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Essay / Depiction of racial interactions in the film Do The Right Thing
No one is born hating another because of their race; they learn to do it. Spike Lee's film "Do the Right Thing" is an honest film that reflects the interaction of racially different people. I found the film honest because Lee does not misrepresent the issue of racism in society but rather paints a fair picture of race relations in the United States. The films take place in an African-American neighborhood on a hot day. The residents of this neighborhood live in fraternal harmony even if racial arguments continue to dominate their conversations. For example, although Sal and Mookie argue over the photos of Italian-American personalities that decorate his wall, they later reconcile and continue to work together. The film therefore successfully depicts how people of different races interact, how they perceive each other and their differences. “Do the Right Thing” successfully depicts racial interaction in a community and how racial violence erupts. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Lee focuses our attention on the individuals of the black neighborhood and its distinct character. For example, Sal, who has lived in this neighborhood for a long time and knows everyone, even the Korean family that no one seems to know, is an Italian who gets along well with African Americans (Lee, 1989). Sal is a serious businessman who owns a pizzeria. He is open towards black people and no signs of racism are visible on him. However, his wall is decorated with photographs of famous Italian-Americans. Buggin' Out confronts him, accusing him of being racist. In my opinion, both Sal and Buggin' Out are justified in their reaction and behavior. On the one hand, it's only natural that Sal would be more interested in Italian-American celebrities of his race. This doesn't mean he doesn't like black people or discriminates against black people. Buggin' Out, on the other hand, is also right in defending his race and wanting Sal to fully integrate into black culture and his people. The actions of both characters make perfect sense at this point. However, the subsequent actions displayed by Buggin' Out reveal pure hatred and racism. Therefore, Sal is a good example of how people of a different race are supposed to leave as neighbors and brothers. However, the story is not completely filled with love. Lee also introduced hatred in equal measure. It makes the story more real by thinking about how a human being behaves in a community. Hatred is represented through Sal's son who hates black people. He doesn't get along with Mookie who works for Sal as a delivery boy. It makes perfect sense that some members of the community are racist and openly talk about it. This trait is visible even in modern society where some people openly hate members of another race. Similarly, Buggin' Out expresses his racial attitude by associating himself with Sal's store and threatening to close it. The violence escalates into racial violence where Sal's store is destroyed. The situation in the film is an all too familiar phenomenon, especially in the 1900s when the film was made. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Therefore, "Do the Right Thing" reflects the real state of a black neighborhood and the characters effectively play their roles as expected. The film is beautifully photographed and well acted in depicting how the..