(Spoilers follow.)
The theory, as presented in a conversation with Colorado Springs policeman Ron Stallworth and a senior officer, is that the world’s most notorious Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard made a President Donald Trump possible.
In the historical drama “BlacKkKlansman,” the officer tells Stallworth that David Duke’s efforts to become branded as a mainstream politician with palatable views would pave the way for the an election of reality of someone like Trump.
The reply from even Stallworth, who, as the film shows, led in exposing the Klan in Colorado Springs?
“America would never elect somebody like David Duke president of the United States,” he replies.
Duke, generally a figurehead in the white supremacist movement in the United States, has proven to have made such efforts about himself. He has run for governor, the House, Senate and even president (with both major political parties), and even got elected to a state legislature.
Is Trump “like David Duke?”
Spike Lee’s film makes that argument. It features video footage from Duke after neo-Nazi rallies and riots last year in Charlottesville, Va. (That’s beside featuring Duke (Topher Grace), as Duke was tricked by the black Stallworth (John David Washington) into thinking that Stallworth was a white Klan enthusiast.)
As “BlacKkKlansman” also shows, Duke talked there about the event as the realization of Trump’s perception of what America should be.
“We are determined to take our country back,” Duke said, calling the rally a “turning point.” “We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That’s what we believed in. That’s why we voted for Donald Trump, because he said he’s going to take our country back.”
On the riots, Heather Heyer died, a car having plowed into her and a crowd. Trump said that there were “very fine people on both sides.”
Duke supported Trump as early as the 2016 Republican primary and has tweeted “it was white Americans who put (Trump) in the presidency.” Trump appeared to not want to disavow Duke’s support for him when campaigning.
Duke, a Republican, has since been on Trump’s side, even saying that Trump’s policies align with how Duke viewed the United States.
Perhaps Lee sought to get white supremacists to see his film. Many fans of film character Kylo Ren may be white supremacists given actions including, but not limited to, targeted racism at non-white actress Kelly Marie Tran. Adam Driver not only plays that character, but he also portrayed Stallworth’s law enforcement partner in bringing justice, Flip Zimmerman.
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Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
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