The Issue of Discrimination and Racial Altercations on African Americans in Brooklyn, NY During the 1980's in Do the Right Thing, a Film by Spike Lee

Do the Right Thing is one of the best dramatic comedies, which was written, directed, produced, and starred by Spike Lee in 1989. This film is based on discrimination and racial altercations that were posed on African Americans in Brooklyn, NY. During the 1980’s racism was very popular. Do The Right Thing is a very eye-opening film due to the awareness of the stereotyping, the intense scenes, and gripping narrative.

First and foremost, based on the discrimination of the African Americans in Brooklyn, NY the core of Do the Right Thing is a true story of the 1980’s.

In this movie, there are many subconscious messages in which the director is trying to portray to the audience. There are many examples of stereotyping throughout the film. For example, during one scene, different races of people were tormenting each other, and the things they were doing, or even talking about showed a lack of communication skills with other races as well. “… when Lou’s famous pizza store was burned down there was a physically manifested division between the understanding and conflict between the pizza store in flames and the neighborhood Korean store shopkeepers who were able to calm the men looking to attack their shop.

” (Moose) The races did not know how to talk to each other with respect or any dignity.

Furthermore, there were also a lot of intense scenes throughout the movie as well. For example, Sal owns a pizzeria and din that pizzeria he has a Wall of Fame full of Italians.

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The best example of an intense scene is when Buggin’ Out becomes the cause for the movie’s climax with violence surrounding Sal’s famous pizzeria inside and out over the Wall of Fame. Buggin’ Out, Radio Raheem, and Smiley marches into Sal’s and demand that Sal put African Americans on the Wall of Fame. Raheem listens to Public Enemy’s rap song “Fight the Power” all throughout the day from his boom box and Sal demands that they turn the radio off, but they refuse. Buggin’ Out states that they are closing down the pizzeria for good until they change the Wall of Fame. Sal tells Buggin’ Out he will “tear his nigger ass,” out of anger, then destroys the boom box with a baseball bat. Raheem then attacks Sal, leading to a huge fight that moves out into the street, attracting a crowd. The most intense scene is when the police arrive to break the fight up. While Radio Raheem is choking Sal, the police apprehend Radio Raheem and Buggin’ Out. One officer refuses to release his chokehold on Raheem, as a result of killing him. Realizing that Raheem has been killed in front of witnesses, the officers then place his body in the back of a squad car, and drive off, leaving Sal, Pino, and Vito unprotected. The main character Mookie grabs a trash can and throws it through the window of Sal’s pizzeria, sparking the crowd to rush into the restaurant and destroy it, with Smiley finally setting it on fire.

Additionally, Do The Right Thing has a gripping narrative. “Do The Right Thing’ is a big movie. Through the action is limited to one more-or-less idealized block in Bed-Stuy, the scope is panoramic. It is a contemporary “Street Scene.’ It has the heightened reality of theater, not only in its look but also in the way the lyrics of the song on the soundtrack become natural extensions of the furiously demotic, often hugely funny dialogue.” (Canby) This film is designed to confront the issues head on. It makes the viewers to examine one’s own personal feelings with regards to racial prejudice.

“In the final analysis, the best thing one can say for Lee is that he takes risks, like all true artists. For unlike most of today’s film makers, he is not afraid to really challenge a movie audience to do some serious thinking.” (NY Daily News) In my opinion, Spike Lee did the right thing when creating this movie, it is a must see. Due to the awareness of the stereotyping, the intense scenes, and the gripping narrative, “Do The Right Thing” is a brilliant film.

Works Cited

1. Canby, V. (1989, June 29). Review/Film; Spike Lee Tackles Racism In ‘Do The Right Thing’ Retrieved February 11, 2017, from http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/30/movies/review- film-spike-lee-tackles-racism-in-do-the-right-thing.html M. (1990, January 01).
2. Do The Right Thing. Retrieved February 11, 2017, from http://csfilmanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/04/do-right-thing.html
3. ‘Do the Right Thing’ tests your conscience: 1989 review. (2015, June 29). Retrieved February 12, 2017, from http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tests-conscience -1989- review-article-1.2271475