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Spike Lee

Spike Lee Quotes

Film director

Spike Lee, born on March 20, 1957, is a renowned American film director. His works are known for their deep insight into American social issues and critical thinking, with notable films such as 'Do the Right Thing' and 'School Daze'. Lee's directorial style is unique, often using nonlinear narrative and black-and-white imagery, which has won him the admiration of audiences.

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All Film People Thinking Ifs Black Trying Want Stories Black People Filmmaker Way Knows Looks White Done New York Racism Right Thing World Young

Famous Spike Lee Quotes

“We've got to turn this backward thinking around where ignorance is championed over intelligence. Young black kids being ridiculed by their peers for getting A's and speaking proper English: that's criminal.”

Thinking Kids Young Turns Black Ignorance Criminals Peers

Author:Spike Lee

“I've never seen black men with fine white women. They be ugly. Mugly dogs.”

Men Black White Dog Fine Ugly

Book:Spike Lee: Interviews

Source: Spike Lee: Interviews

“Sex and racism have always been tied together. Look at the thousands of black men who got lynched and castrated. The reason the Klan came into being was to protect white southern women.”

Men Looks Reason Together Sex Black White Protect Racism Southern Tied Southern Women

Author:Spike Lee

“I think my work shows that I love women. I understand where these types of criticisms are coming from because black people have been so dogged out in the media, they're just extra sensitive.”

People Thinking Has Beens Shows Black Media Type Criticism Sensitive Extras Black People

Author:Spike Lee

“There's a lot of Americans, black and white, who think that we've arrived where we need to be and nothing else needs to be done and affirmative action needs to be dismantled.”

Thinking Needs Done Action Black White Black And White Affirmative Action Affirmative

Author:Spike Lee

“If we became students of Malcolm X, we would not have young black men out there killing each other like they're killing each other now. Young black men would not be impregnating young black women at the rate going on now. We'd not have the drugs we have now, or the alcoholism.”

Ifs Men Young Black Students Drug Killing Rate Black Women Alcoholism Killing Each Other

Author:Spike Lee

“I always give the example, if you turn on the radio today, black radio, Lenny Kravitz is not black. Bob Marley wasn't black: in the beginning, only white college stations played Bob Marley.”

Ifs Giving Today Turns Black White Example College Radio Stations Bob Turn-on Marley

Author:Spike Lee

“Amongst black people, you have always heard it said that once a black man reaches a certain level, especially if you are an entertainer, you get a white trophy woman. I didn't make that up.”

People Ifs Men Said Certain Black White Levels Heard Black People Entertainers Trophies

Author:Spike Lee

“Any film I do is not going to change the way black women have been portrayed, or black people have been portrayed, in cinema since the days of D.W. Griffith.”

People Way Has Beens Film Black Cinema Black People Black Women

Author:Spike Lee

“I'd like to state that Spike Lee is not saying that African American culture is just for black people alone to enjoy and cherish. Culture is for everybody.”

People States Culture Enjoy Black African American Cherish Black People American Culture African American Culture

Author:Spike Lee

“I've been blessed with the opportunity to express the views of black people who otherwise don't have access to power and the media. I have to take advantage of that while I'm still bankable.”

People Stills Opportunity Black Views Media Advantage Blessed Access Black People

Book:Spike Lee: Interviews

Source: Spike Lee: Interviews

“We’ve gone through the names—Negro, African American, African, Black. For me that’s an indication of a people still trying to find their identity. Who determines what is black?”

People Trying Stills Names Black Gone Identity Determine African American Black History Indication

Author:Spike Lee

“I think black people have to be in control of their own image because film is a powerful medium. We can't just sit back and let other people define our existence.”

People Thinking Film Black Powerful Existence Mediums Black People

Author:Spike Lee

“It comes down to this: black people were stripped of our identities when we were brought here, and it's been a quest since then to define who we are.”

People Black Identity Who We Are Black People Quests

Author:Spike Lee

“Racism is when you have laws set up, systematically put in a way to keep people from advancing, to stop the advancement of a people. Black people have never had the power to enforce racism, and so this is something that white America is going to have to work out themselves. If they decide they want to stop it, curtail it, or to do the right thing... then it will be done, but not until then.”

People Ifs Way Want Done America Law Black White Racism Work Out Right Thing Black People Advancement Advancing Black Racism White Racism

Author:Spike Lee

About the Author

Born: March 20, 1957
Known for: Film director
Quotes: 131

Related Topics

Film People Thinking Ifs Black Trying Want Stories Black People Filmmaker Way Knows Looks White Done New York Racism Right Thing World Young

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Spike Lee: InterviewsRelated source material

Do the Right Thing: A Spike Lee JointRelated source material

Five for five: the films of Spike LeeRelated source material

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