It’s funny how whenever you almost blindly admire someone’s work or talent in the industry (as a conglomerate: film, music, television, movies), there are always people that will hang on one incident or shortcoming as reason for you to discredit the person you so obviously love. The same way I hate on people who are huge fans of Chris Brown after the domestic violence, or Beyonce after 10 years of succesfully being one of the most commercial artists ever (only the secret there is that I obviously love her despite my hating). I believe that credit should be given where credit is due.
Anyway, with Spike Lee being the single figure for whom I have unadulterated affection, people are always quick to point out that he directed commercials for the army, or that he has a shitty attitude in person, and is therefore an arrogant Uncle Tom, traitor, bougie double agent who should be outcast from the community of self-loving black folk.
PUHLEEZZE! In a far less traumatic but vaguely reminiscent air of the way Malcolm X felt when he had only begun to hear whispers of the truth behind the Hon. Elijah Muhammad’s infidelities, I disregard any anti-Spike-ism in the face of appreciating all that he has meant to me through creating such bold, innovative, and clear representations of black people in cinema.
—Jazmyne Young
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