The 1997 movie Men in Black revolves around the conflict between the men in black and an alien species who has invaded earth. Both sides are in battle to gain control of the universe which is concealed in a miniature galaxy which has found its way to earth . This strikes a cord with the Secret Rivers most prominent conflict which is the conflict between the blacks and the whites over who is to control the land.

The aliens disturb the earths way of living very much like the Europeans disturbed and destroyed the blacks way of life and the sequel Men in Black 2 coincides with the idea that these battles over power and supremacy are virtually everlasting.