The Last White Knight

Just watched this unusual documentary. I believe I understand what Paul Saltzman was trying to accomplish. He wanted to bridge the gap, to understand what the other side was thinking, to attempt to put the hate aside and even extend a hand of friendship. He tried mightily to gain some perspective on what had happened in 1960's Mississippi. Although his heart may have been in the right place (it was a valiant and beautiful effort) in the end, the most salient comment was made by Harry Belafonte: "I (still) don't trust Mississippi. . . I don't feel safe here." After listening to Byron de la Beckwith's hateful statements, looking at his smirky smiling face, his misplaced sense of bravado, I realize that real deep-down change will only come slowly to Mississippi after several more generations of people like Beckwith have died out.

This documentary shows two sides of one of the most turbulent times in US history.

Paul Saltzman returns to Mississippi decades after having been there as a Freedom Rider in 1964. Saltzman interviews an active member of the Ku Klux Klan, who happens to be the same man who brutally assaulted him many years before. A man who is also the son of the convicted killer of Medgar Evers.

This fascinating conversation is intercut with interviews with Harry Belafonte and Morgan Freeman (a Mississippi resident), as well as survivors of several deadly attacks by the Klan.

The main interview is riveting, especially the -mostly- direct answers to Saltzman's questions, and the genuine respect that these two have developed for each other. There are some uncomfortable moments, especially an interview with Klansmen in full hood and robes. Also, at one point, Saltzman is caught off guard when a .45 automatic pistol is pulled from his interviewee's waistband!

An unforgettable film that will give the viewer plenty to ponder...

Living in the south we have heard of all the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement and I have met many that were enthralled in the middle of it all. This movie The Last White Knight takes you in the heart of the crisis to Mississippi where Paul Saltzman went to fight for the civil rights cause and got beat up by Klansman Byron "Delay" de la Beckwith. Now close to fifty years later Saltzman returns to revisit Mississippi an attempt to discover the evolution of the new "south". The most powerful aspect of this film is a series of one and one interviews of Delay as he shares his world view and the inner workings of the KKK. His father was sent to prison for the death of Medgar Evers, who was marked as a dead by the Klan. Morgan Freeman, a Mississippi native and Harry Belafonte tell their struggle and perspective in the film pointing to the harsh realities of the color barriers. I saw this film as part of the 2013 Atlanta Jewish Film festival and was mesmerized by the hatred of "the nigras" that Delay so freely professed. Even though it evokes hatred, this movie also shows children that share that we should all love each other and gives hope that the next generation not repeat the ills of the past.

This film is tough to watch but compelling enough to see through to the end. It has wit and charm along with the harsh realities of both the 60's and (unfortunately) now.

I highly recommend this as a work that should be used in schools to show our upcoming generations how far we have come and how far we still need to go. Brave, thoughtful and brutally honest.

Take the time to view this wonderful piece of work with your family and your friends to keep the discussion going as to how best relate to one another as human beings without regard to race,religion, eye color, height,age, gender, sexual preference, shoe size or any other arbitrary way that has been used to discriminate and hate-monger. Rather, hold yourself to a higher duty to show your true humanity by being the best of who you can be, and demanding that of your entertainment - not just appealing to the lowest common denominator.