North Carolina's Black Network Television posted a video to YouTube that showed up on Greensboro101 yesterday. In it, a chipper young woman describes the November 3rd, 1979 anti-Klan march in Greensboro as being a reaction to the film Birth of a Nation.
I posted a comment to the video that said, in essence, that such an explanation of the march was a disservice to the memories of those killed and the survivors who were, in fact, motivated by more complicated issues of race, class, labor and unions and for which the film was a minor and ancillary part of the story—certainly not a reason for the march that led to the tragic shootings.
In my comment, I suggested that the video makers turn to the findings of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission for a correct understanding of the events leading up to that day, particularly Chapter 2 of their final report that includes the section "What brought us to November 3, 1979," in which there is nothing about Birth of a Nation.
My comment was deleted without explanation.
I can only assume that Black Network Television would rather perpetuate incorrect misunderstandings than admit their mistakes. Too bad.
Here's the video:
Thank you so much Mr. Fishbine for your comment. We have just viewed it on the page. We are very appreciative and do understand that there is more to the matter. We are working to make sure our next Roots of our Community pieces involve a more inclusive account of our history. Thank you very much for your response.
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