How did the movie Birth of a Nation portray racial problems in the South?

"Birth of a Nation," released in 1915, portrayed racial problems in the South through a highly controversial and biased lens, depicting African Americans as dangerous, uncivilized, and a threat to white society. The film romanticized the Ku Klux Klan as heroes who restored order and safety following the Civil War and Reconstruction, reinforcing white supremacist narratives. Its portrayal contributed to the resurgence of the Klan and perpetuated harmful stereotypes, making it a significant yet troubling artifact in American cinema history.