Spike Lee’s latest film, BlacKkKlansman, focuses on the real-life story of Ron Stallworth, the first African American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department and his infiltration of the Ku Klux Klan in 1970s Colorado. John David Washington plays Stallworth, with Adam Driver as his partner who pretends to be Stallworth in person during meetings with the Klan’s Grand Wizard, the infamous David Duke (played by Topher Grace). The film also stars Laura Harrier as Patrice Dumas, the Colorado State Black Student Union leader and Stallworth's love interest.
Adapted from Black Klansman, Stallworth’s memoir, the film was conceived of by Jordan Peele, who sought out Lee to direct and re-write the film. The film’s release date of August 10 aligns with the one-year anniversary of the deadly white supremacist march in Charlottesville, and includes footage from that tragic day, connecting racially motivated terrorism from then to today. BlacKkKlansman puts an important spotlight on the prevalence of the KKK during the 1970s and Stallworth's work to expose their tactics.
📸: David Lee