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Spike Lee Explains How Do the Right Thing Has Remained Relevant Anatomy of a Scene

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Rating: 4.0; Vote: 1

This year is the 30th anniversary of the release of Spike Lees game-changing drama Do the Right Thing, about the rise of racial tensions during one very hot day on a block in Brooklyns Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. In July, the Criterion Collection released a digitally restored version of the film on Blu-ray. For the Anatomy of a Scene series, we asked Lee to pick a sequence and discuss it. He chose the one leading to the killing of Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) by police officers, and during an interview at his Brooklyn production offices, he gave an impassioned explanation for it. Here are edited excerpts from his comments: Spike Lee: I know the column is called Anatomy of a Scene. Im renaming this. Im calling it Anatomy of a Murder. Some of you might not know that the chokehold of Radio Raheem, played by the late, great Bill Nunn, my Morehouse brother, was based upon the death of Michael Stewart. In September 1983, Michael Stewart, a graffiti artist, was tagging the First Avenue subway station. Eleven New York City Transit police officers jumped on him and strangled our brother to death. Thats where I got the idea for the chokehold murder of Radio Raheem. Five years ago, after the chokehold had been outlawed by the N. Y. P. D, Eric Garner died the same way that Radio Raheem did in a movie that was based on the real-life chokehold of Michael Stewart. And several days ago, the attorney general of the U. S, appointed by the president, Agent Orange, gave the final decision that no charges would be brought against the officers in Eric Garners death. When I saw that footage of Eric Garner being choked to death and saying, I cant breathe, I immediately thought of Radio Raheem. So a lot of things in this film, even though it debuted 30 years ago, are still happening today. Black and brown people are still being murdered today by police forces across the United States of America. And the people who inflict this death walk free. They dont get fired, dont get suspended. So when I was asked to do this series, I immediately thought of this scene because it just happened where the murderers of Eric Garner walked. This is very, very personal to me. Read the review here:
Date: 2020-08-15

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Comments and reviews: 10

James
Hey Spike! Have you seen or spoken to the Bed Bug? That WHITE BUG! Quit lying Spike and spreading discourse among our people. You are using lies to monetize your own in founded narrative. You remind me of big head AL Sharpton, another race baiting charlatan. Keep it real and you would garner more support for your project. Twenty years ago, I use to honor you. Now you are just a race baiting miscreant!
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Vickielindstrander
I watched this movie yesterday.
I can't stand Raheem being killed by the police.
Likewise, I can't allow Spike Lee to break the glass of the store where he works and provoke a riot.
Is it the Do the right thing to destroy the local pizzeria?
To confront the police is the right thing, isn't it?
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Riki
Farrr I wish I had watch this movie first before all the others these stories need to be seen and heard to make a change in our society, community and country and I hope more stories are revealed to teach people of today and our children for our future to learn these lessons in life and be aware and be better fot it.
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DAIL
Once his feet was in the air it was over before he dropped I'm not perfect but this is a prime example why I respect the law to stay alive I shake cops hands to know I cooperate and go home safe to my family when I get pulled over
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Mr.
Everybody right now needs to go home and watch do the right thing. Its horrible that this movie is still relevant (even tho its an amazing movie) but people of both sides need to go home n watch this movie. Especially white people
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Mac
Its 2020 George Floyd died the very same way. from a chocke hold. the same thing is happening. this will be relevant 20 years from now because the systematic injustice against POC in America. its sad to say nothing will change.
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Seelenwinter
the poor black. all the day nothing to do than to sit in the street. drinking and hating all white and and asian, because they earn their money with working. and now we should cry for the poor blacks? good joke.
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sdafasdfasdfsda
Why don't we give black people a state of their own as reparations and they can ALL go live there in a pure chocolate city. They can govern and police themselves, no whitey to hold them down.
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DAIL
Don't resist cooperate otherwise you'll escalate the situation and get yourself killed with cops having a killer instinct I cooperate and go home for the day R. I. P. Raheem
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Anna
So does anyone think they recreating your art work to put people in the state of terror and depression? I'm asking not assuming
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