In an op-ed for The Los Angeles Times Gabrielle Union addressed the controversy surrounding forthcoming film Birth of a Nation, stating that “As important and ground breaking as this film is, I cannot take these allegations lightly.”
Union writes about how she signed on to a Birth of a Nation to portray a black woman who was raped, only to learn of what the film’s director did when he was attending Penn State only a month ago.
“Since Nate Parker’s story was revealed to me, I have found myself in a state of stomach churning confusion,” Union writes. “I took this role because I related to the experience. I also wanted to give a voice to my character, who remains silent throughout the film. In her silence, she represents countless black women who have been and continue to be violated. Women without a voice, without power. Women in general. But black women in particular. I knew I could walk out of our movie and speak to the audience about what it feels like to be a survivor.”
The talented actress, who is a rape survivor, doesn’t undermine the events that took place between Parker, fellow Birth of a Nation writer Jean Celestin and the victim (who committed suicide in 2012), using the incident as a means of educating the importance of affirmative consent.
She then goes on to explain why the movie is still important to see, but from a different perspective: that of a person that survived sexual assault.
“I took this part in this film to talk about sexual violence,” Union writes. “To talk about this stain that lives on in our psyches. I know these conversations are uncomfortable and difficult and painful. But they are necessary. Addressing misogyny, toxic masculinity, and rape culture is necessary. Addressing what should and should not be deemed consent is necessary.”
Read the rest of the interview here.
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