A Look Back on Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing’ 32 Years Later

“Let me tell you the story of Right Hand, Left Hand. It’s a tale of good and evil. Hate: it was with this hand that Cain iced his brother. Love: these five fingers, they go straight to the soul of man.” — Radio Raheem, “Do the Right Thing”

In 1989, a then independent and mostly unknown filmmaker by the name of Spike Lee released what would go on to be his most acclaimed work, “Do the Right Thing.” Dealing with heavy themes of racism and police brutality, this film is as relevant and poignant now as it always has been.

Part of what made this film last and remain in the public conscience is the sad fact that it continues to be relevant. As much as many of us might like to forget it, racism is still incredibly prevalent in the world, and it often leads to horrifying travesties. Just recently the world witnessed the horrific death of George Floyd, an image that will likely never leave our collective minds, but sadly not an unfamiliar one. George Floyd is not the only name America will never forget for this reason. Names like Freddie Gray, Sam Dubose, Breonna Taylor, and Trayvon Martin often spring to mind when discussing this topic, as these people unfairly lost their lives due to racism and brutal treatment from police.

“Do the Right Thing” is an interesting film as it is a slow build to a tragic climax. Spike Lee uses his time to examine a small section of Brooklyn with a predominantly black community. Although Lee’s own character, Mookie, is often the center of the events on screen, the film moves around to familiarize you with the members of the community.

Members include the boom-box toting Public Enemy fan Radio Raheem; the local Italian-American pizzeria owner Sal; his two sons, Pino and Vito; the town drunk with a heart of gold, Da Mayor; among many other unique faces. Each person is made to feel real, allowing you to grow a connection with each individual and care about them as tensions build on a very hot summer day.

Once the film reaches its tragic climax (which we will not spoil here), the audience is left to ponder the tragic events that have unfolded. You are left with an epilogue showing the aftermath of the climax and two quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, respectively. The quotes show two separate perspectives on the same issue. Neither is presented as right or wrong, leading many to discuss which side the film is taking; however there is another likelihood that many may not consider: that both sides can be right in different ways.

There is no true answer to solving racism, police brutality, or just unfair treatment all around. It’s a sad reality we have to live with, and it’s something that will likely never go away, but that doesn’t mean we have to stand for it. Although many of us may have to accept the fact that hate can never be eradicated, it does not mean we can’t try to stand against it or to at least eliminate some of the injustice. We must always strive to, “do the right thing.”