Spike Lee fights back
By The Blemish, 12:25 PM on Jun 06, 2008, 71 Comments
What started as a simple remark to promote Spike Lee’s new WWII movie, Miracle at St. Anna, has turned into an even better promotion. Today, Spike Lee gave his response to Clint Eastwood’s suggestion that he should “shut his face.” Spike tells ABC News:
“First of all, the man is not my father and we’re not on a plantation either. He’s a great director. He makes his films, I make my films. The thing about it though, I didn’t personally attack him. And a comment like ‘a guy like that should shut his face’ — come on Clint, come on. He sounds like an angry old man right there.”
“If he wishes, I could assemble African-American men who fought at Iwo Jima and I’d like him to tell these guys that what they did was insignificant and they did not exist,” he said. “I’m not making this up. I know history. I’m a student of history. And I know the history of Hollywood and its omission of the one million African-American men and women who contributed to World War II.”
Then again, maybe Clint Eastwood misinterpreted his comments.
“I never said he should show one of the other guys holding up the flag as black. I said that African-Americans played a significant part in Iwo Jima,” he said. “For him to insinuate that I’m rewriting history and have one of the four guys with the flag be black … no one said that. It’s just that there’s not one black in either film. And because I know my history, that’s why I made that observation.”
They should just hug and get it over with. Maybe even give each other a fist pound. After all, fist pounding is the new hugging. They can even be cutesy about it. You know how sometimes you see young kids try to teach old white men urban handshakes, but the old guy messes up and they both laugh resulting in sort of shared “moment”? Spike Lee and Clint Eastwood should do that.
[Spike Lee at Cannes 2008. Image via Splash News]
Maybe Robert Downey Jr. is in there somewhere playing a black guy. :P
Anyways I think Clint Eastwood is misinterpreting his question on purpose, because that’s the only way to respond without looking like an ass.
Of course Clint doesn’t want to own up to the fact that blacks are invisible in his movie. It is a non issue for him. In every movie that he has ever seen or acted in he has seen his race POSITIVELY represented, it comes with white privilege. Spike makes an important point and it is something that more Hollywood directors should take into consideration. Racism can be performed by omission and blacks are not blind to this fact.
Wow, Renee…well said. And Ben, I agree. It’s sad that this is a truth in today’s America… in today’s world…
Are there ever any white people in Spike Lee’s movies who aren’t idiots or racists?
You ever notice that every time Spike Lee is in the news it has something to do with racism? I think he is just jealous. Clint Eastwood had Morgan Freeman as a top supporting actor in Academy Award winning “Unforgiven”. I don’t think I have ever heard anybody say “I didn’t like that movie (any movie) because it had to many blacks in it” Sometimes I wonder who the racist is in situations like this.
Mark, you are behind the times, when I was a child in the 60’s we “African Americans” have always noticed that African Americans were NOT equally represented in movies, it was “racist” not to include African Americans especially in historical movies, educational books, documentaries etc. Spike Lee is just in a position that eveyone can finally hear what we have all been saying for years and then do something about it!
Kay, I’m behind the times? You are talking about almost 50 years ago. And what is Spike Lee doing about it? Giving your opinion that somebody else is racist, in a round about way is not constructive in my opinion. Maybe Spike should make a movie on how Condoleezza Rice or Collin Powell got to where they did. Now that would be constructive.
The issue has never been race – the issue always has and always will be between good and bad – and there are both in every race and creed.
Why hasn’t Spike had Reggie Miller in any of his movies?
The movie was about the flagraisers of Iwo Jima. There weren’t any blacks there. Evidently Spike isn’t to bright or doesn’t know his history.
I was also a child of the 60s and I too am a minority. The thing is that you need to get over your self pity about your race. To borrow a phrase from the great movie and actor Sidney Poitier “Guess who’s comming to dinner”.
You look at yourself as a colored man, I look at myself as a man.
Move on…
So Spike knows history huh. If he did he would know there were 6 involved in the flag raising , not 4. Five Marines and a Navy Corpsman. The movie was about the taking of Mount Suribachi and the history around the flag raising. The black troops on the island were in a completely different area and not involved in that action.
While I agree that blacks have been overlooked in movies so have jews, american indians, and every other ethic group – it’s part of life. But I also believe that enough already. Everytime something happens it seems there is a non-caucasian person waiting to pounce.
Blacks do not have to be in every blessed thing that is created. I mean do we have white women in the Miss Black America Pageant? Do whites get scholarships from NAACP?
There are plenty of whites overlooked also. And not one of us was alive when blacks were enslaved! A black man sold his people for gold that most still wear dripping from their fingers and necks – so who is really perpetuating the whole idea of insignificance? If it were not the “African Americans” they’d boycott gold jewlery don’t you think?
I am mixed and a black is not part of my everday life – there are weeks I go without contact with a black person – not my fault – not theirs either – I just am not in that situation so should I go look for one daily?
Why am i not surprised people are taking this out of proportion again, like always. It’s old! As Maro said It’s about the flagraisers of Iwo Jima. Come on Spike Lee knew what he was doing bye even raising the question at all and putting it out there. Race again! Come on! People are not stupid! Here we go again! It’s so old! By the way Eastwoods reaction was far from an angry old man! I do think though, he should have not even reacted at all! He should have known it was coming. If an african american was not raising the flag then he wasn’t. It should not take away at all from what they have done…
Renee, Clint doesn’t have to “own up” to the fact of blacks being invisible in his movie as if he were suppose to be aware of the need for an excuse. It was his full intention to make the movie the way he did with no ulterior motives for ommiting blacks. And the assertion that “his” race (which I believe to be the human race), in every movie he’s ever acted in is POSITITIVELY represented is as ignorant as it is totally and ridiculously baseless. Anybody familiar with the canon of Clint Eastwood movies knows better.
I disagree with this article refering to Spike’s comment as a “simple” remark. I believe he’s feigning ignorance when he says he didn’t personally attack him. He may not of wanted to appear direct but it obviously was.
Kay, your behind the times. Your comments would’ve made more sense 30 years ago. Times have changed and continue to change albeit gradually. Don’t be stuck in the past. Spike certainly seems to be.
Once again we see the point of view of white america and black america, then say we are the human race. Well, in being just one race the human race, everyone should be consider when making a movie on history or any other type for that matter. In order for the one race (Amercia) to move forward is to acknowledge the bias that still is present and stand up together against it, oppose to making excuses for neglect.
We can all get along, with God first.
SPIKE LEE IS ONE OF THE TOP 5 RACIST IN AMERICA. WHY SHOULD WE BE SURPISED BY THE FILTH THAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH. KUDOS TO CLINT. IF HE DOES A MOVIE ABOUT MANDELLA ……….. HE SAYS “I MAY HAVE TWO WHITE PEOPLE IN IT”.
WHY SIDE WITH A RACIST?
Jay:
You are clearly the “RACIST” just by your comment here. Everytime an African-American points out things in history (that most White Americans are embarassed about and don’t want to own up to), you call them racist. The fact of the matter is that African-American men have fought and been involved throughout the years in certain battles. Just look at the Tuskegee Airmen. Or do you even know who these men are and their contributions? Unfortunately, most people (including African-Americans) would have never known about this brave men – and did not find out about who they were until a movie was done about their accomplishments. (If real history was taught in school – White, Black, Asian, etc., people would know about these things.)
But what’s so sad is that it still shows how (some) White Americans always want to play the ‘race card’ when are there are things that they do not wish to deal with.
I RECENTLY TALKED WITH A YOUNG MAN WITH A FAMILY WORKING IN THE U.S. A RECENT ARRIVAL FROM AFRICA. HE WORKS HARD, LOVES IT HERE IS APPRECIATIVE AND APPRECIATED. HE HAS NO PROBLEM LETTING PEOPLE KNOW. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE IF AN EARLIER GENERATION HADN’T SUFFERED FOR THEM. WE ALL HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND THE GENERATION OR GENERATIONS BEFORE US THAT DIDN’T HAVE IT SO GOOD. MAYBE ONE DAY WE MAY ALSO GET A GOV’T FOR THE PEOPLE AGAIN.
Lisa:
Talking about taking things out of proportion … that’s exactly what you are doing here. All of you are misinterpreting Spike’s comments. He did not say have a Black person raising the flag (because that would be a deviation from real history). What he is saying is that “Clint should have shown and represented all persons who fought at Iwo Jima, not just White people” because that is not true and totally inaccurate.
You just as others on concentrating on the raising of the flag and not the real issue at hand: All persons and nationalities who fought at Iwo Jima should have been depicted in the film. PERIOD!!!!
Hey Paul:
Maybe Spike Lee and all other Black men will see themselves as MEN when America treats them as such!!!
World out, including Spike Lee: It’s a film and each one of you has the power to do with films as you wish. If I want to know about history I go to the text books. Because no matter how accurate you try to be. There will always be an opinion. We’re just human. This includes the Bible. I read it for myself and get from it what I need. So quit the back and forth garbage. It’s about entertainment. Just intertain me and allow me to make up my own mind. Thanks for allowing me to sound off.
By the way I love Clint Eastwood Movies, they rock!
Read Spike’s response.
“I never said he should show one of the other guys holding up the flag as black. I said that African-Americans played a significant part in Iwo Jima,†he said. “For him to insinuate that I’m rewriting history and have one of the four guys with the flag be black … no one said that. It’s just that there’s not one black in either film. And because I know my history, that’s why I made that observation.â€
An observation deserves someone saying “shut your face”?
Why is it when black folks merely ask questions, we are accused of playing the race card? Ugh. It’s so frustrating.
Well, let’s see, this started out as nothing more than a publicity stunt by Spike Lee to promote his movie.
Of course, there were black americans in the war. And, of course, they made their contribution. No one disputes that even by their ‘omission’ from a movie.
The real crime here is Spike Lee’s use of their contribution to call attention to his movie. He wasn’t motivated to make this comment publicly when Clint’s movies came out. Instead, he makes it when his movie is coming out.
This pure use of their race and contribution to increase attention for his movie is far worse than any unintended omission by Clint.
The common sense thing to do here is to acknowledge the contribution of each person that served in WWII no matter their race. And then ignore this and other ‘made-up’ contrivances that Hollywood and the press use to get our attention (and our money).
I am confused as to the huge deal being made regarding this matter. I am an African American woman and it seems that every time Mr. Lee makes a movie, caucasion people are depicted as stuid, racisit and ignorant. Spike Lee is concerned there is not an African American depicted in Clint’s film…was there a white man depicted as Malcolm X’s right hand man? Of course not becasue that is not what took place in history. Same with Clint’s film…should cuacasions be complining?
Racist or not…get over it. Each man has his own ideas. The racial aspect is not going to be settled today or tomorrow.
I’ve learned that everybody is a critic. If Clint turned that around, and said that Spike didn’t have enough White people in one of his movies, he would be labeled a racist. He’s be attacked by the NAACP, Jessie Jackson, and people would be calling for the boycott of his movies. On the flip side, honestly what Spike said was pretty stupid. Maybe he should “shut his face” I believe Spike was obviously trying to promote his movie, However his choice of words were in really bad taste.
Spike is not the “caliber” of director Eastwood is. Clint outguns him in every respect. Especially in qualifications. Spike you need to learn 3 things: #1 Don’t try to match wits with Clint, you will be an “unarmed victim” #2 Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight #3 Learn to speak without creating controversy, because it only makes you look really stuuuuuuuuuupid.
Spike Lee is a racist. He is trying to get publicity for his latest endeavor by playing the race card for his financial gain. Talk about low rent!
Racists don’t only come in white. Since the presidential campaign began we are starting to see seeing the truth come out.
Spike Lee is way too full of himself, that’s why his eyes are brown.
Can you imagine sueing SPIKE TV because they used HIS name? What a JERK
I vote for Clint.
What is racist about the truth,”there were people of color at the battles in question”. If a true depiction of the events that took place there should have been some people of color incuded. Oh I wonder about the land of the free and the brave sometime. When will the hate and ill feelings, lack of trust and a sense of one America appear. We most not continue to fight each other from within for there’re to many wanting to end this wonderful country beyond our boundries.
I think a lot of research goes into making a movie based on historical fact. I’m sure there were many conversations with many of the old soldiers who were there. And I’m sure Mr. Eastwood wanted to tell their stories before they were all gone. Soon there won’t be any veterans left from WWII. What I think Mr. Lee doesn’t get, is that in WWII the races were segregated. Sure they were fighting for the same side, separately. The military wasn’t integrated as it is today. Also, from what I understand, Mr. Lee is making a movie based on a black unit. Go gigure? Chances are you won’t see very many white faces in that flick. I don’t imagine Clint would complain about that, my money says he could care less. And to be historically accurate is a helluva lot more important than making it up as you go. Mr. Lee is portraying himself as the whiny black guy who is under-represented. But at what cost? Historical inaccuracies?
TJ,
What planet do you live on?… WHITE people playing the race card? My GOD i am so sick of people of MY RACE blaming others when we are just as bad. YES, I AM BLACK! YES I AM PROUD TO BE BLACK! But give me a break, I won’t even watch Spike Lee movies anymore because he IS a racist. He thinks everyone owes him (the Spike tv lawsuit was already pointed out…) When are we as black people going to stand up and say ENOUGH! YES, our ancestors were treated poorly, YES our ancestors were killed, tortured, beaten and raped. YES it was wrong, but without WHITE PEOPLE like Abraham Lincoln, who stood up to OTHER WHITE PEOPLE it could have been far worse for far longer. One of my good friends is a white guy. He’s Irish, and HIS ANCESTORS were ALSO treated like shit. Raped. Tortured and degraded. FOR CENTURIES! but you know what? it DIDN’T happen to HIM and it DIDN’T happen to ME. NEITHER of us expect, OR DESSERVE special treatment becuase of what happened hundreds of years ago.
Racism will not end in this country until we ALL (WHITE, BLACK, ASIAN, MID-EASTERN, LATINO…ALL) stop “playing the race card”. PERIOD!
Spike Lee has the power to rise above that but decides to throw gas on the fire with most of the crap he produces. Clint is right… he should shut his face.
I just think Spike was saying that they were black people at Iwo Jima and Clint didn’t put any black people in the movie. I don’t think he was calling Clint a racist. He was just stating a fact. I believe it was a touchy situation for Clint. Otherwise why would he be upset?? Also let’s keep in mind stating facts doesn’t mean Spike is a racist.
Race Race Race. I enjoy how everyone starts with saying they arent racist and then goin on about race. Slavery is over, get over it. Every race has been subservient to another at one time or another. Every country has nationalism and racism in some form or fashion. Most of the people living in the US either are related to someone or came here personally to escape some kind of persecution. So lets move on…where did we all get such thin skins. How did we sink to counting how many of this or that are in films… what was their a count on Italians?? For heavens sake how rediculous!!
Guys get real,
WWII was a war fought by americans for americans, all of us black and white. Just because we were separate and silly in that era does not mean we shoulded continue in ignorance. The flag was raised for black brown yellow and white americans, who cares what color the hand that lifted the stick that held it…..
This is for all you people who call youselves black stop identifying yourself as black. Look up the definition in websters or better still Blacks law dictionary. Your Moors thats right Moors American Moors. Read the History. Google American Moors. Learn the real history. Hollwood will keep you duped.
You spelled Caucasian and Malcolm X right hand man was Minister Benjamin Karim who died in Aug of 2005 in Richmond nad he wasn’t white. Malcolm did have white collegues after his pilgrimage to Mecca and he realized that all whites are not what he was made to believe. But let’s not forget Malcolm uncles were killed by white men and they had to leave there home because of white men so I could undersatnd his sentiments towards white people.
I don’t believe Spike was saying Clint is rasict he was just stating that he didn’t have blacks in his movie and there were blacks at Iwo Jima…THAT IS ALL!!! Maybe should see why that statement angered him.
I don’t think it is about being racist he was just stating something that my grandfather stated as well after watching the same movie and I know he is not racist towards white people. He is white and he fought in WWII. Can you look at 2 white man and know their heritage probably not but they probably tell you if you ask them. You can look at Black person and clearly know he is not white. Let’s also not forget the even though every race has been subservient at one point or another. The black race is the only one that was robbed of it’s orginal culture, names, country of orgin, and religion.
Thank you so much for your CORRECT assessment of history. Thank you for NOT being racist. As a white person of mixed ancestry, I know that other races too have suffered in the past, ie your example of the Irish, which I have alot of and my Native American ancestors too. Humans make mistakes but we are to learn from them and move on, not keep living in the past and re-hashing the old wounds and creating MORE hate. I too have friends of different races and I don’t care if you are purple polka dotted as long as you are a good person and treat people fairly. So once again kudos to your comments.
And for those bashing Clint, you might take the time to read his ENTIRE comment. He talked about the fact that his movies were telling a particular story, one that just didn’t happen to include a black man, NOT that they didn’t contribute at Iwo Jima or in service to our country. By the way, I’m not a big Clint fan but I think he’s getting bashed for no reason. Spike on the other hand is an idiot racist and no one can dispute that. His films declare it. Maybe if he wasn’t making films, more young blacks wouldn’t be growing up being taught hate. Heck, most whites I know could care less about race as long as you don’t play the race card. Then it gets annoying.
yes, whites people do get scholarships from NAACP, do you homework before writing something you know nothing about. Yes, Clint Eastwood should tell the truth about history, if he is producting a historal movie. American is here today because of a lot of other races beside caucasians. But history books will have you to beleive otherwise. Now, on the other hand if Clint Eastwood was producting a movie about fiction, then do as you please, but this is history, which means it’s factual, not make it the way you want, got it. You, know like math, 2+2=4, 1+3=4 etc., the ending result it the fact, no matter how you want to tell it’s, history include ever race that make the period you’re writing or speaking about.
KEEP IT REAL, SPIKE… most people are the same, it just takes that one who is willing to stand strong and and speak truth aganist the masses.
I usually don’t respond to these…
but
Marcus,
what planet do you live on?…
I don’t think that African American’s (don’t count yourself you’re a negro) are playing the race card. I think that we are better educated and allowed to say it.
You don’t watch Spike because you are not proud enough of yourself by yourself with out your “good white friend” to signify.
Irish people upon arrival after the potato famine (thats 19th century were treated like second class citizens until their uneducated, lice, plague, starving, butts figured out that they could step on the the necks of blacks who were already to get ahead. American Irish were cut off from Ireland because of their imhumane and ill treatment of blacks. So they changed their names took up shop on the rest of the plantations made money off who was it… and started a life.
I think that the truth is ugly and often it stinks and hurts but it still is the truth.
Mr. Lee just adds salt to an ass wound; and makes it bleed through for the world to see.
It saddens me as mother everyday to see my children under educated about their own history. (I teach them)
You were probably one of those kids too, huh Marcus.
Its great to see Irish clad dancing, and Asian ladies with their fans, Oktoberfest, and any other culture that tells about themselves, but everytime African Americans point out our adversity, how it was delivered and how we overcame we are winers. Everything about us good bad or otherwise, relates back to our struggles, our history, and it’s part of america.
Don’t be ashamed if your ancestors were rapist, mercenaries, pirates, or theives, you should be proud it got your family that large inheritance, giant farm(s), family businesses that have been in service for at least a century. Some people call it “old money”. I’m not ashamed that my ancestors slaved for free, sharecropped for pennies, lived in swamps, shined the good ole boys shoes, and still saved a million for us along the way. But their story must be told too.
Jam, how the heck am I behind the times? I apparently have moved WAAAAAYYYY past the stupidity of racism and you apprarently don’t know what you are talking about. Heck, you can’t even use correct English but in that’s not unusual now days. In case you don’t get it, it’s you’re not YOUR. HAHA Your negative comments toward me have absolutely no basis and if you can make a REAL point please do so or don’t be ugly.
I think you forget the Native Americans as far as being robbed of their culture…etc….but to be honest…what peoples haven’t been conquered and lost something of their identity….African Americans were not the only people taken away from their country to do the work of others and I do not believe that this has stopped in the present time either. I just think we need to go forward rather then keep dredging up this past stupidity. Learn from the past yes!!!…but move on please. Otherwise we will be relegated to repeating the past over and over again.
You say that because Spike takes a real world view on how things are and were. I don’t know if you are white or whatever? White people get uptight when blacks and latinos take a strong stand and place all the cards on the table. That makes us confrontational, so be. I much rather voice my opinion, then be a good one. Thank you Spike, keep it up. We need to in the mans face, and him know when something is wrong.
By the way, I noticed that the way this post lists things, I wanted to clarify that my original post was a reply to Marcus’s. The one about him being black but he wasn’t racist. That’s the idea that I support, the thread kind of makes it appear I am responding to the previous post. Just for clarification1
If we can’t get the facts right of a war that was 50 years ago, what do all of you think will happen to the facts of the war we find ourselves in NOW? What color will we make our heros 50 years from now?
Very few kids in America learn the TRUTH! And if they do form ideas about the past it is usually not from a text book. We all need to take responsability to hold those that use history for mass-media (Spike and Clint) to high American standards!
The world we find ouselves in, was shaped by lies not the TRUTH! American cinema contributing to the misunderstanding and mistrust of our fellow citizens. An intelligent American may beable to watch a film and take it for face-value. But let’s face reality, the average American? Not too bright. We can only get beyond this petty bickering if we actually listen to one and other. It seems everyone, Clint and Spike included can only hear themselves!
Well, lets see….next we will have Spike Lee angry because George Washington is always portrayed as being white. Im so damn tired of the racist card being played. Every time Spike does this, a cash register rings for him somewhere. I loved Flags of Our Fathers and I also loved Tuskeegee Airmen. Both represent contributions made to our country by extraordinary men of courage. Lets put this behind us and move on. A world without racism is bad business for the likes of Spike Lee, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharptongue.
Why is it when black folks merely ask questions, we are accused of playing the race card? Ugh. It’s so frustrating.
Because Spike IS playing the race card. He designed this polarizing scenario to create a buzz about his own movie. If his movie is half as good as Flags of Our Fathers, Ill be shocked and I hope I am. I am sick and tired of the racism claims.
Black people are racist! You have turned every situation into an opportunity to play the race card. Get over it! Let the past go. Sheesh.
What does it matter what flag was raised and who raised the flag? Did those flag raisers die? Why would they raise the silly flag on foreign territory? As Americans we need to start respecting other nationalities and stop thinking about me me me me.
I am angry with Spike for colluding with his white masters to depict the African Race wrongly the way he did in “Tears of the Sun”. That was a bad job Spike and go learn something about respecting the African race.
It is amazing the types of things white folk write here to justify slavery. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and can swear on your their lives if I am wrong: This is a fact – racism as we know it today did not exist before the Germanic Civilization took over technology and trade. Other races including Romans, Greeks, Africans, Arabs, Chinese etc were leaders in technology and trade before but they did not subject other races to what the Germanic tribes have done to this world. Yes they did contribute a lot to the world but they segregated the world so much to enrich themselves and turn the world into a hate couldron. The African race has been on the receiving end of this and sadly some of its members like Spike Lee continue to advance the white man’s agenda. This is sad. Why would you want African people to take pride in the destruction of another culture? Are people of the African race that destructive?