When “Gone With the Wind” returns to HBO’s streaming platform, it will include an introduction “placing the film in its multiple historical contexts,” according to a professor who says she’s creating the introduction.
HBO confirmed to The Epoch Times that the movie will return soon, though there is no set date yet.
“I will provide an introduction placing the film in its multiple historical contexts,” she wrote.
While some activists have called for the permanent removal of the movies and others from the era, the professor argued it should remain in circulation, calling it “a prime text for examining expressions of white supremacy in popular culture.”
“Gone With the Wind” can serve as a teaching opportunity, Stewart said.
“Right now, people are turning to movies for racial re-education, and the top-selling books on Amazon are about anti-racism and racial inequality. If people are really doing their homework, we may be poised to have our most informed, honest and productive national conversations yet about Black lives on screen and off,” Stewart said.
“I don’t regret taking it down for a second. I only wish we had put it up in the first place with the disclaimer. And we just didn’t do that,” he said.
HBO Max includes a number of films from the Turner Classic Movies library, but didn’t include context that other classic movies have when played on television and at Turner’s film festival, the executive said.
“They’ve talked about some of the racial stereotypes and some of issues with how the Civil War is portrayed, which is much more positive than focusing on slavery the darker side of that issue,” he said. “If it was on the linear network, it wouldn’t need it because they’re often talking about these issues. We failed to put the disclaimer in there, which sets up the issue, basically the issues that this movie really brings up. So, we took it off and we’re going to bring it back with a proper context, and it’s what we should have done.”