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1.21k reviews for:
Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime
Ron Stallworth
3.57 AVERAGE
1.21k reviews for:
Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime
Ron Stallworth
3.57 AVERAGE
DNF. I couldn't get over the way he spoke about women.
An interesting book very interesting how lives have changed from then to know
Wow, what a read! Stallworth chronicles his 1978 undercover investigation of the Ku Klux Klan as the first black Intelligence Unit detective for the Colorado Springs Police Department. His story is sometimes shocking, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes holding-your-breath suspenseful.
Can you imagine being asked by the KKK if you would like to join their cause (as a black man)? Ron Stallworth was! Can you imagine being invited to take a leadership position in the local KKK after many conversations with Klan leaders including Grand Wizard, David Duke? Ron Stallworth was! Can you imagine being asked to be Duke’s body guard? Ron Stallworth was!
Ironically enough, on the day Stallworth was tasked with guarding Duke, the Klan had inducted three undercover police officers into their ranks. The KKK master was none the wiser that one of his favored new recruits was also leading the undercover investigation of him and the KKK. After hours of phone conversations, Stallworth was standing right next to Duke guarding him and making sure their picture was taken together!
When asked what he is most proud of, Stallworth replies,
“As a result of our combined effort, no parent of a black or other minority child, or any child for that matter, had to explain why an eighteen-foot cross was seen burning at this or that location—especially those individuals from the South who, perhaps as children, had experienced the terrorist act of a Klan cross burning. No child in the city limits of Colorado Springs ever had to experience firsthand the fear brought on by this act of terror. We prevented them from having such an incident burned into their consciousness, as many of their parents might have been imprinted as children.”
Stallworth’s courageous undercover work, his personal integrity and professional instincts in leading the investigation uncovered white supremacists in various positions of trust and influence, in the military, even in NORAD. His investigation prevented untold evil. Ron Stallworth is an American hero in my book, a man of courage and integrity.
--Kathleen G.
Can you imagine being asked by the KKK if you would like to join their cause (as a black man)? Ron Stallworth was! Can you imagine being invited to take a leadership position in the local KKK after many conversations with Klan leaders including Grand Wizard, David Duke? Ron Stallworth was! Can you imagine being asked to be Duke’s body guard? Ron Stallworth was!
Ironically enough, on the day Stallworth was tasked with guarding Duke, the Klan had inducted three undercover police officers into their ranks. The KKK master was none the wiser that one of his favored new recruits was also leading the undercover investigation of him and the KKK. After hours of phone conversations, Stallworth was standing right next to Duke guarding him and making sure their picture was taken together!
When asked what he is most proud of, Stallworth replies,
“As a result of our combined effort, no parent of a black or other minority child, or any child for that matter, had to explain why an eighteen-foot cross was seen burning at this or that location—especially those individuals from the South who, perhaps as children, had experienced the terrorist act of a Klan cross burning. No child in the city limits of Colorado Springs ever had to experience firsthand the fear brought on by this act of terror. We prevented them from having such an incident burned into their consciousness, as many of their parents might have been imprinted as children.”
Stallworth’s courageous undercover work, his personal integrity and professional instincts in leading the investigation uncovered white supremacists in various positions of trust and influence, in the military, even in NORAD. His investigation prevented untold evil. Ron Stallworth is an American hero in my book, a man of courage and integrity.
--Kathleen G.
The casual misogyny sprinkled throughout the book left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Aside from that I fully enjoyed the idiocy on display of these hate groups. But it really was not a well written book, it could’ve been so much more interesting if it had been written with more attention to what the author was feeling and less the times, names and dates of everything in police report style.
informative
medium-paced
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Slurs are used throughout the most used is the n word
A crazy story. The movie embellishes much of what happened because there isn't much that actually goes down, but it is still satisfying to read about these Klansmen get hoodwinked.
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book is a great reminder of how stupid hate groups like the KKK are.
This could have been such an interesting book, but it is boring and poorly written.