"Do The Right Thing"

Spike Lee, with his film, “Do the Right Thing,” creates a microcosm of America’s melting pot. The characters of the film are used to represent the diverse cultures that compose the American landscape. In large cities comprised of dense population, diverse cultures are forced to co-exist. In many instances, communities separate themselves as much socially and physically as possible, creating intangible barriers that progressively lead toward the growth of racial tension. Eventually, this prejudice disease spreads so far it almost becomes socially acceptable, as Slotkin argues, stating, “Hostility toward ‘hyphenated Americans’ was a normal part of the rhetoric of respectable politicians and newspaper editors” (105). In fact, it is my belief that progressive racial tension, in inner city urban areas, serves as a catalyst for violence, drug abuse, and poverty.
“Do the Right Thing” showcases all aspects of modern American prejudice. Sal’s famous pizzeria symbolizes...