In 1916, Saint John’s Black community mobilized in protest against the controversial American film “The Birth of a Nation”, directed by D.W. Griffith. Based on Thomas Dixon’s novel and play “The Clansman”, the 1915 film became the highest-grossing movie of its time.
A sweeping historical epic, “The Birth of a Nation” depicted two families caught in the turmoil of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era (1865-77). However, its racist portrayals of African Americans and its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan sparked outrage. Across the United States, the film was met with protests, bans in some states and cities, and a surge in activism led by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP).
By 1916, as Canada entered its third year of involvement in the First World War, the film was scheduled for release in New Brunswick, subject to review by the provincial board of censors. In response, Saint John’s Black community, centered around St. Philip’s African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, organized efforts to block its screening.
They argued that the film would inflame racial tensions and contradicted Canada’s ideals of British fairness. Protesters also highlighted the hypocrisy of the situation: Black New Brunswickers had attempted to enlist in combat units to fight for Canada and Britain, only to be rejected.
The community petitioned the provincial government to have the censorship board reconsider the film and remove two particularly offensive scenes. Although the board agreed to a second review, it ultimately allowed “The Birth of a Nation” to be shown in its entirety at the Opera House on Union Street in Saint John, disregarding the community’s concerns and efforts for fair representation.
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