Harry Belafonte weighs in on Nate Parker and his new film

Schuette notes that Fox has agreed to arrange a screening of Birth of a Nation for later in the year, though he doesn’t specify if Parker will be available for a Q&A as was originally planned. The victim, whose name is not public, said that Mr. Parker and his roommate, Mr. Celestin, raped her while she was intoxicated and unconscious, according to court documents, and that they later harassed, intimidated and stalked her after she pressed charges. “However, we are dubious of the underlying motivations that bring this to present light after 17 years, and we will not take part in stoking its coals”, the statement to The New York Times reads. Should we? It’s incredible that an important film like The Birth of a Nation, which follows Nat Turner’s 1831 slave rebellion in Virginia, is getting mainstream attention. That story resonates today.

Schuette’s approach is an interesting one, since discussions about sexual assault cases surrounding a piece of art are hard ones to have.

Parker has spoken about case and says he was unaware of the victim’s passing.

Let’s get the language straight: Some, including his supporters, are saying that Mr. Parker was found innocent. But with the growing excitement about the film, those details were also amplified – and were further amplified when news broke that the accuser had committed suicide in 2012. While I maintain my innocence that the encounter was unambiguously consensual, there are things more important than the law. He called the film “a winner” and said 36-year-old Parker – who directed, wrote, produced and starred in the film – “a very bright young man”.

“Now, all of a sudden, they rediscover what they already knew”, said Sharpton, who has been a fierce critic of the academy, even leading a boycott of the Oscars last February for its lack of diversity in Hollywood. What I can say is that it is eerily suspicious that the case is mattering now.

“I think he’s a great guy and an excellent filmmaker, and a great actor”. It also continues to honor Roman Polanski, who fled the country after being charged with drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl in the 1970s.

“It’s interesting because it’s coming out the same time the film’s coming out. I get it”, he said.

During an interview with the Associated Press about his organization’s upcoming music festival, Belafonte wondered why the rape allegation resurfaced now.

None of us is anywhere near flawless. With such a huge project and the potential to have a major impact on audiences; one has to put the passion aside and consider the “why now” question.

So I will support the film while strongly urging that Mr. Parker, a father of five daughters who describes himself as a mature man of faith, use this moment to help all of us address a rape culture too often condoned, overlooked, explained away.