The Brute

The brutes were black men portrayed as savage, destructive, and animalistic. Many thought that they deserved the death penalty for their behavior. The brute was a representation of an African-American “rapist.” The black brutes were depicted as terrifying and mostly targeted white women. Most of the time, the convicted rapists were innocent, even though many thought they deserved a horrible punishment. Many African- American men were lynched, even though they were falsely accused. It wasn’t until recent times that it was revealed that most white women were raped by white men, but the authorities were willing to cover it up. The African-American Captain Gus, from Birth of A Nation, was an example of a brute. Even today, the brute caricature lives on. The Brute In Depth

Notable References to the Brute Caricature Notable References to the Brute Caricature  D.W. Griffith’s Birth of A Nation.  Thomas Dixon’s The Clansman.  Mike Tyson  Various books about African-Americans

The decline of the Brute The decline of the Brute The Brute largely died out during the 1950’s and 60’s as lynching sharply declined in popularity. However, several cases were recorded. One involved a woman who claimed that her car was stolen with her two sons inside. She later admitted to drowning the boys, but serious racial tensions occurred. Another case involved a married couple who was supposedly assaulted by a brute. The pregnant wife and child died after receiving a C-section. The husband’s brother hinted at the possibility that he just wanted insurance money. The man committed suicide before police could question him.