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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
Short and very casual, like the author is telling the story in your living room. Stallworth tells of his infiltration of the KKK in Colorado Springs-- I had thought he like showed up to KKK meetings as a Black man but what he did was talk to the people on the phone and white officers did the undercover part. But Stallworth himself spoke on the phone to David Duke and the head of the Klan in Colorado Springs, and led the intelligence operation that helped stop cross-burnings during that time. It's an interesting story and he has a unique perspective on the organization. Quick, engaging read. In 2021 it feels like everything is going to hell, then you read that 100 years ago basically every elected official in Colorado was a Klan member and it's like oh. This country has been effed for a WHILE now. And this investigation was in the 1970s when Duke was ramping up to run for office and so on. Yuck. Worthwhile read.
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
medium-paced
Really interesting book. Another display of how our society has structural racism. I really enjoyed hearing Ron's story and was disappointed his investigation was not able to be finished. But, I am glad he was able to tell the story and create more awareness.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Just a bit dry. Wild concept though.
This morning I finished Ron Stallworth's memoir, amazed at such a crazy story, and timely celebrating Spike Lee's Oscar win last night - a long time coming - for Best Adapted Screenplay. I will say though I was hopeful for Lee's win in the Best Director category, I thought for sure the Adapted Screenplay prize would go to the adaptation of James Baldwin's novel If Beale Street Could Talk. In any case, both Stallworth and Lee definitely deserve the recognition as any attempt to denounce hate is always relevant (whether it be in 1978 or in 2019). I've enjoyed (while saddened by) the factual recounting of events in Black Klansman, only to me the writing reads too much like a police report and feels a little flat (not that I've ever read an actual police report, admittedly, my only references are from watching Dateline). Not necessarily a 3, but not quite a 4 by my standards... I would give it a 3.5. That said, Stallworth's impressive and courageous achievements are still well worth the time and the appreciation.