Black Klansman: The Case of Ron Stallworth

In the late 1970s, one of the most improbable and audacious undercover investigations in American history took place. Ron Stallworth's story, Black Klansman, is a gripping and almost surreal tale of infiltration and deception. Ron Stallworth, the first black detective in Colorado Springs, Colorado, undertook a dangerous and audacious mission—to pose as a white supremacist to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Through phone calls and written correspondence, he gained the trust of local Klan members and even the Grand Wizard, David Duke. His story, later recounted in his 2014 memoir Black Klansman: A Memoir, inspired both the 2018 Spike Lee film BlacKkKlansman and renewed interest in the fight against racial extremism in America. Sit down. Buckle up. And hang with us through this wild case of Ron Stallworth, the first Black Klansman.

Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, you can follow/subscribe to WILDCIDE on your favorite podcast listening app. While you’re there, please rate and leave us a review – we would really appreciate it! You can also visit our website at www.wildcidepodcast.com (merch now available!) Make sure to get updates by following us on Instagram (@wildcidepodcast) and Facebook (Wildcide Podcast). 

Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST.

Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff (bltzwolff@gmail.com).

​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. 

Ron Stallworth's book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37901607-black-klansman

References:

Goldfarb, K. (2020, June 24). The unbelievable story of the black cop who went undercover in the KKK. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/ron-stallworth

Mayotte, G. (2018, August 9). Meet Ron Stallworth, the Colorado detective who is the subject of Blackkklansman. 5280. https://www.5280.com/meet-ron-stallworth-the-colorado-detective-who-is-the-subject-of-blackkklansman/

Morgan, T. (2018, August 9). The real story of how a black cop infiltrated the KKK. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/black-cop-infiltrate-kkk-real-story

Roos, D. (2018, August 20). The incredible true story of the real “black klansman.” HowStuffWorks. https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/incredible-true-story-real-black-klansman.htm

Stallworth, R. (2020). Black Klansman: A memoir. W.F. Howes Ltd.