Birth Quote by Cornel West
![“Well technologically and so forth, it's a breakthrough, and yet [Birth of a Nation,] it's very white supremacist to the core in terms of the narrative content.” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/acc/cornel-west-708_birth_well-technologically-and-so-forth-it-s-a_714297.jpg)
“Well technologically and so forth, it's a breakthrough, and yet [Birth of a Nation,] it's very white supremacist to the core in terms of the narrative content.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Cultural critique, 2020
The film’s technical achievements are overshadowed by its overt white supremacist narrative.
In simple terms: Even breakthroughs can hide harmful ideologies.
Key Takeaway
Critically assess content beyond its polish.
Themes
media criticism
racism
art vs ideology
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analysis
philosophical
When to use this quote
- film studies
- media literacy
- public discourse
Key Concepts
white supremacy
cultural impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you separate form from ideology?
- What responsibilities do creators have?
A Different Perspective
Artistic merit doesn’t excuse harmful messages.
![“... [Y]ou mainly hear from white supremacists, about the "glory" of the white race. They point to the innovations of white people and use that evidence of our "inherent greatness." So first of all, most of the white people who bring this shit up are NOT impressive people. It's not for the most…” quote by T.J. Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/637/t-j-kirk-16012_racism_y-ou-mainly-hear-from-white-supremacists_1128405.jpg)
![“I have never supported white supremacism but I read this [this description of me] in the papers.” quote by David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a67/david-duke-8534_description_i-have-never-supported-white-supremacism_767017.jpg)
![“You can't really move forward until you look back. [From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University]” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/273/cornel-west-708_george-w_you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you_37313.jpg)
