• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
      Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
    • CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
      CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
    • WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
      WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
      Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
    • It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
      It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
    • What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
      What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • No image
      Pentimento’s Open Mic is Like an Old Patchwork Quilt–Worn, Yet Cozy
    • No image
      Kanye’s Antisemitism Steps on his Shoe Brand
    • Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
      Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Sports and Wellness
    • Student-Athlete of October
      Student-Athlete of October
    • Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
      Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
    • The Case for Body Neutrality
      The Case for Body Neutrality
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
      Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
    • Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
      Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
    • The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
      The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
  • Miscellanea
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
      Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
    • 50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
      50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Kele Alfred-Igbokwe Arts, ReviewsSeptember 14, 2016

Controversy surrounding “The Birth of a Nation” invalidates the film’s message

Nate Parker of 'The Birth of a Nation' poses for a portrait at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Getty Images Portrait Studio Hosted By Eddie Bauer At Village At The Lift on January 25, 2016 in Park City, Utah Photo courtesy of Eliza Berman

“The Birth of A Nation” depicts the important story of enslaved black people fighting for their freedom against oppressive white slave owners. The message couldn’t be more poignant: enslaved people could be their own heroes, and did have powerful rebellions and uprisings against their oppressors. It’s a story of the black freedom struggle and different from the typical slave movies that widely portray the enslaved as never fighting back. Nate Parker, who wrote, produced, directed and stars in the film, has been lauded for an excellent historical adaptation of a crucial moment in African-American history. “The Birth of a Nation” met scintillating reviews at Sundance film festival. I was ebullient at the prospect of a black-centric film being so highly praised and needless to say, was highly anticipating seeing it the moment it hits theaters.

To my dismay, I later learned of Nate Parker sexually assaulting a fellow college student when he was studying at Penn State. The filmmaker himself spoke of the assault during an interview in order to frame the narrative before it presumably got out to the public. Talking to “Variety” last month, Parker looked back at his past and reflected on the rape allegation against him, saying that, “seventeen years ago, I experienced a very painful moment in my life . . . It resulted in it being litigated. I was cleared of it. That’s that. Seventeen years later, I’m a filmmaker. I have a family. I have five beautiful daughters. I have a lovely wife. I get it. The reality is, I can’t relive 17 years ago. All I can do is be the best man I can be now.”

If he had been genuinely apologetic for the harm he inflicted upon another person’s life, or even had an iota of remorse, this would be an entirely different story. Instead, Nate Parker chose to center himself, his feelings and how the sexual assault he had committed had affected his own life. He urged the public to see him as a changed man because he has five daughters—apparently, having female family members exempts you from being an unrepentant rapist.

Now, before you rush to interject saying, “He was found not guilty for rape! Stop trying him in the court of public opinion!” — let’s review the facts first. Nate Parker’s victim was unconscious when he and his then roommate and current co-writer, Jean Celestin, sexually assaulted her. A victim that is not conscious is a victim that is unable to consent. To make matters worse, the only reason Parker got off at all for the rape is because he and his victim had had consensual sexual contact the night before. This exemplifies a terrible misunderstanding of consent. Simply because one person consented to have sex with another once does not mean that sex with them is permanently  consensual. Back then, the law was not as aware of consent as it is (or at least should be) now. Nate Parker had non-consensual sex with an unconscious girl, which is rape.

The story doesn’t end there. Parker and his friends made the victim’s life a living hell by harassing her, slut-shaming her and sending her nudes to the whole school. A once 4.0 student ended up dropping out of Penn State because she couldn’t deal with all the harassment. Years later, she killed herself. Yet Parker says, “Seventeen years ago, I experienced a very painful moment in my life,” with insufficient regard to the person he actually harmed and inflicted severe trauma upon. Any attempts Parker has had at redeeming himself have fallen flat and short of penance.

So no, I will not be seeing “The Birth of a Nation” in theaters. I will not support an unconscionable rapist. I already know the story of Nat Turner’s rebellion, and I’d rather not give my money to a man who does not deserve it in the slightest. Yes, I’m pro-black, but I’m a feminist too, and I won’t encourage rape culture by letting this one slide and giving Nate Parker a pass because “he’s doing something good for the black community.” Instead, you’ll see me watching “Hidden Figures” this January, a film that actually tells the inspiring story of black women that shaped NASA’s historic space programs. Now that is a film worth supporting.

Photo courtesy of Eliza Berman via Time

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleWushu president passes down “The Art of Heroism”
Next articleArts Photo Spotlight: 9/14

You may also like

Pentimento’s Open Mic is Like an Old Patchwork Quilt–Worn, Yet Cozy

Kanye’s Antisemitism Steps on his Shoe Brand

Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

Sorry. No data so far.

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top