Chris Otaigbe
The ongoing Black Lives Matter protest across the United States (US) of America has inspired many Hollywood heavyweights to weigh in on the racial crisis, the killing of George Floyd by White Police in Minneapolis, that is currently engulfing the country.
One of such super stars is African American movie Director, Spike Lee. Like many across the nation, Spike Lee said he is feeling the heaviness over the recent death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests against White American Police brutality.
Known for speaking up for what he believes in, the 63-year-old director stepped out to participate in a protest and vigil for Floyd in New York City this week.
According to him, the manner in which the protest emerged, its organization and the way it has been sustained is something Spike Lee has never seen before as he admitted, while promoting his upcoming film, Da 5 Bloods, the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests are different than anything he has seen before.
He said America is in turmoil right now, adding that what has given him strength is “watching fellow white brothers and sisters out there. Strong! And they have joined their black and brown sisters, locked arms, step-in-step… And what’s really even giving me more hype, the number of young white brothers and sisters (protesting), that’s given me hope!” he said.
The highly respected African American Director added that from Panther movement, the anti-war movement to the women’s movement, nothing like the ongoing massive movement has been witnessed since the ’60s. “So that gives me hope.” Said Spike Lee.
Known for movies rich in didactic themes, Lee always has a message for his audience and his latest project is no different. Da 5 Bloods is about former soldiers who return to Vietnam to search for the remains of their fallen squad leader, played by Chadwick Boseman. One of the themes in the movie touches on how traumas of past generations can still affect people living today.
He explained that post-slavery syndrome is one trauma, Blacks in America are constantly dealing with. “We are still dealing with trauma from slavery…We’re still dealing with that as a people.” He said.
Earlier in the week, he also released a short film in protest of Floyd’s death. Titled ‘3 Brothers,’ the video includes clips from his 1989 film; Do the Right Thing, intercut with footage of the police killing of Eric Garner in 2014 and the death of George Floyd in May.
As he continues to shine a spotlight on African American stories, he wondered, in his interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, why people cannot understand why Black Americans are reacting the way they are?
“It’s history again, again and again. This is not new,” he said.
