Spike Lee: the man behind the movies and the controversy

Ebony, Oct, 1989 by Lynn Norment

Lee has founded a minority student scholarship fund at New York University's film school, where he earned a master's degree. And he has a 40 Acres And A Mule film-training program at Long Island University. In addition, Lee actively supports a number of charities, including the United Negro College Fund. He directed a commercial for the Rev. Jesse Jackson's 1988 campaign. While filming Do The Right Thing, he used residents on the production and established a scholarship fund at the neighborhood school. He also used as security men Minister Louis Farrakhan's Fruit of Islam, who shut down three crack houses.

And Lee is not one to overlook the talent within his own family. His father, composer/arranger Bill Lee, has scored the jazz soundtrack for each movie, including Spike's student films. His mother, a teacher, died in 1977. Lee's sister, Joie Lee, has appeared in each film, and brother David has worked as still photographer on each. "I'm proud of him," says his father, also a Morehouse graduate. "And I know that he also has to be careful in the steps that he takes because he is on the world stage. He should put a lot of thought into and give thanks for all the thins that he's made happen and that have come his way."

As Lee comes to grips with the social responsibility that goes along with success, he has been critical of other celebrities who he says aren't using their clout to get more Black people working in the movie/entertainment industry. He also has lambasted Blacks in general for "abusing" the curly hairstyle and altering their "Negroid features" with plastic surgery and colored contact lenses.

In turn, Lee has been accused of being arrogant and possessing a Blacker-than-thou attitude. Some critics have also raised questions about the lack of positive Black characters in his films. But Lee is not one to hold his tongue or back away from an argument. He is just as feisty in confrontations with film executives as he is with friends expressing opposing views.

Those close to the introverted personality say Spike Lee an be a warm, caring friend. Publicist Pat Tobin says: "He does not open up easily, but once he gets to know you, to trust you, he opens up and he can be the best buddy you could have."

As anyone who has viewed a Spike Lee movie knows, this very serious intellectual has a naturally humorous side. It shines through in his personal interactions with close friends and family, with his staff, on the movie set and in the production studio. It also surfaces in the witty humor that enlivens his films, especially in the characters he portrays. However, he says that the real Spike Lee ("Yeah, I'm nice, I'm quiet ... ) has little in common with Mars, the messenger street kid and loverboy in She's Gotta Have It, or fraternity pledge Half-Pint in School Daze, or Mookie, the pizza delivery man in Do The Right Thing. "I don't have a great urge to be liked," he says.

And sometimes that translates into Spike Lee appearing not to like those with whom he interacts. Many a journalist has felt confused and unfulfilled after interviewing him. One reporter remarks, "I think he thought my questions were stupid." Another says Lee simply ignored some questions, and for others he gave short, cryptic responses. Still another journalist says he had difficulty discerning when Lee was serious and when he was joking.