BLACKkKlansman: movie review over the true story

Spike Lee’s newest film “Blackkklansman” shines a blaring, white-hot light on an incredulously disturbing side of American history. The film’s narrative centers around the true story of Ron Stallworth, a black detective in the 1970’s who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan. Lee combines horror, comedy and elements of documentary into this dramatization that earned itself the title of my new favorite movie for its blatant display of American cruelty.

The film begins with a slap-to-the-face hate monologue by suited white supremacist Dr. Beauregard, played by Alec Baldwin, warning the audience of the dangers of a mongrel nation. The shockingly racist manifesto set the tone of the dialogue I would hear throughout the movie. I had never heard so many slurs said out loud. Uncomfortably, I kept glancing at my dad to see if I was in trouble, just for hearing the words.

Shock factor aside, the focus transitions to a groovy and afro-wearing Ron Stallworth, a black man interviewing for the position of a police officer.

The action begins when Ron calls the KKK contact information listed in the Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. Over enunciating each syllable in an octave higher than his own, Ron exhales practically every slur for each race and religion — including his own. His coworkers slowly turn away from their coffee and cigarettes and instead focus on Ron.

This is when I realized that Lee knows how to craft comedy out of a horrible story. The whole audience cracked up as the detectives listened to their black coworker belt out how much he hates “black rats.” It was ridiculous. A little disturbing, but ridiculous.

By the end of the phone call, a black man had become a member of the KKK.

After Ron’s mistake of introducing his fake white supremacist persona as his own name, his partner Flip Zimmerman and Ron join together to permeate the KKK — Flip attends meetings and goes shooting with the clansmen (at targets resembling black men running). Ron investigates over the phone by speaking with the local chapter president.

Through their assignment I met the characters that the hate monologue prepared me for. During a meeting, clansman’s wife serves the members biscuits in a floral apron, giddy when she says, “We’ve talked about killing n****** for so many years, and now it’s really happening!” It was so deceiving — her southern hospitality and warm smile seemed so comforting. But her charms were sparked by her excitement to murder.

Meanwhile, Ron connects with David Duke, the Grand Wizard of the KKK, still pertaining his white supremacist persona. They throw back and forth prideful and boasting compliments, Ron buttering up Duke —

“You are a true American hero.”

“Is there any other kind?”

“God bless white America.”

Though it wasn’t a thriller, I felt as if I was watching a horror movie — that same uneasy, stomach-in-my-throat feeling. The only thought calming my stomach was knowing this period was over. No one seriously wants to bomb someone’s home just for being black. But this thought is exactly what Lee intends to debunk in his ending.

A scene of clansmen surrounding a burning cross faded out signifying the end of the movie. But I didn’t have much time to relax before realizing the movie wasn’t over yet. What looked like a hand held recording of modernly dressed protesters made me realize exactly what Lee was doing.

The protesters were not actors and the scene was not created. Instead, it was real-life footage of the Charlottesville rally in 2017. Another clip of protesters in a city street, holding neo-nazi flags. Another clip of an anti-racism protesters being killed during a violent rally. And finally, an upside down American flag fills the entire screen — a sign of distress. Lee conveys that this is not an old story of what America once was, but terrifyingly, still is.