ARIZONA--Film director Spike Lee asked the more than 2,000 people who came to hear his lecture Wednesday night at Arizona State University’s Gammage Auditorium in honor of Black History Month for permission to speak directly to the African-Americans in the crowd.
He spoke of America’s Black slaves and their understanding that learning to read and write would empower them.
“Despite 100 years of slavery, our ancestors were smart enough to know that education would be the thing to lead us out of bondage,” he said. “At a time when to learn to read and write was against the law for African-Americans, our ancestors risked life and limb to learn.”
He spoke of his parents’ and grandparents’ generations greatest mantra: “Education is the key.”
Then, he asked the crowd how, with such a rich history, fewer than half of Black males graduate from high school in America.
Lee blamed the influence that crack cocaine has had in poor neighborhoods and the influence that media have had in glorifying drugs and gangsters, whom he said are primarily portrayed by Black actors.
“I am from the pre-crack generation. When I was growing up, we never, ever, never ridiculed someone because they were a good student,” he said.
“Your generation, they now equate intelligence with acting White and ignorance with acting Black, and they wear it like a badge of honor. They say, ‘I’m ghetto. I’m gangster.’ What they are is ignorant.”
Lee’s lecture touched on politics, film and his path to becoming a filmmaker. Among his films are “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X” and “Bamboozled.”
The lecture was sponsored by ASU’s Undergraduate Student Government and Black and African Coalition.
Last year, the groups partnered to co-host their first Black History Month lecture. The groups promised to bring high-profile and inspiring African-Americans to Arizona each year during the commemoration.
Last year’s speaker was musician John Legend.
LaTina Rencher, a coalition leader, said the coalition, consisting of 15 Black and African student groups, was founded in 1994 with the aim of helping students succeed academically.
ASU student Shala Marks, 21, said she could not have dreamed of a better speaker to kick off Black History Month in Arizona.
“They (ASU officials) don’t have a lot of Black speakers,” she said. “I’m really glad to be able to hear someone of his prominence, socially and politically, and with all his accolades. I wouldn’t miss it.”
ASU English professor Neal Lester said he often cites Lee’s work in his class instruction. He was pleased that the student groups had selected Lee as a speaker.
“Spike Lee has his pulse on a lot what is going on in American culture,” he said. “We’re witnessing someone who challenges boundaries.”
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Friday, January 27th 2012 at 11:54AM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
