"Do the Right Thing" Racial Tensions within Society.

Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" looks at a small New York neighborhood, in which everyone knows everyone.  Through the prevalence of the working and living dynamics between Italians, Asians, Puerto Ricans, and African Americans, we are able to see some racial tensions. Something in particular upsets Buggin' Out, a young black male in the community. Sal, an Italian owner of a Pizzeria located in the small town has a wall of fame within his restaurant. Buggin' Out believed that because the pizzeria is located in a black neighborhood the wall should include black people, however, Sal disagrees. Mookie, being the mediator throughout the film, precipitated the riot at the end of the film after Radio Raheem was killed by the police. He makes the decision that is captured by two quotes, one of Martin Luther King against the use of violence, and one from Malcom X arguing that violence is intelligent when used as self defense. As Mookie threw the trashcan through Sal's pizzeria window we can see both why he should have done it, and why he should have not.

The film does a great job looking at how members of a community give space a meaning. The production of space by Henri Lefebvre, looks at the different forms of space we as human beings create. He identifies three spaces, the perceived space, the conceived, space, and lived space. Identities can be tied to a space, just as space can be a constituent of interethnic social relations. The lived space, as describe by Lefebvre, refers to spaces of representation, which is the realm of struggle, counter discourses, and resistance. This space is easily portrayed in "Do the Right Thing." Sal was perceived and always attempted to prove himself as part of the community until he showed otherwise, by referring to the kids that grew up on his food as "niggers." Sal, although attempting to incorporate himself into the community had an underlying prejudice, and often fell into stereotyping. He would seem compassionate to the kids of the community, yet would refer to their music as "jungle music." Like wise, one of Sal's sons was in a similar position, while the other openly expressed his feelings as an outsider.

Overall, this movie portrays the accuracy of racial tensions and prejudices within society, which is an issue relevant to current events, especially with current politics being placed that are directed towards specifics group of people. Likewise, the movie also looked at the issue of police brutality, an issue that is extremely relevant to this day.