“TWO WARRING IDEALS IN ONE DARK BODY”: NEGOTIATED IDENTITIES IN BLACKKKLANSMAN

Abstract

The present work has as its object of study the film BlacKkKlansman, released in 2018. Directed by Spike Lee, the movie deals with racial issues, focusing on the United States of America. Here we discuss how Lee articulates the individual and social identities of the protagonist, Ron Stallworth, The Colorado Springs' first black policeman, who infiltrates the white supremacist organization Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. The methodology adopted is the film analysis, based on Manoela Penafria (2009). The concepts of race, racism, and individual/social identity are based on Stuart Hall (2016), Lilia Schwarcz (2012), Silvio Almeida (2018), Clara Santos (2005), among others. As a result, it can be concluded that Ron's identities are conflicted during the film, but the protagonist does not give up one over the other, only establishes negotiations between them. Nevertheless, it is the individual identity that sets the plot’s tone, as Ron cannot escape the racial imprint imposed on him and is very proud and committed to what he calls “my people” when referring to black people. The protagonist is treated differently by his fellow police officers, but, perhaps because the film is directed by a black man aware of black social status, Ron is not built on stereotypes, but as someone true to his goals and principles, endowed with ability and intelligence.