A&O Productions and Contemporary Thought Speaker Series have announced a screening of BlacKkKlansman as A&O's second film speaker event of the spring, following the screening of Roma earlier in the quarter. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Ron Stallworth, whose memoir of the same name was the basis for the film, and Kevin Willmott, writer of the film's screenplay. The conversation will be moderated by Medill Interim Dean Charles Whitaker.

Stallworth, the first Black detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, published his book, Black Klansman: A Memoir in 2014. The book chronicles Stallworth's undercover infiltration of the Colorado Springs Ku Klux Klan chapter in 1978. Stallworth was played by John David Washington in the 2018 film adaptation of the memoir.

Willmott is best known for his work with director Spike Lee, including BlacKkKlansman and Chi-raq. Willmott and Lee, along with co-writers Charlie Watchel and David Rabinowitz, won Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman at the 2018 Oscars. In addition to screenwriting, Willmott is a playwright and film professor at the University of Kansas.

The free event will be held in Ryan Auditorium at 4 p.m. on May 19. Tickets must be reserved on Eventbrite . More information can be found on A&O's Facebook Page.