100 Years of Change – We’ve Come a Long Way [VIDEO]

On January 16th, President Obama hosted a private screening of the new movie, 'Selma', at the White House. The movie is based on the historic marches in Alabama, and the civil rights movement of the 1960's.

Many of the cast members attended including director Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), and Tim Roth (George Wallace).

Throughout the years, there have been many controversial movies shown in the white house, Richard Nixon loved the movie ‘Patton’, The Obama's have viewed 'Slum Dog Millionaire’, and Jimmy Carter showed the X-rated movie, 'Midnight Cowboy'.

However none of these movies come close to matching the content of the most racist movie ever made, D.W. Griffith's 'Birth of a Nation which will celebrate its 100th year on March 3rd of this year! The film was the first movie to be screened at the White House, by then President Woodrow Wilson.
The movie which highlights two families during the civil war era, is said to be responsible for the resurgence of the Klu Klux Klan. It's depiction of Blacks as womanizers, and the fact that the actors were white with black makeup on made it even more racist.

When you think about how much progress we’ve made over the past one hundred years, it’s encouraging to see a future free of prejudice.

I think Dr. King would be encouraged with present day America.

If you’re interested in seeing ‘Birth of a Nation’, I have posted it below, just to depict how things were in 1915. Be advised it is racist, and we (99.1 The Whale and Townsquare Media) do not agree with the content in the film.