Spike Lee's *Do the Right Thing*: Themes, Intent, and Social Commentary
Understanding Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee
Spike Lee's Cinematic Influences and Intent
Early Inspiration from Popeye (1980)
Spike Lee, as a six-year-old Black child from Brooklyn, was taken by his mother to Radio City Hall to see the film Popeye. He initially found it a "dumb movie."
Despite his initial impression, the film had a profound impact on him, resurfacing "out of nowhere from distant memories" 25 years later, which Lee describes as "powerful shit."
This early experience highlights the subtle, long-lasting influence of media on a filmmaker's artistic vision.
Use of Color and Energy
Lee is known for his deliberate use of color throughout most of his films, implying its significance in conveying mood, theme, or character.
He also emphasizes the "energy" or "vitamins" in his films, suggesting a vibrant and dynamic storytelling approach.
Interpretation of Philosophical Concepts (Paresias)
The discussion references "Paresias" (likely a misspelling of Parrhesia, or perhaps a reference to a specific ancient Greek figure), relating to how gods interpret prior events. This is contrasted with using humor as a form of commentary, potentially implying Do the Right Thing's role in interpreting societal events with social commentary.
Character Dynamics and Racial Tensions
Mookie and Pino's Antagonism
The film heavily features tension between Mookie (a Black employee at Sal's Pizzeria) and Pino (Sal's son).
Pino, described as "Sal's son," represents a highly antagonistic and racist presence within the pizzeria.
The Scene with Sal and Mookie's Sister
There's a significant scene where the camera slowly pans over Mookie's face, then Pino's face, while Sal is talking flirtatiously to Mookie's sister.
Mookie intervenes, dragging his sister away, driven by concern over Sal's advances and his awareness of the racial dynamics at play within the Pizzeria and community.
Mookie's actions reflect his sensitivity to Pino's racist views and potential issues concerning his sister and himself.
Pino's "Racial Transcendence" Theory
Pino expresses admiration for specific Black celebrities like Prince, Eddie Murphy, and Magic Johnson, while simultaneously vocalizing hatred for Black people generally ("n-words").
This phenomenon is termed "racial transcendence": a belief that if a Black person adopts interests, behaviors, or subcultural affiliations associated with a dominant "European framework" (e.g., law school, 80s rock, certain fashion styles like Vans shoes), they can "transcend the mold of the n-word."
This allows individuals like Pino to feel comfortable associating with those Black individuals because they are perceived as "not like them" (i.e., not like other Black people he disdains), fostering an expectation of certain behaviors or positions from them.
This creates cognitive dissonance for Pino: despite being surrounded by Black people in his community and pizzeria, he rationalizes his racism by categorizing them into acceptable and unacceptable groups based on his narrow, Eurocentric standards.
Michael Jordan vs. Muhammad Ali
Michael Jordan is presented as an example of a Black celebrity who avoided political issues to maintain broad appeal, especially among conservative consumers, prioritizing financial gain over activism.
This contrasts sharply with Muhammad Ali, who was a fervent activist, famously changing his name from Cassius Clay and correcting interviewers who refused to acknowledge his chosen name. Ali actively used his platform for social and political commentary, signifying a willingness to challenge the status quo, unlike Jordan.
Sal's Character Arc and "Sympathetic Races"
Sal has learned to present a "sympathetic" facade, knowing what to say to maintain peace, but he eventually reaches a breaking point where his true disdain is revealed.
His compliment to Mookie's sister is seen by Mookie as an act rooted in "ignorance" – a lack of true appreciation or understanding of underlying racial complexities and respect.
The concept of "sympathetic races" (as discussed by Corey and reflected in film scenes) suggests how characters are framed to elicit certain emotional responses from the audience, challenging perceptions of who is "sympathetic."
Real-World Connections and Social Commentary
The "Out of Africa" Model
The discussion touches on the scientific "Out of Africa" model of human evolution, stating that all modern humans share common ancestors from Africa, and our "longest maternal ancestor is a Black woman from Africa."
This scientific fact is used to highlight the absurdity of racial prejudice, particularly for groups like Southern Italians who, due to ancient historical overlaps, may have physical traits reflecting this heritage, often denied or unacknowledged due to racial biases.
Spike Lee's "Ripping the Band-Aid Off" Technique
Lee employs a technique, seen in previous films and notably in the "racial epithets" montage in Do the Right Thing, where different characters express their racist biases.
His intent is to make the audience uncomfortable by directly confronting widespread, yet often unspoken, racial stereotypes and slurs. He aims to "rip the band-aid off," forcing a recognition of these prevalent biases that are usually deemed "impolite" to discuss openly.
Radio Raheem's "Love and Hate" Knuckles
Radio Raheem wears brass knuckles with the words "Hate" on one hand and "Love" on the other, an homage to Robert Mitchum's tattoos in Night of the Hunter.
Lee uses this as a powerful visual metaphor for the internal and societal conflict between these opposing forces, a "troubled dialectic" that pervades the film.
This symbolizes the constant struggle that ultimately leads to Raheem becoming a victim of hatred himself.
Visual Storytelling: POV Shot of Radio Raheem
Radio Raheem is often filmed from a slightly upward angle, particularly in crucial scenes, emphasizing his intimidating presence and larger-than-life character. This technique is also used to portray other characters in situations of perceived power or threat.
The Chokehold Murder: Historical Parallels
Spike Lee dedicates a specific scene in Do the Right Thing to the "murder" of Radio Raheem by chokehold, renaming it the "Natalie of the murder."
This fictional event is directly based on the real-life death of Michael Stewart in September 1983, a young Black artist who was choked to death by New York City Transit Police.
Lee explicitly connects Raheem's death to the later death of Eric Garner (c. $2014$), who also died from a police chokehold, highlighting the tragic continuity of police brutality against Black and brown people in America.
Lee emphasizes that the issues depicted in the film, written decades ago ($31$ years before $2019$), are "still happening today," with perpetrators often going unpunished.
Filming the Riot Scene
The riot takes place on "the hottest day of the summer" in "The People's Republic of Brooklyn, New York," a setting designed to elevate tensions.
Lee instructed his director of photography and production designer to create an atmosphere where the audience would "be sweating in an air-conditioning theater."
After Radio Raheem's boombox is destroyed, the atmosphere becomes "quiet like the calm before a storm," building anticipation for the ensuing violence.
The scene, historically challenging to shoot (leading to injuries due to an inadequate stunt coordinator), portrays the chaos spilling from Sal's Pizzeria onto the entire block.
The arrival of the police, who immediately target Radio Raheem, culminates in the tragic chokehold, a direct visual reference to Michael Stewart's death.
The Film's Controversial Ending and Spike Lee's Stance
King vs. Malcolm X: A Reconciled View
The film's ending features quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, often presented as diametrically opposed figures.
However, scholar Joseph is cited for arguing that King and Malcolm X were "closer to being together than being apart," particularly on the question of self-defense, offering a more nuanced understanding of their philosophies.
Spike Lee's Interpretation of the Ending
Lee asserts that the film's ending is not ambiguous.
He emphasizes the critical importance of the final quote, which is from Malcolm X, following King's quote:
Malcolm X's quote: "$I ext{ am not against using violence as self defense. I don't even call it violence. I call it intelligence.}$"
Lee unequivocally states that the riot depicted in the film is "doing the right thing" in that specific context.
This act of destruction is presented as a response to the accumulated frustration and hopelessness of Black people witnessing incessant police killings of Black individuals with no accountability.
Misinterpretations and Fears of Promotion of Violence
Many critics, including those from The New York Times, notoriously misinterpreted Do the Right Thing as actively "promoting violence."
This fear led some theaters to refuse to screen the film, fearing that it would incite riots among Black audiences.
Lee dismisses these interpretations as "full of shit," clarifying that self-defense is not violence but intelligence.
He draws a parallel to the international discourse where powerful nations (e.g., Israel) can engage in aggressive actions without widespread condemnation, yet Black people defending themselves are labeled "militants" or "advocating violence."
Impact of the Riot on the Community
Following the riot, Sal's Pizzeria is destroyed, and the street is filled with debris.
Despite the material loss, the community members involved "felt better about it, though." They felt that "for once in their lives, they've taken a stand," experiencing a sense of agency and empowerment.
Lee highlights a moral inversion in societal discourse, where the destruction of property is often deemed more significant than the unlawful killing of a human being (Radio Raheem). The film argues that such a focus on property over human life represents a morally "upside down" perspective.
The riot, given the systemic denial of justice and limited avenues for exercising power within the legal system, becomes the community's way of expressing their outrage and making their point against racial injustice.
Other Relevant Information
Project Films: Students are encouraged to consider films such as Mo' Better Blues (likely "Little Better Blues" in the transcript) for their projects.
Next Week's Film: The upcoming film for discussion is Jungle Fever.