Black History in Two Minutes (or so)

Black History in Two Minutes (or so)


Protesting the Birth of a Nation

October 16, 2020
Be Woke Presents Black History in Two Minutes (or so)

In 1915, D.W. Griffith, released a film that would go down as one of the most disturbing representations of black Americans ever, The Birth of a Nation. Released post-Civil War and Reconstruction Era, the film played on stereotypes abroad.


Griffith ignited a racist agenda and amplified the thoughts many white Americans had about free black people. Using white actors in blackface, the film was full of racist propaganda that proposed the idea that free black people were too lazy and ignorant to fully master American citizenship.


But even in times of darkness, light always finds its way in. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) led an initiative to protest the three-hour film. While efforts were not successful, the NAACP would see increased membership and become the staple it is in the black community today.


Hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. — with additional commentary from Vincent Brown and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham of Harvard University, and Imani Perry from Princeton University — we look at a piece of propaganda that aimed to tear down black people. But instead, it unified them in ways still seen today.


Black History in Two Minutes (or so) is a 4x Webby Award winning series.


If you haven’t already, please review us on Apple Podcasts! It’s a helpful way to for new listeners to discover what we are doing here: Podcast.Apple.com/Black-History-in-Two-Minutes/



Archival Materials Courtesy of:

• Alamy Images

• Getty Images


Additional Archival by:

• Harrisburg Telegraph



Executive Producers:

• Robert F. Smith

• Henry Louis Gates Jr.

• Dyllan McGee

• Deon Taylor



Produced by:

• William Ventura

• Romilla Karnick



Music By:

• Oovra Music



Be Woke presents is brought to you by Robert F. Smith and Deon Taylor.


Follow Black History in Two Minutes on Facebook


Follow Black History in Two Minutes on Instagram


Subscribe to Black History in Two Minutes Youtube Channel


‘Black History in Two Minutes’ is also available on Apple and Google podcasts.



Distributed by aone.la

Powered by hyperengine.ai