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Rating: 5 out of 5
If you know anything about black/African American history, you have learned about the Klan or the Ku Klux Klan or KKK. Whatever the hell you want to call them. Let me give you a quick history lesson on this awful and pathetic group. The Klan was founded in Pulaski, Tennessee, on December 24, 1865, by six former Confederate army members. They terrorized blacks while burning crosses and wearing the white cloth robes they are famous for today. They are known as white supremacists, far-right terrorist organizations, and hate groups. Anyone who doesn’t roll with white power is hated. Their primary target is African Americans, but they don’t like Hispanics, Jews, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and everything else in the world. It is amazing that many of their members are in the group because it is a long list.
What do you think would happen if an African American infiltrated their organization and actually joined the Klan? I’m not talking about Dave Chappelle’s Clayton Bigsby, which is an iconic episode. I’m talking about an African American who put in his application and infiltrated the Klan to take them down. That man is Ron Stallworth, the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, who infiltrated the ranks of the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You know what we call that?? BOSS MOVE!! Spike Lee directed a masterful film that should be watched by all.
Directed by the great and legendary Spike Lee while written by Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, and Lee, BlacKkKlansman is loosely based on the 2014 memoir by Ron Stallworth. BlacKkKlansman starts off in the early 1970s. Ron Stallworth (Washington) was recently hired as the first black officer in the Colorado Springs, Colorado Police Department. His interview process was funny, and I must give a shout-out to Isiah Whitlock Jr. for coming in and delivering his iconic catchphrase from the Wire, “sheeeeeeeee-it.” Pure perfection and joy when I heard it. Stallworth’s career begins a little meh as he is assigned to the records room and faces racial injustice and slurs from his punk-ass coworkers. With some convincing to his chief, he manages to gain a transfer to undercover. His first assignment is infiltrating a local college rally where civil rights leader Kwame Ture is speaking. Ture gives a powerful speech that makes some people uncomfortable. One day, while reading the paper and wanting to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely answers a call from the Ku Klux Klan. Stallworth mistakenly gives his real name but, with his words, manages to infiltrate the KKK. Stallworth recruits a veteran colleague named Flip Zimmerman (Driver). As Stallworth speaks on the phone, Flip poses as him in person. The pair team up to take down the extremist hate group and try to rid Colorado of the racial hatred.
I MUST give props to legendary film director Spike Lee. It’s about damn time that the academy gave Lee his props and respect. Lee was finally nominated for Best Director, and he won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. It was a long time coming for Lee, and I am happy and proud that he got his due. Lee has put out many great movies, and he should’ve had a nomination for Da 5 Bloods. Lee was masterful in his direction of this film, and you could see it in every scene with how he blended the scenes of different situations and the responses each race made to those situations. It was fascinating to see, and I want to make sure that Lee is respected.
I want to give it to Lee for giving the world a fantastic story. The whole idea of a black detective infiltrating the KKK in Colorado was fascinating and true. I think that is the part that is the craziest that it actually happened in real life, and I am happy the story was told. It is one thing to watch the story unfold, but what Lee does so well is make sure the scenes stand out. He also does a masterful job of showing real-life images in the film for an added effect.
Lee starts the film with a small video of Confederate soldiers lying everywhere after a battle. Then, it cuts to Dr. Kennebrew Beauregard, played by Alec Baldwin. The scene sets the tone for the film as Dr. Beauregard goes into a racist tirade about how African Americans are taking over the country and the white man and woman are in danger. I have to give Baldwin credit because he did subtle quirks that made you uncomfortable but also believable, as many people feel like this in the United States.
As Ron goes through his investigation, Lee shows the racial divide in the United States. The quote that says it all is when Ron is talking to the sergeant, and he says that America will never elect someone like David Duke. That was some major foreshadowing because it sure did come true many years later. The scene is quick but powerful because Lee made this film in 2018 at the height of President Trump’s term. It is cray because David Dike endorsed President Trump, and he really didn’t deny the endorsement. Also, America is all over the place.
Lee does an incredible job of showing how the black community feels and is treated. He makes sure that you look and see it with your own eyes. The first way is when Ron attends a meeting thrown by the Black Student Union. The scene shows a speech by Carmichael, going by the name Kwame Ture. Ture gives a passionate speech about how everyone must learn to love being black and not give a damn about what the white man thinks. During this, Lee shows black faces in a crowd against a black background. The scene was effective while Ture continued his speech about a race war. Ron becomes invested in the words, but he was like, naw, man for the race war.
The most powerful scene in the movie was when Harry Belafonte in his last role before his death. Let’s take a moment to honor Belafonte and give the famous actor his props. Belafonte told the story of the lynching of Jesse Washington. The students listened intently to the story; it was powerful as it drew you in. Lee being the master that he is intertwined the story while showing the Klan watching the controversial film, Birth of a Nation. That part was sickening as the audience cheered on the film, and it even states that Woodrow Wilson said it was his favorite film. Lee finishes the powerful scene as both groups chant their race and power.
Lee made sure to end the film with several powerful notes. First, watching the racist cop getting arrested was a highlight because many in the black community know that they can arrest a cop, but will they go to jail is another story. Second, the cross-burning scene. I believe someone says that no one burns crosses in Colorado, but it happened. Where Lee truly put his powerful statement was ending the film with a tribute to anti-fascist counter-protester Heather Heyer but also showing those tiki torchers wielding fools. Heyer was tragically killed on August 12, 2017, in the Charlottesville car attack during the Unite the Right rally.
This powerful movie was greatly attributed to the fantastic acting of John David Washington and Adam Driver. Both actors did a masterful job of showing the effects their characters were going through. Washington just has such swag and coolness to him. The man bleeds coolness, and you can tell he got it from his father. Driver was equally good as Detective Philip “Flip” Zimmerman. Driver has become a phenomenal actor throughout the years, and I love watching his movies.
I want to applaud Lee for this powerful film. A true story that shows you can take down the Klan in certain areas and shows that the Klan will accept anyone if you talk that talk. Driver and Washington are great. Watch this great movie.
BONUS CLIP!!!
