The Klan, a white supremacist group founded in 1866, openly promoted slavery and killed several African Americans over the last century.
WASHINGTON, DC: Mira Nair’s film The Namesake, based on Pulitzer-winning writer Jhumpa Lahiri’s eponymous novel, opens on Friday in several US theatres, and the last thing she would have wanted is a controversy. But that is exactly what has happened with Kal Penn, the film’s lead actor, posting a spoof video review, done by actors dressed up as Ku Klux Klan members, on The Namesake’s official blog.
The video, uploaded on February 21, received hate mail from fans, forcing Penn to post a clarification on February 27. The Klan, a white supremacist group founded in 1866, openly promoted slavery and killed several African Americans over the last century.
In the post, Penn is shown interviewing Klan members ‘Ed’ and ‘Larry’, who are actually actors from a sequel to Harold and Kumar, a comedy hit starring the Indian American actor. “That was probably one of the worst movies I have ever seen,” says one actor when Penn seeks his opinion. “I am waiting for a refund. I need my $7 back.” The other ‘Klansman’ says he loved the movie. Penn then say the Klan in Louisiana is divided, and asks the audience to decide.
A reader of the blog, who identified herself as ‘Disgusted’, commented: “As an African American I find it absolutely offensive that you would chose to make light of the KKK and what they mean in American society, simply for laughs. If you and your ‘friends’ took the time to understand not only what they symbolise but what they have done to men, women, and children, I can’t imagine you would have gone forward with this... This is despicable. Keep in mind that you are a direct beneficiary of the trials and triumphs of those people terrorised by the Klan. What a way to let them know that their suffering was in vain!”
In his clarification, Penn said: “When I see KKK guys in their outfits, they make me think of clowns. Cowards. People who hide their faces, knowing the shame and remorse they should feel for their actions.
The reality of the KKK and its part in the brutal suppression of non-white, non-heteronormative, non-Christian Americans is that the organisation and its members murdered, tortured, and terrorised innocents. One of the objectives of their action was to violate the human rights of people of colour.
“So, in deciding to shoot a video with actors dressed as KKK members discussing a film featuring predominantly characters and performers of colour, the entire existence of the Klan is being ridiculed. This is done specifically without using any racial, ethnic, or gender-based indicators. It purposely subverts racism and violence rather than expanding upon or embracing it.”
Penn said Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Assata Shakur, and Malcolm X are among his heroes and urged his detractors to read their writings on issues pertaining to structures of power, race, and violence.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}