Spike Lee Essay Research Paper Spike LeeThe

Spike Lee Essay, Research Paper

Spike Lee

The man we know as .Spike. was born Shelton Jackson Lee on

March 20, 1957 in Atlanta ,Georgia. The first of five children, he

got the nickname Spike from his mother for being .a tough baby..

Spike.s tendency to be difficult is one that goes right back to the

crib. The infant Spike, much like the man he grew into, was small

but loud. The family he was born into was great for a number of

reasons. His parents, college educated newlyweds, both came

from families stressing creativity and black tradition. Bill Lee, Spikes

father, was born in 1929 in Snow Hill Alabama. He was a jazz

composer/musician nicknamed .Bleek.. His mother Jacquelyn

Shelton Lee taught art and black history. The Lees tried to instill a

sense of humor in their children, along with educating them in

black culture. They rationed the young ones. TV time, Forbade

rock music, In favor of jazz and folk, and had each offspring learn

to play a instrument. Spike, a shy, quiet boy, took guitar and

piano lessons. He also played and loved every type of sport.

Spike denies that he ever had any thoughts of becoming a film

maker in those early years. Becoming one of very few black film

makers has made Spike a black African American entrepreneur

and has given many young black people something to believe in

and strive for. Spike Lee regions as one of the world.s most

controversial filmmakers thus contributing to the controversial

issues in his films. Movies have a way of enriching us like no other

art form. They can change us, touch us and influence us. They

can introduce us to foreign lands and foreign ideas. At their best,

they can invite us to reconsider our point of view. Spike Lee the

acclaimed movie director/ producer/ writer/ actor, is the most

influential filmmaker of his time. His directing caused major

controversy in his early years, but as he matured he began to

present his ideas more open-mindedly and tolerantly. His

collection of films enrich us with new ways that we as a human

race can learn to live together in peace. His work builds new

roads for the world to start on a new journey. If Spike has his way,

the journey that began as a hate-filled race war will turn into the

road of understanding and tolerance that will one day end in

mutual respect and harmony. Shelton Jackson .Spike. Lee has

been a hero to many people. He has brought out the real issues

that people need to see and confront.

(One last item: when it comes to capitalizing names of races,

book publishers, magazines and newspapers all have their own

policies and house styles. Some capitalize .White. but not

.blacks.; others [ including Spike lee.s books capitalize .Black. but

not .white.]. Aiming to be fair and grammatically correct this

paper capitalizes them both)

II.Never has any young black director/ producer/ writer/ actor/

editor done so much to pave the path for others to follow.

A. Spike Lee made his mark as an entrepreneur by taking

the risks necessary to make films based on African American life.

1..He.s the one filmmaker who.s made it and stayed black.

said director John Singleton (Pa pg. 188)

a. Spike Lee was among the first black filmmakers to win

respect in Hollywood with out going .Hollywood.. He had little

interest in flamboyant lifestyles that the film industry offered.

b.Spike has made his films to show how it really is for

blacks.

c. Lee holds back no stops, he gives out the truth.

2. .I want to be remembered for honest, true portrayals of blacks

and for being our richness to the screen. says Spike (Bernotas

pg-95)

B.Spike was concerned that there were few blacks in

Hollywood working behind the cameras as producers, directors,

cameramen. He dreamed of ushering in a new era of black

filmmaking in Hollywood.

1. .Spike put this trend in vogue. notes Mark Canton of

Warner Bros. .His talent opened the door for others. Van Peables

agrees. .If it weren.t for Spike I wouldn.t be here.. (Bernotas

pg-93)

C. .I.m not making movies to become famous or become

filthy rich or to have ten million beautiful women. I just want to

present black people as I know them.. (Bernotas pg-50)

1. . The important thing is, I.m doing what makes me

happy,99% of the people in this world go to their grave having

worked at a job they hated.. (Bernotas pg-52)

D. Spike has done much more than make movies to help out

his fellow repressed black brother.

1. Spike has given money to many charities.

a. In sharing his wealth with the black community,

Spike established two annual $5,000 grants, Spike Lees Minority

Fellow ship to help two or three year black students at New York

University Tisch School of the Arts.

b. He has also gave $50,000 to Unite

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