If ethnicity were paint, Spike Lee has crafted an aesthetic masterpiece on the canvas of Bedford-Stuyvesant, representing a myriad of ethnic inhabitants coexisting on one block of the inner city Brooklyn neighborhood. The characters that animate the scorching street that the movie takes place on each represent a certain perspective of the immigrant experience, and are distinct in their cultural background as well as their socio-political viewpoints. The African-American community is heavily represented on the block, a realistic representation, as the neighborhood is predominantly black. The other ethnicities function either as foils to the black community or as competing forces in the struggle for power in the community.
Mookie, the relatively complacent Sal’s Pizza employee, keeps to himself and focuses on “getting paid,” essentially, getting by. The whole neighborhood is kindheartedly represented as impoverished, and Mookie’s fractured family and low-end job only bolster this view. Da Mayor, the neighborhood drunk, retains some form of wisdom and carries on life peacefully, despite previously hardship. His behavior is contrasted with that of Buggin’ Out, whose feverish outbursts at anything hinting at racist shed light on the almost revolutionary nature of young African Americans against the established system. In this respect, Radio Raheem may be one of the most important figures in Do The Right Thing. Carrying around a massive radio, blasting politically infused, rough rap, Radio Raheem can be seen as the neighborhood prophet, a forerunner to the protest and political activity soon to erupt out of the community. His stereo plays to the tune of Public Enemy, blasting lyrics from the song “Fight The Power.”
The importance of his song becomes apparent as the tensions between Sal, the owner of neighborhood favorite Sal’s Famous Pizzeria, and the politically active African Americans escalates. In fact, the brawl that ensues between the established whites and the revolting blacks is over Raheem’s radio. The camera provides close ups of the infuriated faces of both clashing parties, the music impossibly loud in the background, until a brawl breaks out that engulfs the entire community. Soon, the racially unjust police, break up the fight, killing Radio Raheem through a lethal choke-hold in the process. Throughout the entire movie, the issue of poverty and the inactivity of black men to take charge financially, start a business, and harness some political power, has been repeatedly explored through the contrast of Korean grocery shop owners and Italian-American small business owners and the either inactive or barely getting by black community. Racial inequality and the tensions that result from the viewpoint dominate the African American community as well. Finally, the frustration over the issue, and the revolting spirit of those seeking to dismantle the establishment, as well as the death of Radio Raheem, pushed the entire community to destroy and burn down Sal’s pizzeria.
Interestingly enough, Mookie sparks the destruction of Sal’s establishment by throwing a garbage can through his window—Mookie the most calm, racially and politically neutral African American on the block. My only guess to explain his action: Ethnic ties run deeper than economic relationships.
