Spike Lee uniquely approaches the topic of racism in “Do The Right Thing.” He shines a light on the harsh reality of different types of racism and its consequences if we are not careful.
Throughout the whole movie, we don’t see just one type of racism, but many. From the disdain towards Asian store owners to Pino’s hate and anger with black people, we see the whole spectrum of racism. And Pino is on the extreme side of it. He continuously points his discomfort, saying things like “it’s like the planet of the apes,” “black-white no,” and calling Prince “not black.”
Towards the middle of the spectrum, we see Mookie and Sal. In my opinion, Spike Lee doesn’t portray Sal as an outright racist. He wouldn’t tell Mookie that he was like a son to him if that was the case. Sal loves the neighborhood’s people, and he feels that he played an essential role in their lives. This depiction adds complexity and another layer to the story of the movie. Mookie doesn’t have problems with the Italians either. He doesn’t really care about the issue of photos on the wall brought up by Buggin Out; he’s there to be paid.
On the other hand, Buggin Out sits on the other extreme side of the spectrum because of his outspoken nature and beliefs. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make his point. Finally, the only person who understands this spectrum and can observe everything rationally is Da Mayor. He is the one who tries to break up the fight and who saves Italians at the end of the movie. Nonetheless, he fails as anger and hatred take over, leading to more destruction rather than resolution.
In conclusion, “Do The Right Thing” succeeds in unapologetically pointing out that no matter what your skin color is, if you’re racist, you’re racist.
