it comes to the race. Some of the old American leaders like Roosevelt believed that America could bring forth a more superior race that had no racial differences (Poole 30). However, it turned out that that was never to be achieved as race played a role in the American division because other races could not easily fit into other “pioneer race”. Just as in the film, He worked hard to ensure that fairness was achieved in the American Society. This came from the much legislation that was made to bring fairness in the society. Historically, the racial issue has developed for a period to an extent where the subject is open for discussions.
Relationship of the reunification of North and South; the “coupling” of Cameron and Elsie Roosevelt’s vision of the nation state
Reunification of the North and South after the Civil War marked another chapter in the American History and the beginning of the major differences that existed in terms of race (Franklin 23). Elsie Roosevelt remains to one of the American leaders who had a vision of a racially united country, as seen in many of her attributes. She had a clear vision of how the American society should be (Poole 30). The reunification of the North and South; coupling of Cameron and Elsie Roosevelt’s vision of the nation state relates in terms of how the American society should be. As much as some of these instances have not brought absolute racial freedom in America, they indicate the beginning of a point when different races are able to appreciate each other.
Works Cited
Franklin, John Hope. Silent Cinema as Historical Mythmaker, In Myth America: A Historical
Anthology, Volume II, Brandywine Press, St. James, New York, 1997.
Poole, W. Scott, Monsters in America: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the
Haunting, Waco, Texas, Baylor, 2011.