FPB refuses to classify film ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America’

The Film and Publication Board (FPB) has refused to classify the movie titled: “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” for broadcasting and distribution in South Africa.

The film was found to

advocate hatred based on an identifiable group characteristic and constitutes incitement to cause harm based on Holocaust denial, dehumanisation, and the promotion of antisemitic views and prejudicial language.

“The content, as presented, incites hatred and spreads dangerous misinformation, failing to provide the objective and informed perspective required for a bona fide documentary.  Acknowledging that a bona fide documentary must adhere to historical accuracy, by denying the Holocaust, the film fundamentally fails this criterion,” the FPB said in a statement on Monday.

The Board warned that any person who knowingly broadcasts, distributes or exhibits the film in public, offers it for sale or hire, or advertises it for exhibition, sale or hire, will be guilty of an offence.

Upon conviction, offenders face a fine not exceeding R500 000, imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both a fine and imprisonment.

The FPB said the film was found to constitute incitement to cause harm on the following basis:

• Holocaust Denial: The film’s assertion that the Holocaust is a “falsehood” is a direct advocacy of hatred based on identifiable group characteristics, serving to trivialize immense suffering and perpetuate antisemitism.
• Dehumanization: The explicit text comparing  Jews to “parasites among the nations” is an egregious act of dehumanization.  This language has a well-documented history of justifying discrimination, violence, and genocide, clearly demonstrating hatred.
• Promotion of Antisemitic Views: The film posits “five major falsehoods” aimed at concealing Jewish  “nature” and protecting their “status and power”, inherently promoting antisemitic tropes.
• Prejudicial Language: The frequent and unmitigated use of racial slurs such as “Negro”,  “Kaffir” and “Coolie” constitutes hate speech.

-SAnews.gov.za