In the Heat of the Night Reflection

In the Heat of the Night just so happened to be one of the most intriguing movies I have ever seen.

Virgil Tibbs was the lead homicide detective 
who was questioned and harassed by
the other officers. 

Virgil Tibbs, after visiting his mother, passes through the small town of Sparta, Mississippi. While there, he is dragged to the station as the potential killer of Philip Colbert; the officers come to find out he is the lead homicide detective back in his Philadelphia precinct. Because of this, he is asked to say and help consult on the case. Through a rollercoaster of events, he finds and accuses the true killer- but not before multiple scenarios unfold.

I would like to start by addressing the time period. This movie takes place in the South during the Civil rights Era. This incredibly important time wasn't all victories though. In fact, some parts of the South were still considered quite dangerous for African Americans. During this time was also the landmark case, Plessy V Ferguson.

Because of this, it is important to note how the results of that case affected everyday life.

What was supposed to be "separate but equal" ended up being the opposite. There was no "equal"; not for black men. Mr. Tibbs was treated with brutality and condescension virtually the whole movie. One of the most vulnerable groups were still being pushed around, even with all of the progress being made in this time.

Regardless, Tibbs did not let the social hate for him stop the job he was there to perform. In fact, I think it fueled his desire to finish the case. He was in the business of taking control back, and we can clearly see that in the scene with Mr. Endicott. Nowhere in history was there ever a moment where a black man could assault a white man and get away with it, punishment free. That was a first for that age, but I cannot imagine how liberating that must have been for him to stand up for himself.

The budding partnership between Chief and Tibbs was one of a kind for this time.

I also found it interesting to watch the relationship between the police chief and Tibbs; What started as beyond rocky turned into a mutually respectable relationship. But, while the Chief's views may have changed, the towns did not. Racism did not end just because Gillespie saw the good and importance behind Virgil's work. 

I think it is imperative to touch on what happens with Miss Purdy and Mamma Caleba. Coming back to "separate but equal", nothing about what they both went through was that. Mamma Caleba should not have been the "go-to" when a woman was in trouble...in need. Not only was that unsafe, but it was unfair. Why did women have to fear and shy away, and result to horrible measures during this period?

Most of all, though, I value Tibbs' dignity and self-respect. He was not going to dumb himself down or 'play nice' to appease the people in town. He knew his worth and what he was there to do. I think that was a beautiful message: Even when the world has decided what you are or who you have to be, YOU do not have to comply and fit in that said image.

Even though the movie (and time period) was far from perfect, I was left with a positive feeling at the end of the movie, knowing that Mr. Tibbs, despite the odds, persevered and stayed true to himself.