The 1916 Controversy Over the Showing of The Birth of a Nation in Phoenix, Arizona

Summary: In late February 1916, a plan to show The Birth of a Nation in Phoenix, Arizona was announced. Opposition to the film from Phoenix's black community convinced the Phoenix city government (known then as the City Commission) on March 1 to ban the showing of the film. A few weeks later, the film's distributor decided to risk a legal battle over the commission's ban, by scheduling a two week run in Phoenix starting April 30. The commission likely had second thoughts about banning the film without seeing it; most of the commissioners viewed it on April 30. At a May 1 meeting, the commission relented on its complete ban, but still made showing the film conditional on the removal of a particular scene. However, the film's distributor refused to make any cut, filed a suit against the commission in the county superior court on May 2, and continued to show the film. On May 4 the court upheld the right of the commission to require the cut. The film's manager and the manager of the Elks Theater (where the film was being shown) were arrested on May 8 for violating the commission's order. The two managers pled guilty the next day, paid a fine and agreed to stop showing the film in Phoenix. To complete the planned two week run, the distributor moved the exhibition to Mesa, a neighboring city. In December 1916, the film was making a second run in Arizona. Showings were announced for Phoenix, but blacks again opposed the film, and the commission held firm to its requirement for a cut. As a result, the film did not show in Phoenix at that time. An examination of the events and participants related to the 1916 Phoenix showing of The Birth of a Nation will contribute more detail to the discussion of the film's controversy.