Klan
The film represents members of the Ku Klux Klan as heroic in their efforts. Ironically, as history reveals the Klan has only sought to segregate races in order to preserve quality of life for white people.
Blackface
We see black men in the film portrayed by white actors in blackface. They represented as unintelligent and sexually aggressive towards white women. The sad irony is that this is a gross misrepresentation of the black male as a whole.
NAACP
It's hard to talk about this film without the cultural impact it had upon society at the time of its release in 1915. The film was protested by African Americans at the time, including the NAACP's effort to have the film pulled from release, which it wasn't. Ironically, white people still flocked to see the film, even in Northern states of America even 40 years after the abolition of slavery in the United States.
Inappropriate Behavior
We watch as Stoneman and Lynch observe the African American legislature elected to office taking off their shoes and putting their feet on desks. This is considered "inappropriate behavior" on their part. Ironically, the legislation of the Confederate South allowed slavery for a century in the country in order to increase their profits and way of life.
Elsie
Stoneman is happy to hear that Lynch wants to marry a white woman when he is told. Ironically, Stoneman becomes disturbed when he discovers that Lynch wants to marry his daughter Elsie. This quickly changes his support of Lynch.
