I cannot get the latest poster from the upcoming directorial debut of Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation out of my mind. On the poster, Nat Turner (Nate Parker) has an American flag noose around his neck. Whoa! There are layers to this because this release also happened following the police brutality tragedies that ended in the murders of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. 

I’m so proud of Nate for being uncompromising in the making and messaging of this film. If you didn’t guess from the title and subject of the film, this poster unflinchingly puts in your face the tormented history of this nation and the enslaved people that built this country. Slaves. Literally. Built. The. White House. And the booming economy of the South was due to the stolen labor and contributions of black people.

The Birth of the Nation which shares the title with one of the most racist films in film history is about the slave rebellion led by Nat Turner. The expected release date is Oct. 7th.