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Home · News

'Do The Right Thing'

'Do The Right Thing'
By · February 25, 2009October 29, 2020
01
Special Delivery

This weekend, Spike Lee’s acclaimed 1989 film “Do the Right Thing” celebrates its 20th anniversary. The film examines race relations in a way we’d never seen. Lee’s storytelling highlights the racial tensions that mount between the residents of a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the summer.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

02
Hey, Mister. Deejay

Mister Señor Love Daddy (Samuel L. Jackson) delivers everything from the temperature to the local neighborhood news over smooth grooves.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

03
Fly Girl

Tina (Rosie Perez) serves her boyfriend Mookie (Spike Lee) the riot act. Perez, a former Soul Train dancer, made her acting debut in “Do The Right Thing” and danced in the opening credits to Public Enemy’s fist-pumping anthem “Fight The Power.”

p>Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

04
Respect Your Elders

Mookie (Spike Lee) is reminded to always do the right thing by Da Mayor (Ossie Davis), the neighborhood’s wisdom-spouting wino.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

05
Flowers, My Lady?

Mother Sister (Ruby Dee) throws Da Mayor (Ossie Davis) shade as he tries to win her affection. Of course, the two were lovebirds in real life and married for 56 years before Davis passed away in 2005.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

06
Black Out

Bugging Out, a regular customer of Sal’s, challenges the pizzeria owner to add African-American heroes to his restaurant’s wall of fame.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

07
Color Blind

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

08
Emotional Breakdown

Mookie (Spike Lee) listens to Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) break down the difference between love and hate and how they coexist in life—and on his hands via his four-finger rings.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

09
Like Father, Like Son

Sal (Danny Aiello) has an intense conversation with his son Pino (John Turturro) about race relations.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

10
Booming System

Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn), who can’t live without his radio, moves the crowd as he keeps his prized possession and secret weapon by his side.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

11
Scream Bloody Murder

Buggin Out (Giancarlo Esposito) expresses his outrage in the aftermath of the fatal police brutality, which causes Radio Raheem’s tragic death.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Read our exclusive interview with Spike Lee »

12
Fire & Desire

Mookie (Spike Lee) snuggles with his boo Tina (Rosie Perez) as they mourn the death of their friend Radio Raheem.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

13
Death and Destruction

Mookie (Spike Lee) has a heart-to-heart with Sal (Danny Aiello) the morning after an angry mob destroyed his pizzeria following the tragic death of Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) by police.

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

Find out why ‘Do the Right Thing’ is special to Mr. and Mrs. Obama »

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