The movie poster for Birth of a Race proclaimed “The GREATEST PHOTOPLAY on EARTH - - -”. In the lower right hand corner, a picture of a man and woman in their wedding regalia, the groom lovingly gazing upon his bride, blissful smiles on their pale faces. In the upper right hand corner, a different woman, alone and naked,her knee-length hair draped alluringly over her left shoulder and covering her left breast. Her stance and her pale complexion could leave the viewer with only one conclusion given the title of the film, that she was none other than the Mother of the human race, Eve.

“The BIRTH of a RACE” the copy continued, “By its SHEER MAGNITUDE… has proven a photo spectacle that will live for years.”

In a way, that prediction of the first cinematic rebuttal to Birth of a Nation came true. It did live for years — in infamy.