In the Heat of the Night

     The Heat of the Night is a movie that exemplifies the racial segregation and tension in the American South during the time it was filmed. Eventually looking past racial injustice and forming an unexpected alliance, Chief Gillespie works with Detective Tibbs to solve a murder case of Mr. Colbert. 

    The relationship between Chief Gillespie and Detective Tibbs is difficult to understand, as it is clear that Chief Gillespie is as shocked as everyone else that he needs to rely on a colored person to solve a case that he should easily be able to solve himself. 

In the beginning of the film, at their first interaction, Chief Gillespie is planning on convicting detective Gibbs of being the murderer based off of what his partner claims is what happened. He did not even get a chance to talk to Gibbs or question him before convicting him of something as serious as murder. 

    Later on, after discovering who Gibbs really is, he changes his whole attitude about him. He is hesitant at first and rejects the idea that he actually needs Gibbs' help by acting as if he does not trust him with what he says. He looks at the situation with a passive aggressive mindset, acting like he does not trust Gibbs to his face, but behind his back, telling others things like to get Gibbs whatever he needs or making a decision just because Gibbs says to. 

    At the end of the film, their relationship could be viewed, if not friendly, at least civil with one another. Cheif Gillespie looked past societal norms and fell into the pressure of having to act right when it comes to interacting with someone of the opposite race.   

    This leaves me with a positive attitude at the end of the film because it gives a sense of hope that actions like this, a cohesive team of white and black workers, are some of the first steps seen at the beginning for the abolition of slavery. It gives me faith in humanity that not everyone will follow the societal bandwagon of treating people differently for no reason, especially the people that can help out society.  

    This movie exaggerates the "separate but equal" concept by forming a union of a white and black person to work as a team, something unheard of for the most part in the South during the time. Chief Gillespie helps highlight how colored African Americans can do beneficial things for society, by giving Tibbs a chance at solving a difficult case with him. 

    Women in the film are portrayed by two main women in the film, Mrs. Colbert and Delores Purdy. The way each is portrayed depends on their social status and affluence in society. 

    One of the two main women shown in the film is Mrs. Colbert and is the Wife of the deceased Mr. Colbert. She is portrayed as an authority figure, as she gets what she demands, which is justice for her dead husband. Chief Gillespie and Gibbs go through hoops to solve the perplexing mystery of the death of Mr. Colby to satisfy grieving Mrs. Colby. 

    The other woman figure in the film is Delores Purdy, who is a struggling-to-get by Mamma Caleba. She uses her flirtatious and promiscuous behavior to have a relationship with Officer Sam Wood. This interaction between the two of them raises suspicion in the investigation because Wood was with Purdy the night of the murder.

This evidence shows that women in this time were viewed differently based on their social status, defying the "separate but equal" saying. The more money and wealth the women have at this time, the more they are respected and listened to. 

    The pivotal point in the film is when Mr. Endicott is confronted by Chief Gillespie and Tibbs by showing up to his prospering plantation. The significance of Mr. Endicott crying after being approached by Tibbs is because it shows how established the social hierarchy at this time is. It is showing the vigorous disapproval of African Americans having any social status or rights at the time. 

    In this case, Mr. Endicott can not accept that African Americans can do great things for society, such as solving a murder case and they are the only ones making him wealthy, as he has a huge number of them working on his plantation.

    This film depicts somewhat the issues of abortion and the Dobbs case. Women have reproductive rights in the film, seen as Delores Purdy is able to get her way with pretty much any man she wants. 

    Superior white men in the film such as Sam Wood, Harvey Oberst, and Ralph Henshaw, display their rights throughout the film, but it comes to an extent to which white privilege can not save someone from murder. 

    Officer Sam Wood, despite working for the sheriff's office, is wrongly accused of the murder of Mr. Colbert. He gets convicted due to something as acute as his suspicious activity with Delores Purdy. That as well as being a lower social class citizen in society raise the suspicion, striking my opinion as not very privileged. 

    Harvey Oberst is a poor white man in the society who was convicted and arrested for having Mr. Colbert's wallet. This strikes me as not very privileged, but more privileged than Tibbs was at first from when he was convicted without evidence. Relating to Delores' situation, he is also not a well off person in society, so it is not surprising that he was convicted, having compelling evidence to lead to the conclusion that he is the one who committed the murder. 

    Ralph Henshaw is a blue collar worker whose social status does not save him from the sentence of being a murderer. 

    This shows that as white privilege exists in society, where social status also takes a toll on the privileges and power someone holds in the town.   

    This film demonstrates how Chief Gillespie and Detective Tibbs work together to crush the norms of racial segregation and push the limits on "separate but equal", by displaying characters that could be considered below or equal to Detective Tibbs.