The Politics of BlacKkKlansman
Let’s get something straight right up front. BlackKkKlansman is one of the best films of this year and it deserves all the praise it’s been getting. I sometimes hear people say to vote with your dollars and this is a case when I really think that statement applies. It embodies the bold, original, and diverse type of filmmaking that the big money side of Hollywood is greatly lacking.
With all that out of the way, one of the things that makes BlacKkKlansman so worth talking about is the politics of it all. A perfect example of how it can mix perfectly into the art and entertainment of today. There’s an undeniable parallel between some of the themes the film explores and the current landscape of today. The story definitely has relevance to contemporary issues. It also isn’t afraid to praise yet also criticize the multiple different viewpoints presented within the plot. For example, Laura Harrier’s character and the black panther movement is fighting for a just cause. However, sometimes their militancy gets in the way of progress, which is reflected in their criticism of Ron Stallworth deciding to become the first African American in the Colorado Springs police department. To them, the whole organization is corrupt and they’re unable to see the amazing opportunity of Stallworth’s position and how it could help foster future developments towards their end goal.
At the same time, while most of the police protect and honor the call of duty, there are a few bad apples within the mix. Their actions are inexcusable and help you understand why Laura Harrier and her friends are so untrusting of authority.
Then, you’ve got the portrayal of the KKK and while the film at no time supports their actions or ideals, it does present them in a very unique way. They aren’t out right mustache twirling villains and that actually makes them all the more scary and ominous. They’re calm, cool, and collected, believing that what they are fighting for is the undeniable truth. It’s only in the humor and irony of the whole situation that the characters’ flaws and absurdities are really highlighted.
BlacKkKlansman depicts a scary and all too recent time in American history. It’s a harsh reminder of the injustices that were committed. Luckily, we eventually were able to bring about some long overdue progress. Despite the major steps we’ve taken, there’s still room for improvement. However, my opinions on what the film is trying to convey are somewhat mixed. As I previously said, it offers a lot of good opinions from multiple sides and never feels like it has one set agenda. At the same time, I feel that their are certain moments in the film that could send the wrong message. To me, it’s a reminder of a worse time that serves as a warning so that we never go backwards. Some people seem to be taking it one step further, embracing it as a direct parallel to today’s political climate. That’s unfair in my opinion because it undercuts all the amazing and rapid advances we’ve made within the last half century. I understand that we are living in a time with certain things that remind us of the past and scare us into thinking we are moving in the wrong direction. However, in the grand scheme of things, we need to remember that it’s now the minority rather than the majority. Social media and the 24 hour news cycle make us blow things out proportion, having us feel like we are living in much more dire times than is actually true.
The most controversial element of the entire film is surely the ending coda and while I haven’t formulated a definitive opinion on it, it’s certainly effective. It packs a major gut punch and leaves you thinking. In that sense, I love it because it gets audiences to talk and that’s exactly what movies like this should do. At the end of the day, I think BlacKkKlansman should be seen as a cautionary reminder of our not too distant past. We shouldn’t read it as something that questions the evolution of this country but instead embraces and celebrates it, urging the public to never let go of our amazing progress.
