BlackKlansman 8/29/18
I am only familiar with a few of Spike Lee’s movies but I
think this must be one of his most powerful movies. It tackles race issues in
the 60’s and 70’s. In the present political upheaval it’s poignancy remains relevant.
It is based on the true story of Ron
Stallworth, the first black cop at Colorado Spring. His conflict is how to the
support the burgeoning black power movement and be a cop protecting both blacks and whites at the same time.
The movie starts with a racial harangue delivered by Dr. Kennebrew Beauregad, played
by Alex Baldwin. He nearly spits out his racial epitaphs and almost busts a vein.
Ron, played by John David Washington, is
a rookie in the intelligence unit. Ron contacts the KKK from an ad in the
paper. Using his white voice he manages to secure a meeting. Obviously he can
not go the meeting so they recruit a white cop named Flip Zimmerman, played by
Adam Driver. Ironically Flip is Jewish,
another favorite target of the Klan.
Aside from infiltrating the Klan, Ron finds himself in the
rise of black power with Stokely Carmichael, aka Kwame Ture, giving a passionate
speech. He is conflicted by two forces empathizing with the black power
movement and his duty as a police officer. He does not see them as mutually exclusive.
The Klansmen are stereotypical rednecks. Castigating anyone
not white Christian, drinking beer and shooting guns. One gun range had metal cut outs of racist black
targets riddled with bullets. As the camera pulls back the cut outs look like slaves
on a march. An almost comical scene is when black Ron, using his white voice, elitists
compliments from David Duke.
John David Washington plays the role confidently cool. He keeps
his pride and anger in check even when he
is disparaged on the force. He is not discouraged
and keeps his swagger in check. Adam Driver, who plays white Ron in his usual laid
back style, finds himself in some perilous situations with the Klan. His wit
and acting like a bigot gets him through some life threating situations.
The great Harry Belafonte has a cameo as a civil rights activist from the 60’s telling a true story
of a past lynching. By showing past racial violence Lee is making a connection
to current white supremacists.
At a Klan gathering there
is the rallying cry of “America First”. This is an unvarnished reference to Trump
and his supports. In the end of the movie there is news footage of the 2017 melee at Charlottesville. Transitioning from movie to news footage makes the Klan visceral.
By depicting the start of the black power movement
and ending with the Charlottesville riot, Lee is almost asking has anything changed? Wearing chinos, polo
shirts and marching with tiki torches is superficial but hate is intractable.
