From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: spike lee &  boston celtics
Organization: AT&T
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 23:58:26 GMT

In article <1edgopINNebb@bigboote.WPI.EDU> jseaver@bigwpi.WPI.EDU (Jason John Seaver) writes:
>In article <1ed5rlINN8br@seven-up.East.Sun.COM> joneil@heretix.East.Sun.COM writes:
>>i have never seen any spike lee movies, but i understand he has a problem with
>>Larry Bird and the Celtics. I read a interview where he states he hopes the 
>>Red sox and the Celtics never win another game.  Does anyone know any more
>>info on this, just what is this guy's problem.
>	I'm inclined to say he's just a jerk.  However, it often seems by his
>actions that he doesn't like white people, and both the Celtics and the Sox
>are both predominately white, and Larry Bird would seem to be particurally
>offesnive to him, a white man good at a "black man's game".

Keep in mind that you are entertaining a bit of extrapolation in this
regard.  It may be his reasoning, but it may not be.  He may just not
like the teams.  Sports fans can get a bit weird at times.

>	I realize what I'm saying could be viewed as racist by someone who
>really wanted to view it that way (and there'd probably be no convincing that
>person that it isn't so why bother trying), but Lee really encourages this

I can't be sure that this isn't a ploy to get controversy (NO!!  They
don't do that in Hollywood!!)

>idea; I believe he said he would only talk to black reporters about Malcom X
>(open-minded, eh?) and his fixation with making movies that are about black
>people first and people second seems more pervasive than Oliver Stone's stuck-
>in-the-sixties trauma.

He may see himself as a person sending much-needed messages.  I find his
movies to be much more even-handed at dealing with issues than his
personal personna.  Also, he might just not like the white people he's
met.  I have a friend who talked to him at film school, and apparently
he doesn't like talking to white people in general, or at least it
seemed so to my friend.
>
>	I too have not seen any of his films, and probably won't for a long
>time - they just haven't appealed to me.  But comments like the ones about the
>Celtics, the Red Sox, and his encouraging of kids to SKIP SCHOOL to see Malcom
>X really don't help in making me want to.
>
>							-Jay

Lots of hype, there.  You also have to remember that what he said about
black reporters was that he preferred talking to them, presumably because
he felt black reporters would give him a more balanced treatment or
that they would understand his positions better.

Now, if a white film director said the same in regards to whites, he
would be pilloried.  Some might argue that the position is different
because of the relative power positions -- something that Lee, regardless
of his statements to the contrary, seems to have profitted from.
In actuality, it is racism by definition, but if you have to make a
decision based on race, even if it is by definition racism, it may
not always be a bad decision.  If you are Spike Lee, and you start
with the assumption that a white reporter would not suit your needs
for publicity as well as a black, you might very well make the choice
to make a racist decision for practicality's sake.  After all, Malcolm
X was all about race relations and issues.  It may be no more a big
deal than requesting that science-knowledgable reporters cover a story
about the space shuttle.  It may be a prejudice, but it's a practical
one in that case.

GMS
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