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Spike Lee Revisits The L.A. RIOTS!!

It's too soon by RogueWarrior65	Dec 7th, 2006 09:40:23 AM
First!
If Spike is going back to the LA riots... by Franklin T Marmoset	Dec 7th, 2006 09:41:17 AM
he should remember the sage advice of Bill Hicks: Step on the gas, man.
I'm looking forward to this. by THE REAL DOC WAGNER JR.	Dec 7th, 2006 09:46:48 AM
This will be spike's schindler's list.
P.S. Spike Lee by Franklin T Marmoset	Dec 7th, 2006 09:47:04 AM
This Spike Lee is a bit hit and miss, but I like him when he hits. Do The Right Thing, Mo Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Summer Of Sam, 25th Hour, and Malcolm X are all films I liked very much. Also, Inside Man was a pretty good one, I thought, except things got a little bit shaky toward the end. I'm interested to see what tack he takes with his riot film - a sprawling, Oliver Stone type thing that tries to take in everything, or something smaller and maybe relating to just a few characters. Either way, it won't be boring, which is always a good thing.
Dark Blue was a great movie by godzillasushi	Dec 7th, 2006 09:47:37 AM
I hope this one is fair too. Not "all white people are evil." That was so bad, but stores were robbed and people were hurt, and no one forced them to do that. If it only takes one act to set someone off, its a good sign of character. And doing the act is a sign of THAT persons character as well.
Snoop Dogg already beat him there... by Batutta	Dec 7th, 2006 09:47:46 AM
...with THE LA RIOT SPECTACULAR, which is actually a pretty hilarious satire in completely bad tastehttp://www.lariotmovie.co m/
better link by Batutta	Dec 7th, 2006 09:48:19 AM
http://www.lariotmovie.com/
Will Michael Richards be in it? by Baron Karza	Dec 7th, 2006 09:50:48 AM
As public relations fodder?
Do The Right Thing 2: Do Righter by triplefive	Dec 7th, 2006 09:57:32 AM

Will it accurately portray Rodney King as an alcoholic? by Doctor_Sin	Dec 7th, 2006 10:03:00 AM
I hope so - I want this balanced. I want it to show how human - not black or white - stupidity and ignorance cause our racial problems. I want a strong critique of our culture as a whole - What tensions instigated the beating? Why beat someone like that? Why videotape it? Why let the officers go? Why riot? Why turn it into a race war instead of a class war? Why strike out at innocent bystanders? How has this effected our race relations since? Why make a movie? I want a real film, Spike - not propaganda. Give it to me - I know you can do it.
WELL by THE KNIGHT	Dec 7th, 2006 10:17:42 AM
I'm suprised... Not too much Spike hate going on ehhh.....
Wow, the Simpsons Movie link is already down... by DanielKurland	Dec 7th, 2006 10:19:34 AM
The funniest stuff in it was in the notes, there was some hilarious stuff in them.
HA HA HA. AICN pulled the Simpsons Movie "script" by Grando	Dec 7th, 2006 10:20:32 AM
Pages because Fox got to them? Or, the other more plausible reason? They pulled them themsleves becuase they were more bogus that the US's foreign policy. Jesus how about checking a source before posting shite. Here's the "pages" if you want to see them - http://tinyurl.com/ydovor
DanielKurland by QuinnTheEskimo	Dec 7th, 2006 10:21:17 AM
I know! I went to click the talkback after reading the pages and BAM! the whole damn story was gone! I don't even know what this article's about, I just needed to post about this.
I like how the simpsons link by THE KNIGHT	Dec 7th, 2006 10:21:39 AM
I like how the simpsons link is gone... Merrick took away my first title... 6 time champion!
I read the Simpsons script and it is APPALLING... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:23:03 AM
...It really is. I fear for the Futurama movies.
Either that, or the Simpsons script is... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:23:42 AM
...FAKE!!!!!!
Oh, it's definitely fake by QuinnTheEskimo	Dec 7th, 2006 10:25:17 AM
Did you read it? No way in hell that shit's real.
WHAT THE FUCK???? by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:26:38 AM
The whole link's gone, the Talkback, everything. This is a first for AICN. Talk about chicken shit. Can we at least have an explanation?
Spike leaving New York by blackstormy	Dec 7th, 2006 10:26:45 AM
I can't wait to see how Spike films LA. I hope its like Summer of Sam because I love that movie.
No way in by QuinnTheEskimo	Dec 7th, 2006 10:26:56 AM
hell. I felt this needed to emphasized.
My brother managed to print off a coupla pages... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:30:55 AM
...He's a huge Simpsons fan. OK, it's a work in progress, but it's COMPLETELY witless.
If it was fake then why take the article down? by snatchmaster	Dec 7th, 2006 10:31:52 AM
Just came back from something awful, and if the pages are fake, then give those writers their own show, it's some funny shit
wtf by lionbiu	Dec 7th, 2006 10:31:56 AM
that simpsons script is totally fucking fake.........how anyone could believe that is the movie is beyonde me. Back to the topic....I actually think Spike Lee could do a decent job of this, he actually has made some balanced movies (not alot, but some) and the focus promises to be on the rioting rather than the Rodney King trial (Rodney was not the angle people painted him out to be)...but I do think this is a little too late, a generation has past since the riots happened.
its fake by christophermoltosante	Dec 7th, 2006 10:32:07 AM
and whoever put it up on this site is a retard. one look at the first page and i knew it was a fake. silly sausages.
ScarranHalfBreed by christophermoltosante	Dec 7th, 2006 10:33:22 AM
they try so hard to be the first with the news that they really dont give a fuck if it turns out to be true or false anyway.
Maybe they took it down... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:33:38 AM
...because AICN didn't want to admit that YET AGAIN they've been duped into believing something so obviously fake is the real thing. Again.
The Simpsons script pages were obviously a joke by FluffyUnbound	Dec 7th, 2006 10:35:05 AM
Having the studio exec request that the "dated" Wil Smith reference be replaced with a reference to "Who Let the Dogs Out" kind of telegraphs the whole thing as an anti-studio satire. Besides, real Simpsons scripts have been posted online before and they use the TV script layout. I really doubt the writers decided to switch to the film script layout just because, well, it's a MOVIE now.
Who cares about Spike Lee??? by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:35:31 AM
The Simpsons script was SHITE! Spike Lee is a nubbutz.
lol by lionbiu	Dec 7th, 2006 10:37:12 AM
the getting jiggy note was hilarious, I could actually see a movie being made about the process of making a movie out of the simpsons...but the script was far too obviously fake..it was a rehash of a episode they done 3/4 years ago.
Obviously by QuinnTheEskimo	Dec 7th, 2006 10:38:08 AM
It was a joke. Did you see the "fuck those fat internet fucks" or whatever written in the margin. It's a joke aimed at the sort of people who post on this site. It would appear Merrick fell for it.
FluffyUnbound by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:38:35 AM
I see that now, sort of. I hope you're right. I really do. Cos the way Simpsons is going these days, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the guff that ends up on the screen. Come on Harry - give us an explanation!!!!!
"Fuck those fat internet fucks." by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:40:34 AM
What hilarious satire. Yes, these fakers should get their own show. Televised hanging or something.
some notes from the by lionbiu	Dec 7th, 2006 10:41:52 AM
some notes from the script "have homer punch Lisa, than the dog (name?)bites him" "have someone read this out loud (sea captain?)" "PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE THEATRE!" "Put them on fire" "we need to e like the golden days.......season17" LOL.....AICN fell for it big time, this is obviously a prank, probably by the simpson crew or some begruntled fan.
MIGHT IT NOT BE WORTH MENTIONING by WISEBLOOD	Dec 7th, 2006 10:42:53 AM
That there were black and latino cops who took part of the Rodney King pummeling as well? And that one of the men indicted was a latino officer? Also, might it not be worth mentioning that the day after the assault on Rodney King occurred (before his lawyers got to him, of course) he said explicitly that "I don't want this to be a race issue". I hope Spike Lee takes a responsible approach to this subject matter, and shows it for what it was. It wasn't a "White VS Black" thing...It was a COPS vs PEOPLE thing.
Franklin T Marmoset by WISEBLOOD	Dec 7th, 2006 10:44:19 AM
BILL HICKS SHOULD BE CANONIZED AS A SAINT. AN INSANE, RANTING, HIGHLY EVOLVED, NON RELIGIOUS PROPHET OF COMMON SENSE. LONG LIVE THE GOAT BOY.
Weird day indeed. by solartaco3	Dec 7th, 2006 10:44:21 AM
I was on acid the day of the riots.
White people aren't PEOPLE... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 10:45:11 AM
...They're slavering, depraved neanderthals who masturbate in public and would rape your sister up the buttocks.
More Simpsons talk here than Spike Lee talk by snatchmaster	Dec 7th, 2006 10:45:21 AM
Now he is being oppressed by the yellow man. Guy can't cut a break
solartaco3 by WISEBLOOD	Dec 7th, 2006 10:47:16 AM
Hey I was too! In LA, no less!
"Black People Will Beat You If You Piss Them Off" by The Ender	Dec 7th, 2006 10:50:51 AM
Alternate Title. All kidding aside, I dont know how this movie will come out, but I know if it is done wrong, it's just going to cause more ignorance in this country. BLACK PEOPLE ARE SO VIOLENT! HIDE THE KIDS MARTHA...that type of shit. Then again I guess it couldn't do anymore damage than people like Al Sharpton do. Guys like him thrive off of racism (where would he be without it?). They need it to stay famous and feign relevance. My point is, America is racist enough already, I hope this movie is presented in a way that doesn't make the problem any worse.
"Let's burn down OUR neighborhood - that'll show em" by durhay	Dec 7th, 2006 10:57:39 AM
another alternate title.
Holy shit! I've just read the notes in the script... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 11:04:29 AM
So OBVIOUSLY a fake. So fucking OBVIOUSLY.
So OBVIOUSLY... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 11:13:59 AM
...I didn't spot it first read-through. I feel just like Merrick does right now. Only less so.
Good luck, Mr. Lee. by Childe Roland	Dec 7th, 2006 11:16:34 AM
You're going to need it if you're actually looking for meaning in the riots beyond the obvious. That being, people...all people...black, white, latino, asian...whatever...are just seething balls of repression waiting for an excuse to give in to their more primal urges. Whether those urges are to dominate, seize and injure or to flee in panic depends, to a certain extent, on the individual and, to a greater extent, on the conditions of your experiment. If anyone involved in the incident aside, perhaps, from King, himself (in the moment when he pleaded for people to stop the violence), is played with an ounce of nobility or good intentions, you will be doing a tremendous disservice to art and cultural awareness. People suck. We don't really need another movie to remind us of that.
I told my mate he was racist because... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 11:16:50 AM
...he didn't like Chinese food. He went MENTAL. Who cares about Spike Lee anyway? He's black.
Godzillasushi you hit the nail on the head, sir. by Blue_Demon	Dec 7th, 2006 11:18:12 AM
"Contents of their character" as some fella said years ago...
Scarranhalfbreed... by ScarranHalfBreed	Dec 7th, 2006 11:18:54 AM
...You are a TROLL. You are only saying such things for attention because your mother beat you and your father hates you for being a homosexual.
speaking of The Wire... by Russman	Dec 7th, 2006 11:33:31 AM
did anyone see the season ender on HBO on Demand? WOOO!!! McNaulty!!!!! Bodie!!!!!!!! Marlooo!!!!! Michael!!!!!!! Randy!!!!!!!!! Damn good episode. Love this series. "This game is rigged yo!" - Bodie
Spike's by cocolopez	Dec 7th, 2006 11:34:44 AM
being tapped to direct the season V opener of The Wire...
the lapd are racist and by emeraldboy	Dec 7th, 2006 11:40:16 AM
corrupt. Anyone who saw the film biggie and tupac knows this. Not forgetting that doc by Errol Morris The thin blue line. OJ and his wife were involved with columbian drug barons as was ron goldman. There are people, very high up in the LAPD who have been corrupted by this columbian drugs gang, the guy who did killed Oj's wife and Ron Goldman is himself in prison for narcotic crimes and during the documentary which was screened sometime ago about the Murder, this documentary produced two pieces of never befor seen evidence, a sketch of OJ's house the time the murder was supposed to take place. The other evidence which remains unexamined to this day are a pair of bloody hand prints on the back Ron Goldmans shirt, which were ignored and have been to this day, were the result of the fact that Ron goldman put up a hell of a fight beofre he was killed. The killer, who is now in califorian jail, said that during the trial his evidence was ignored and he was never called as a witness at any stage. Oj simpson and his ex-wife were involved with some very dangerous people and her death came as result of the fact that she liked to splash the cash and she wouldnt shut up about where the money came, so a hit was put on her by these people who infiltrated the lapd and the FBI. Oj did beat his wife. which was disgusting. You have no idea badly this case was fucked up and every single stage. For his involvement with narcotic criminals OJ should be behind bars. The money in the white bronco was drugs money. With drug-related criminals you will find that when they want to skip the country they need a disguise. That is why OJ had one.
Summer of Sam was about 98% there by Doctor_Sin	Dec 7th, 2006 11:40:56 AM
Spike needs to NEVER have a "punk" character in his films. Ever again.
Hoping that it ends up being one of is good films... by wash	Dec 7th, 2006 11:49:17 AM
that ratio is something like what, 1 out of 5 now? Compelling subject matter though, and could be great. But I said the same thing about SOS and that was a POS.
The script didn't appear fake to me, but just... by DanielKurland	Dec 7th, 2006 11:55:02 AM
a very early draft. The comments on the script were obviously jokes and not meant to be taken seriously by the writers. To me it all just seemed like an early work, that the people were fucking around with, and the comments demonstrate that.
Wow, could psychotic criminal junkie Rodney King be... by JackPumpkinhead	Dec 7th, 2006 11:55:06 AM
shown as "the victim" in this version? And will LA's best chief since Parker portrayed as a thug? Can't wait for an objective view from the master of fairness that always refers to his "work" as "a Spike Lee joint"!
Figures Whitey by SoulOnIce	Dec 7th, 2006 12:02:39 PM
All those brothers got fucked up during the riots and this honkey's main memory is white boy Reginald Denny getting his ass whooped!!!
Thank you Merrick, for mentioning Reginald Denny by Daddylonghead	Dec 7th, 2006 12:04:45 PM
Giving this unavenged martyr his due right up top is admirable, that is indeed what most of us who happen to share Denny's complexion remember most about the riots. I was impressed with Lee's 2-part on Hurricane Katrina... I think it will stand the test of time as a priceless document of what happened. In fact, I'd love for Lee to go back there and do "a year later"... I think he knocked that one out of the park. I'm actually sorry to see him turning back to non-documentary filmmaking, in light of his last few movies! Nobody can pretend the LAPD aren't/weren't (not like I live there, so I don't know currently) some of the most notoriosuly corrupt cops in the country... I will be interested to see how Spike Lee handles this, where he puts the emphasis. I hope he gives the attention that's needed on the KOREAN-AMERICAN victims, who suffered outrageously at the hands of the (black) rioters in part as a consequence of the controversy over the Latasha Harlins shooting... here's the URL of a short 1993 film on the subject: http://tinyurl.com/yx5ol5 And no, ONE TOKEN Asian character doesn't do the job... let's have an Asian family, at the very least...
No point in seeing it by Doggus47	Dec 7th, 2006 12:06:15 PM
After all, it seems that everyone here knows how it's gonna be. No point in watching a film made by a great film maker. There is the potential to make for an insightful movie. This reminds me of how most people were completely off when Oliver Stone's World Trade Center movie was announced
SoulOnIce by WISEBLOOD	Dec 7th, 2006 12:32:20 PM
Hey dipshit, those brothers that got fucked up during the riot got fucked up because they were OUT IN THR RIOT RIOTING...Reginald Denny was AT WORK trying to make an honest living. You racist fuckstick, crawl back in your fucking hole.
Ya racist pricks... by s00p3rm4n	Dec 7th, 2006 12:34:22 PM
Of course you see Reginald Denny as 'the victim' of the LA Riots. Because you never saw the reaction. You didn't hear about the families barricading themselves in a Denny's to keep the fucking cops from beating their heads in. You think it's the "angry black people" but if anything it was a swipe back at an uncaring and brutal police force (p.s. they're still uncaring and brutal).
s00p3rm4n by WISEBLOOD	Dec 7th, 2006 12:55:40 PM
I was IN LA during the riots, I lived there...Reginald Denny was a victim...he didn't start the riot, he wasn't rioting, he was at work and got drug out of his truck and smashed the fuck up. On the other hand, youre right...the LAPD are (in general) brutal and racist...but the black community STARTED the riot. If you start a riot, and then get hurt during the riot, you arent a victim. You're a dumbass that shouldn't have started a riot, and got what you deserved. As for the prople who were innocent that got hurt in the riots, they WERE victims, black white yellow brown or whatever. They were victims of a riot started by a community that decided to smash shit up because they didn't agree with a verdict. If a group wants the protection of law, they must submit to the rule of law, not riot.
Sounds good to me by Darth Thoth	Dec 7th, 2006 01:06:43 PM
I can't wait to check this new Spike Lee joint out. I think now is a great time to go back and reflect on an important time in American history. It will give us all a chance to go back and confront a sad time in our history. How have things changed since then? How haven't they? What have we learned as a society? What do we still need to work on in light of any recent current events related to race? These are important questions and I think this movie can go a long way towards facilitating dialogue between all Americans... and people in general.
Civilization... by BillyPilgrim	Dec 7th, 2006 01:12:38 PM
is a very thin film covering the might makes right side of humanity. Like a soap bubble, it does not take a lot of energy to pop it.
Protetction of the law by Doggus47	Dec 7th, 2006 01:15:47 PM
"If a group wants the protection of law, they must submit to the rule of law, not riot. " The point is a large number of people feel that they had no protection under the law. If you feel that way, you can't give up something you don't have.
What was the line? by JackRabbitSlim	Dec 7th, 2006 01:24:07 PM
"Slavery ended 140 years ago. Get the fuck over it." Spike Lee - The 25th Hour.
Doggus47 by WISEBLOOD	Dec 7th, 2006 01:27:07 PM
I agree, but thats not what happened. They rioted, not because they didn't feel as though they were protected by law, but because they didn't like the verdict that the law came up with. Further, my point with that statement was a rebuttal to what s00p3rm4n said, which is that the brothers who were hurt in thr riot were all victims. My point was that if you start a riot and get hurt, thats just desserts. If you were not instrumental in starting the riot, and you get hurt, you're a victim. I agree with your statement that some may not feel as though they are protected by law, but that is not an excuse to riot and victimize others.
Dear Spike Lee... by kdoc13	Dec 7th, 2006 01:44:04 PM
Thanks for a movie which is going to stir things up again, just when my nieghborhood in Koreatown was finally back on its feet. And people were starting to get along. Excellent timing. While I enjoy your films, I hope you've allowed in your budget room for funds to make up for the damages caused during the sequil to the riots.
He's going back to the LA riots? by BizarroJerry	Dec 7th, 2006 02:03:40 PM
Christ, are those things STILL going on?
Inside Man was fu*king tight! by Russman	Dec 7th, 2006 02:15:21 PM
How anyone could say "meeep, err it was alright" really puzzles me. It was an awesome movie.
Inside Man was hella good by QuinnTheEskimo	Dec 7th, 2006 02:20:31 PM
But I'm kind of sick of racism. I don't really know that it's the issue people make it out to be. It seems like most white people are pretty cool with the minorities at this point. It isn't hard to get the feeling that racism is perpetuated by the minorites so they'll have something to complain about. Or so the ethnic comics will have jokes.
Like someone said above by QuinnTheEskimo	Dec 7th, 2006 02:22:00 PM
People like Al Sharpton make a career out of racism, when I'm not really sure it's still that big an issue. They make it an issue, I think. Not all the time. I'm not trying to overgeneralize here. On a lighter note, where the fuck is that Simpson's talkback?
Spike Lee is a supporter of by emeraldboy	Dec 7th, 2006 02:24:27 PM
the Nation of Islam. The nation of islam is a bigoted, Anti-semtic, racist, sexist organisation whose aim is to divide america into two lands one for white and one for black. You dont hear too much from these creeps these days. Louis Farakhan was behind the murder of Malcom X. it is alleged and he denies it. Malcolm X was going to follow in the foot steps of Luther King and go down the road of Peaceful protest Farrakahn and his group got rid of Malcolm and set up the nation of Islam.
I can imagine the plot by HillaryLovesMe	Dec 7th, 2006 02:41:24 PM
Act I: The courts system is revealed as a gigantic white conspiracy against blacks. Act II: Lee makes it perfectly clear to the whites in the audience that they're all evil racists, whether they're "conscious" of this or not. Lee makes it clear to blacks that they should be violently outraged (cf. "by any means necessary") that the white establishment is brutally oppressive toward them. Act III: Lee complains that race relations are pretty bad, which is basically the fault of whites. At no time does he ever blame ideologically retarded race-baiters like himself for purposefully stoking racial tensions for the sake of notoriety. (Remember: whites being intensely angery at blacks = bad. Blacks being intensely angry at whites = good. Lee can inflame racial discord all he wants by, for example, blaming the Bush administration for purposefully allowing blacks in Louisiana to suffer; Lee must not ever, ever, ever be held accountable for this obvious lie, because of the color of his skin.)
"whitey" is a racist term by bunkyboo	Dec 7th, 2006 03:01:30 PM
Using this term is offensive and not acceptable. Any put-down word describing race is racist, doesn't matter if you're the same race or if you feel justified. It goes both ways and it's never OK under any circumstances. Can't we all just get along?
We'll we see Ted Koppel's apology for the medias... by Negative Man	Dec 7th, 2006 03:03:17 PM
...failure to show the entire King video and giving the full facts of the police stop? He felt that the controversy and the riots were all on the shoulders of the 'new media'. That by not giving the full story, the media was more interested in grabbing ratings and advertising money than they were in relating the truth. He said the media should have shown the full 12+ minute video that had shown King exiting the car against police orders and threatening the female officer whom quickly called for back up. How King was already disoriented by the PCP in his system and several times moved towards officers. How, even surrounded and the others in his car begging him to stop, he resisted arrest. How he was tasered several times, yet he was able to resist due to the drugs that numbed his system. How resisted the first few officers who tried to physically restrain him. What we generally saw was the 1.5min video of the police brutally beating the man. A man, whom after intense and multiple strikes, still was able to move and attempt to get his footing, which many account to the drugs in his system. None of this justifies the brutality of the beatings at all. But, it does give a clearer picture of what the police were dealing with. King's future run-ins with the law (Driving without license and expired car registration, picking up transvestite prostitute and almost hitting police trying to escape them, spousal abuse TWICE, driving while intoxicated THREE times, assaulting his 16yo daughter and her mother, indecent exposure while under the influence of PCP, assault with a deadly weapon, reckless driving, and hit-and-run…whew…) shows his character as a man, yet he is considered a taboo to say anything against. He is a Holy Grail for people whom feel that black/white racism is at an all-time high in America. People like Spike Lee, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and many others whom make their money ON and FROM black/white racism. If they and others do not continue to feed the flames of racism, they would be out of a job. Is there black/white racism in America? Sure. Is it to the extent that the media portrays it? Nope. And I think that scares them. They see that the next on the money making racism frontier is the ‘plight’ of Hispanics in the U.S., as can be seen by how many are comparing the situation of illegal (or undocumented) workers to that of the black man in America. In the end, racism is around, but we don’t need to fire it up for profit. I live in L.A. and lived threw the riots. I watched as my city burned. Yet, it wasn’t my area of the city. Mine is a mix of whites, blacks, middle easterners and Asians. Only a few miles away from the riots…yet no one around me were going nuts. We lived in a slightly below middle-class area. We knew this wasn’t a race riot, but about the haves and have-nots. We even trekked onto the completely and eerily vacant 101fwy to watch the glow of the flames. One of us gave a slight, nervous laugh and said “This will all be over Friday morning.” “What? Why?” another asked. “Because, that’s when the welfare checks come in.” I shook my head, the dread feeling that this was the first night of many, that the wave of flames and violence would spread north and envelope my small apartment. I watched the ongoing riots as they were shown 24/7 on TV with little sleep. Come daybreak Friday morning, the riots were all but over and the lines had formed around the post offices that stood among the burnt out hulks of surrounding buildings. The checks had arrived. Lee should show that general tension within a civilization is class/monetary based. That the rioters used the King incident as an excuse to grab all they could that they could not afford at the time. Politicians on both sides of the fence exploit our sensitivity to our personal wealth and position. After all, if you are rich or a CEO of a corporation, you must be evil.
The Wire, and Monolithic thinking by toadkillerdog	Dec 7th, 2006 03:14:21 PM
The Wire, while being a truly well written show, with dynamite casting and chemistry, is not representative of Black and White relations across the spectrum. I am not even sure if it is the case within Baltimore. Yes, there are very real elements to the show and the writing - but it is a fiction. To say that one fictional show, focusing on fictional characters (regardless of how real they are depicted) in one city, captures a mindset of relations betwen races - is ridiculous. There is no monolithic model of Black & White relations. Just as there is no monolithic mindset in the Black or white or Asian or any other community. I stress this because too often the only way we relate to others we have not had much interaction with is either by, 1) relying on a stereotype. Or, 2) relying on a single premise or point of view that is presented from a 'safe' distance through 'gritty realism' as portrayed in a 'gritty but realistic' television drama or and movie. Happens in every generation. Yes, there is some truth to these 'gritty dramas' and it does help to get a more accurate portrayal of life for some, but if you only see one slice of life (and a fictionalized slice at that) but you assign it over much weight - you will be creating yet another stereotype.
To the white people on this site by King Willy	Dec 7th, 2006 03:50:07 PM
I’ve always seen it very problematic when discussing race issues with the majority of white people. The reason why I say this is that I have to spend the majority of the time having to document 1: Racism exists and is alive 2: Racism will always draw a reaction from its targets. I would never claim that sexism doesn’t exist I’m a bloke, sexism is always around me but I really see it. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. There are now female CEO’s blah blah blah so what are they complaining about. People achieve in spite of the ism’s, not because they are not there. Now I’m not over sensitive, as I kid, you could call me skinny, 4 eyes and all that, but when it came to the black shit, it didn’t wash with me. You are not just calling me, it’s my family friends, my culture. I live a very good life with many privileges, that wouldn’t have happened if many ‘black’ people in the past didn’t make hard sacrifices. That’s why we can not let shit slide. I can take witty intellectual jokes on ethnicity, but not anything that’s evokes a superiority of one group over another. Now why the Spike hate. Spike Lee films challenge people. We all get hardons for hard R film. Why is it on this site that we applaud films that show death and pain for entertainment, but when someone wants to open up a discourse on how we humans relate to each other, we don’t want to know?
King Willy by WISEBLOOD	Dec 7th, 2006 04:02:11 PM
I don't think anyone debates that racism exists. I think whats being said is that unfortunately racism is being overly hyped as more prevalent than it actually is, for the personal and political gain of a certain group of people.
it is important to note... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Dec 7th, 2006 04:02:53 PM
...that the vast majority of "Americans that turned on other Americans with such fury" during those riots were gang members and criminals (long before the riots began) - the ones that were caught had long records (no surprise) - as soon as the first store window was shattered (after the verdict came in) these thugs had their free pass to fuck some shit up - im curious to see spike's take on all of this - he should follow this up with an "o.j" movie - he can call that movie "an innocent man" or "the hunt for the real killers"
Will this feature the full uncut Rodney video by Undead Neverhood	Dec 7th, 2006 04:14:50 PM
The one where it shows him getting out of the car and taking swings at police officers, and then afterwards showing how his friend in the car got arrested without incident or being beaten.....or is it just going to show the same 20 snippet we have all seen 50 million times.
Race baiter Lee needs to move on and get a life.... by Monkey_King	Dec 7th, 2006 04:18:04 PM
instead of making films about how the black man is put upon, etc...blah, blah, blah. Grow up, Spike! Don't forget, the black man is still not the racial minority, it's Asian people. Stop crying about equal rights when poor Asian people have it worse, bust their asses and have to put up with ignorant stereotypes from black folks on a daily basis. Make a "feel good" film Mr. Lee, NOT a "piss off the ignorant black masses some more" film. Come correct, Son!
Actually the first 6 hours was an actual riot by Undead Neverhood	Dec 7th, 2006 04:18:27 PM
The followup 6 days were simply people getting new televisions and merchandise and trashing their own neighborhoods. I wonder if this movie will show the 6 days and nights worth of 24/7 looting.
Spike will "forget" to include Reginald Denny by BannedOnTheRun	Dec 7th, 2006 04:52:49 PM
And "Tawana Told The Truth" will be spraypainted all over.
Why the Hate by King Willy	Dec 7th, 2006 04:54:38 PM
Again I'm seeing so many people getting bored with Lee, but I don't see you getting bored with Woody Allen who only in the past few years has he moved into new territory. I don't hear you saying please Mr Cameron stop making action movies and do something different. Spike has made 1 of the all time best films for the last century in Do the Right Thing, it feature is most critics 100 top film ever and even if it didn't I'd consider it a great film. As a black filmmaker his protagonist are black. As a black male I deal with racism all the time, if someone was going to make a film about me they would have to tackle this because its a part of my life, it shouldn't be the focus point, but it would get a mention. Just like Spike characters. I don't feel he tackles racism all the time but it is always there in his films. She's Gotta Have It, dealt with woman’s desires, Mo Better Blues Dealt with Jazz, He Got Game about basketball and the father son dynamics, Clocker’s drugs, Inside Man Heist film, 25th Hour Drugs redemption, Summer of Sam, Impact of a serial killer. Girl 6 Womans desires, I’m rushing here so I know I have generalised the topics in these movies. I also know that these film feature elements of a discussion on racism, but that because it’s a part of our lives. In fact I can only think of 4 films that tackles racism head on, Malcolm X (and even this deals with the man not the theme of racism) , Bamboozled, Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever. So why the hate? I'm starting to think many feel threatened by a strong black man with an opinion which it turns represents your own demons. If you’re bored with his tacking racism (which I think I've proved is not true) then you should say the same thing for many other filmmakers who you love as I'm sure they may stick to certain themes that interest them.
It's about privilege... by Darth Thoth	Dec 7th, 2006 05:00:33 PM
Racism/ prejudice is as real as its ever been. We've made great strides but it still exists. White privilege allows someone who is white to not have to deal with issues of racism everyday, hence people thinking it's not as big an issue. But for someone of color, it's an issue that is faced everyday. Similarly for example, as a man, my male privilege is that I don't have to deal with issues of sexism everyday. But for women, that's a reality they have to deal with everyday. You get my drift. It's not really right for someone with privilege in a given area (race, gender, sexual orientation, class, etc.) to tell someone who doesn't have the privilege how they should deal with their emotions/ situation. Rather, dialogue is the key so that those with privilege and those without it can come to understand the other's perspective and therefore both grow. Also, people have to know that a problem is not going to go away if we just ignore it. Look at Katrina. We as a country have to show the courage to honestly confront real issues head on. We can't wish them away. The LA Riot sparked because of underlying issues that had been ignored and were festering. The guilty verdict simply was the catalyst to let all those frustrations out. So the bottom line is that we all have to face and confront these very real and prevalent issues (still) in society. Maybe Spike's movie will prompt some very real emotion. But I don't think it's to be divisive. No, it's to force us all to discuss and deal with these issues so that all of us- black, white, asian, male, female, straight, gay, rich, poor, whatever... can grow and move forward together.
Fucked by King Willy	Dec 7th, 2006 05:05:04 PM
I'm glad I'm not a female lesbian blind disabled, black, jew. Thats hard!!
Nope, that's not it. by BannedOnTheRun	Dec 7th, 2006 05:06:59 PM
I liked "Do the Right Thing" because it covered so many points of view; e.g., the scene between Danny Aiello and John Turturo. They were actual characters. By "Jungle Fever" Spike was already moving into parody shortcut territory with Tim Robbins (who never passes up a chance to play eeeevil conservatives). And when Spike started into his "Bush bombed the levees" schtick on talk TV, sorry, it was nice having you on Earth back in the day.
I think it's time! by Orionsangels	Dec 7th, 2006 05:13:20 PM
It's been forgotten. It'll have a powerful message and if anyone can do it justice, Spike Lee can.
King Willy... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Dec 7th, 2006 05:21:28 PM
woody allen movies are never touted as "important" - and certainly are not contraversial - in either execution or subject matter - more than a few of spike lee's movies have benefited from being labled either important or contraversial - as this new one will im sure - its interesting that he (of all directors) is doing a movie on this subject - in that - the pairing can be seen as obvious (as in "who else but spike lee can direct this") - or redundant (is this "do the right thing part2") - there are many different perspectives this story can be told from - its not (as this talkback seems to suggest by its posts) a "black only" story - i think lee can handle it very well and show it from all sides - thats a movie id like to see - more than anything else it is a story about los angeles as a "fish bowl" model of the usa - and the incredible time tested disconnection between all the "fish"
King Willy by WISEBLOOD	Dec 7th, 2006 05:30:18 PM
No hate here...Do The Right Thing is one of the best films of all time. And I'm tired of Woody Allen. But you display a pretty broad swatch of racial stereotyping yourself, saying that "You" (speaking of us, I assume, WHITE people) aren't tired of Woody Allen or James Cameron. Thats an extraordinarily prejudicial statement, and wrong as hell to boot. If you took the time, and looked at ANY of the articles on this site with respect to those film makers (or just about any film makers) you'd see that in general the readership of this site (regardless of color) ARE tired of those film makers. And just in case youre gonna say Im a racist, let me tell you: Im Irish. That means that I don't have to be racist. The irish are superior to everyone, regardless of color.
sigh... by the_shogun_gunslinger	Dec 7th, 2006 05:50:44 PM
Lee really really REALLY needs to calm the fuck down. First off King got what he deserved in my opinion. go ahead and castrate me over that but goddammit you dont go speeding down the street nearly killing other drivers while high as a fucking kite and then ASSUALT POLICE OFFICERS!!!! if i was there id be beating him into submission too. man lee cant lighten up for a sec. the moment with the Muslim guy being "persecuted" durring his interview in Inside Man threw me right out of the movie. i was like, there ya go Spike...i knew you couldnt fucking resist to play the race card....oh and btw...Cracker gets thrown around a lot, yet im sure only a fraction of you know the origin of the term... "cracker" was a word used by slaves to describe their owner since they would be "cracked" with a whip i the misbehaved. im sure most people think its refering to a fucking Saltine.
The only thing I can say and mean about by Almost_Human	Dec 7th, 2006 06:42:18 PM
Spike Lee is fuck that racist egomaniac POS. The only movie he ever directed that was worth a damn was X and that worked because of Denzel. He HURTS race relations despite any intention he may have to the contrary. A pushy arrogant jackass with a Napoleon complex is a pushy arrogant jackass with a Napoleon complex no matter his skin color. No sale.
And Jonnie Cochrane was not a racist. by Almost_Human	Dec 7th, 2006 06:45:06 PM
He was worse. He was a lawyer with zero ethics beyond who paid the check. Best thing about him is he's room temperature now. Now if the rest of the Dream Team would just join him.
Almost_Human, do you hear an Amen? by TheRealRatigan	Dec 7th, 2006 07:31:49 PM
I was compelled to rejoin by saying exactly what you have, then got to your post and saw that you've beaten me to it.(Sorry...bad choice of words.)Johhny Cochran lived high on a perverted American Dream, and was a culture's new American nightmare. He won't be missed. One of the nation's great and truly shameless opportunists. Long may he rot.
IT OUGHTA BE SOMETHING! by williamD	Dec 7th, 2006 07:43:26 PM
Should be VERY interesting.
angry posters by JimmyJoe RedSky	Dec 7th, 2006 08:34:21 PM
a lot of the posts in here seem to be throwing a lot of anger and assumption toward lee - and his choice to direct a movie about the la riots - first - why do so many assume this movie will be a defense of r. king and his actions leading up to his beating and arrest - lee's past movies have more than a few black characters that ARE NOT painted in a flattering light - its not all "black good white bad" like some here assume - second - lee's not a racist - if youre going to call him a racist, you should also call the guy that made "crash" one - the examples of racism that appear in some of lee's movies ring very true to me (im white) - people just dont like seeing the ugly truth (that exsists in themselves) in movies - be it a drama, or war movie - the truth hurts and is embarrassing - on the subject of r. king - its no secret that there are racist cops in every police dept. in the country (as in every other profession) - to what degree may very - there are some great cops out there - and then there are some that are no more than a mailman with a gun and a chip on their shoulder - but - if r. king were white, and did everything the same leading up to his arrest, i think he wouldve been handled no differently
Wise Blood and Blank Generation by King Willy	Dec 7th, 2006 08:53:27 PM
Wise blood: true true, I was generalising, and thanks for picking me up on that. That’s how this shit should work, we should guide people into what we feel is coll, through debate. I feel that is what Spike does, his movies create debate. Plus the Irish are the blacks of Europe so One Love my man. and to my friend WankGeneration. You are right in your post as thats how your mamma described me to your daddy when she was asked who she was sleepping with last night!!
the thing about spike.. by Malebolgia	Dec 7th, 2006 09:42:33 PM
is he thinks he's making some deep, thought provoking movies when all they are is his pathetic way to get some attention. Make a good movie , spike, stop fucking around, I like "do the right thing" but that's it.
Uh, emerald... by BizarroJerry	Dec 7th, 2006 09:55:50 PM
I believe Lee, in Malcolm X, shows that the Nation of Islam (not sure how much there is fact or supposition) were the ones who killed Malcolm. So, Spike agrees with you.
Should be great by tbransonlives	Dec 7th, 2006 10:17:15 PM
I'm up for the role of fat white racist #37.
Spike Lee is a racist by Rupee88	Dec 7th, 2006 10:18:00 PM
or at least many of the things he's said in interviews strong suggests this. He has made some decent movies, but most of them are kind of amateurish.
Spike Lee could make a documentary... by 9SilentNine9	Dec 7th, 2006 11:23:08 PM
about gazelle and somehow it would still include racism. That's his gimmick. X was an excellent film... because of Denzel. Spike Lee needs to evolve. Much like anyone else of any ethicity needs to evolve when they point the finger at another race for being the cause of all of their woes.
Let the whole-world-against-whitey rants begin by Bong	Dec 7th, 2006 11:34:19 PM
That right b/c you know most congressman, senators, people on the Forbest list of wealthiest people, med students, law students, business school students, undergrads, CEOS, hollwood power players, etc are all non-whites
Spike Lee is a racist by Omegaman	Dec 8th, 2006 12:25:58 AM
and theres no way there will be any truth at all in this film. It'll be politically slanted to make whitey look evil and blacks look like oppressed heroes. The jury decision in the Rodney King case was correct, he was resisting arrest. Theres no way youre going to hear that from Spike Lee though. And, most pathetic scene in the history of tv imo was when Reginald Denny kissed one of the black thug's (that almost killed him) Moms. gag thats not something that deserved to be forgiven, just because the perpetrators were black.
Spike Lee and such by Franklin T Marmoset	Dec 8th, 2006 02:24:13 AM
I'm white and I'm not bored of Woody Allen or James Cameron. Mind you, I'm not bored of Spike Lee, either. P.S. Where does this idea that Spike Lee needs to evolve come from? He has evolved, as far as I can tell. Films like 25th Hour and Inside Man are not the same as She's Gotta Have It and School Daze. Also, why should he have to let go 'black' issues? Any artist, regardless of race, has a tendency to revisit themes that are relevant or interesting to them. He's a black guy, so why the hell shouldn't he keep making films about black problems? As long as these films are not boring to watch - and it's rare that Spike Lee's films are boring - he can talk about whatever he likes. P.P.S. For Wiseblood - I quite agree (about Saint Hicks, I mean).
Spike Lee is wrong for this movie by DirkD13"	Dec 8th, 2006 04:25:19 AM
He's just simply not a balanced enough filmaker, as talented as he is. I have to say i'm not massively familiar with the riots (I was 12 at the time), but i've seen the Reginald Denny footage before. This guy actually went and HUGGED his attackers mothers to say that he forgave them for crushing his skull. What a wonderful person, there should be more like him. I totally agree it needs to be more than a race-driven film, it needs to be class-driven film. I'm sure that there are plenty of people in LA of all ethnic persuasions, but I bet the rich didn't riot did they?
Inside Man ... by bender7	Dec 8th, 2006 04:27:18 AM
was different for Spike and he made a great film. Basically he took a common mainstream idea, a bank robbery, and made it one of the genres best since Heat, and made it feel fresh. I don't love Lee but he is confrontational about things. As people have previosuly said long as the movie focuses on conflict rather race and who is 'right' and 'wrong' it could be great.
For some reason by emeraldboy	Dec 8th, 2006 06:31:20 AM
I have never liked lee as a filmmaker. I will say this he made Jodie foster look hot on screen in inside man and I mean smoking. Although Inside was a great looking film the story was a huge let down.
When I saw inside man by emeraldboy	Dec 8th, 2006 06:38:01 AM
I imagined Clive Owen with a belfast accent. in the sequel a london bank is robbed by a bunch of Irish republican northeners. Oh..wait......
I don't know... by Freefinger	Dec 8th, 2006 07:34:35 AM
...we'll have to see if this movie will be driven by Spike's emotions or an actual storyline. Yes he might be racist (didn't knwo about that kid receiving the awards... Ouch what an ass!) but some poeple have made a point about his movies painting a not too bright picture of black people in america. All I know is that if he does make this a personnal vendetta against whites because of what is going on right now with Richards and everything else (not going to mention the crack addict as-been comedian that wanted attention so he too went on stage to say the "N" word... Well at least i'm going to say he's a Dick...) then he'll lose a lot of respect from a lot of people. What happened back then was that a black guy, known by cops (which said a lot) resisted arrest, and unfortunatly the cops went haywire on him. Was he guilty of resisting arrest and being given a couple of corrections, yes, should they have gone all out as they did, Hell no. My dad's a retired cop, and I could tell you stories about how many times they arrested someone who dealt drugs and got off because most judges are power freaks who let people go because of technicalities, doesn't make them innocent, but the judges will favor them because an officer forgot a line when doing the arrest, how fuing stupid is that. Now if they would catch someone robbing a judge's house or car, hell that guy could've been beaten up and read no rights and he'll get 20yrs in a maximum security prison. Judges are fuing idiots for the major part. Now did the cops who kicked the hell out of Rodney King should've been convicted, yes. they went way out on his ass and that's plain fu**ing stupid. What then happened when blacks started beating up white people in the streets like Denny, wo.. Sorry but they should have the chair for that, they beat up a guy because he was white and in the wrong spot at the worng time, King was "known by officers" those words means a whole lot. This time around Lee must keep in consideration that cops are out there risking their lives every day, and when you have a majority of young black men holding a gun in their pants while selling drugs, well they don't take a chance and they don't play too nice either with those kind of morons. So when you confront a black dude who has his pants barely hanging on to him wearing a cap that's croocked, let's say they won't be saying "Hi there, may we speak with you for a moment sir?" The adrenaline will jump in. Anyone who knows a cop knows that the chances of them coming back every night without fearing about their lives in this day and age will tell you how hard it is. Spike Lee must take this in consideration. I hope he can, I think he knows that they're good cops and bad cops out there, we all know that, but we also have to take in consideration that they put their lives in the line of fire every day with the situation going down with the guns running the streets. Hell I hope he goes the way he usually takes, let the King and Denny affairs play out on a newscast, and show what happens to a couple of characters during those days instead of focusing on the King and Denny events. Let the story of one family or friends be played out in front of us. I think Spike might be a little racist, but aren't we all to some degree. We're human, we're not perfect.
spike lee don't like white peolple by davidlyons	Dec 8th, 2006 08:43:39 AM
well he aint getting a christmas card this year. i hope he likes denzels girth cos he's another racist fuck.
anyway DAVID LYNCH KNOWS THE TRUTH ABOUT 9/11 by davidlyons	Dec 8th, 2006 08:49:24 AM
http://www.infowars.net/articl es/december2006/061206Lynch.ht m
Rodney King was just arrested again Tuesday by BannedOnTheRun	Dec 8th, 2006 09:17:43 AM
Can't we all just get along?
Things I would like to see in this film by Lang The Cat	Dec 8th, 2006 09:26:35 AM
FIrst off, the fact that the officers who stopped King shot him twice with a taser and he did not go down or stop moving toward them. That must have been scarey for the officers. Also, I want it shown that the LAPD was held back from stopping the riots. In fact, did not prevent people from entering the riot area. This is why Denny got hit with a brick and why the pregant lady was pulled out of her car and killed. That seems like Darryl Gates' way of showing LA what not having a police force would be like. Also, gun stores were selling boxes of ammo to everyone. The riots nearly caught the well-to-do folks leaving the Music Center in Downtown.
I have heard that lee by emeraldboy	Dec 8th, 2006 09:43:51 AM
is a real ass on set. or he was. I dont know. either way no one has ever spoken about working him. Reports said that he was really tempremental on set and would give actors a good going over if he didnt think there performances were good and blow up at crews if he didnt get what he wanted. being in some way associated with nation of Islam imapcted on his views about working with women, who he barely tolerates, i have heard there are at least some female actors who swear they will never work with him again.
that should read by emeraldboy	Dec 8th, 2006 09:45:51 AM
no one has ever spoken about working with him.
ALL THIS BEING SAID by WISEBLOOD	Dec 8th, 2006 09:55:22 AM
Im looking forward to seeing this film. I think Spike showed that he CAN be even handed and fair in his eye towards race relations and race portrayals (again, just look at Do The Right Thing) and hopefully he will show the full breadth of what occurred, both with the Rodney King Arrest, the trial (it was definitely NOT a jury of his peers...not a black face in the crowd...a bunch of upper middle class white people and I think 1 asian dude) and the riots themselves. It seems to me that all sides here are valid: Did rodney king resist arrest? YES. Did he get treated harshly? Yes. Was the level of violence used by the police appropriate? Probably. Was the trial fair? HELL NO. Should the officers have been acquitted?> HELL NO. Was it a race crime? HELL NO. Was it a crime of POLICE vs PEOPLE? HELL YES. Were the riots justified? HELL NO. Were the riots an understandable reaction? Yes. Were horrible things done during the riots? Of course. So I think it's safe to say that it is an incredibly complex issue that bears a complex film maker taking a close look at the facts and ramifications of the event. And King Willy: Big Ups, my man.
hey Toasty Tony... by Freefinger	Dec 8th, 2006 12:12:31 PM
You really need to put that shit on every fu**in post?... I really hope you get your ass banned...
If you think this movie even has a chance.. by 9SilentNine9	Dec 8th, 2006 01:01:53 PM
of NOT being about race, then I'm afraid you are either a moron, or just optomistic to a fault. P.S. Kill Whitey! That is all...
Spike Lee is a racist by 9SilentNine9	Dec 8th, 2006 03:19:15 PM
and you, good sir, are pathetic. Not because you disagree with my rational opinion of an odious and overrated director, but because you accuse every white person on this site of being racist. Simply pathetic. Check out the Snakes on a Plane thread, there's your "one" topic. Name all these "other" threads that supposedly bash the black folks. People like you are disgusting, and yes, you are a racist. Kudos to you on "pulling the race card". That really goes to show how learned and enlightened you truly are.
whothefuckcares by WISEBLOOD	Dec 8th, 2006 03:21:16 PM
You're an idiot, regardless of race. Step back from your TV for a minute, think very carefully about your previous post, try to view it with objective eyes, and then MAYBE you'll see what a load of total bullshit that it is. Case in point: Black slavery was started and propogated by BLACK PEOPLE. The BRIEFEST period of it's history took place in a SMALL section of America. A WHITE MAN (actually white MEN) abolished slavery. A EURPEAN consortium dismantled the slave trade that was being propogated by the Spanish, Dutch and Africans. My point here is that when one abandons the rhetoric (of both sides of the debate, mind you) and looks at the HISTORY of the race issue in america, you'll find that it has been addressed by both blacks and whites, just as it was started by both blacks and whites. We can point out individual shortcomings all day, but maybe if we try to bridge the gaps and build a foundation of commonality we can stop having debates like this. Comments with so much generalization such as yours only serve to dismantle the forward progress that has been made.
wiseblood... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Dec 8th, 2006 05:33:41 PM
what are all of your historical "points" supposed to help prove - sure - africans started selling slaves - but white europeans and the old south built entire economies on the practice - by choice - the reason there were so many wealthy land owners in the confederacy was that they all had a limitless unpaid labor force - all of this made possible by their own racism - blacks werent considered people - and try to explain away lynchings - which continued to occur long after slavery was abolished
JimmyJoe RedSky by WISEBLOOD	Dec 8th, 2006 06:29:10 PM
My points (note the lack of quotes) are meant to show that yes, racism is real, and yes both sides are guilty of it. It was a rebuttal to a very badly drawn argument by whothefuckcares that white people are solely racist and tend to be the ones that cry foul for no reason. I was trying to introduce a historical perspective to the idea to rebut his point. Youre right...white europeans did buy slaves. From the spanish who either trapped them or bought them from the africans. The history of slavery is thousands of years long, yet american slavery lasted less than 200 years. And my final point, the most salient one and the one you apparently didn't care to include in your rebuttal, was that it was white americans who abolished slavery, who fought for black sufferage, who funded the peace marches of MLK Jr and who arrested and prosecuted the very small group of people responsible for lynchings. My whole point, taken in total, is that history is based in racism and classism, and that the point made by whothefuckcares failed to take that into consideration, thereby fostering the schism, rahter than mitigating it.
IN FACT by WISEBLOOD	Dec 8th, 2006 06:33:14 PM
It can be argued that without the intervention of white people, black slavery would still today be widespread on the african continent, not just localized to small areas on the african continent as it is now. I will grant, of course, tht this would be a controversial point to frame, but there is history and precedent to support it.
wiseblood... by JimmyJoe RedSky	Dec 8th, 2006 08:27:02 PM
the spanish slavers you keep mentioning were white by the way - spain is a part of europe - and the seat of power back then was occupied by white spaniards - and as far as early america goes - the number of whites that helped free slaves was far outnumbered by the ones that wanted to keep them - remember a little thing called the civil war - the poiticians that wanted slavery abolished were considered radicals - white people nationwide didnt all jump onboard - even in the north east - the white americans that did were also considered radicals and subversives - "american" racism is not exclusive to whites - but whites seem to have had (and still do) the monoploy on it - with mainfest destiny - the army wiping out the natives - black slavery - the building of the railroads by the chinese - japanese-american internment camps during ww2 - segregation - etc. - accept it - white people have been in power here since we came here - whites have written the history books and made the rules - we're not all evil bastards - some of us try - dont take it personally when someone states the fact that white racism was a huge factor in the developement of this country
WISEBLOOD by Kai_Mah'gra	Dec 8th, 2006 10:10:54 PM
I would counsel you to get a freaking clue regarding what you're talking about before spewing your ignorance all over the place in public. When you say "black slavery would still today be widespread on the african continent". Name 10 places in Africa where it was, as you put it, "widespread"? Just 10. Bear in mind that there are about 54 countries and autonomous regions in Africa, with over 3000 distinct ethnic groups each with distinguishable cultural practices and languages. I'm just asking for 10 examples: of this "Black Slavery", as you put it, and as in, devoid of American, European, Arabic or Indian influence. Just 10. Just to illustrate to you that you don't know what the fuck you're talking about. Stop trying to paint the clear victims of this historical atrocity with the same brush as the perpetrators. Yes, slavery did exist in Africa prior to European influence; there's no single race on his planet that can claim to be innocent of this practice. But it certainly did not exist and was not practiced in the same sense as it was practiced as characterized by the Slave trade. Just as you cannot liken modern day human smuggling and forced labour in sweatshops, to the Slave trade despite the fact that on basic principles it's exactly the same practice. So get your head out of your ass and stop deluding yourself that white people are some kind of saviours to the African continent in stopping or reducing "black slavery", as you put it and want to believe. Europeans (and by proxy, Americans) royally fucked up the African continent for the next 20 generations, to the extent that it's now th shame that the rest of the world doesn't want to deal with nor look at ( as soon as Bush and Blair go marching into Darfur to rescue those black people being massacred by their Arabic government, you know, the same way they did for those poor Iraqis please let me know). And as regards slavery, it was the Europeans that introduced formalized large scale SLAVE TRADE, in contradistinction to the small scale practice of it by isolated ethnic groups in different pockets of the continent. Oh and one more thing, of course WHITE MEN abolished slavery, especially seeing as THEY WERE THE ONES WITH THE POWER TO DO SO!!! What? Black slaves were just going t bust out of their shackles and march to Washington and kick Lincoln's butt to change the constitution? Stopping something that you started and that you and you alone have the power to change does not count as a credit to you. If anything, it can qualify as an indictment to your stupidity if it takes you so long to come to your senses. So, next time you're tempted to start pontification on the social commentary of a place you clearly know nothing about, heres a piece of advice: GET. A. FREAKIN. CLUE.
At Worst by Black Satin 2	Dec 9th, 2006 07:35:16 AM
Spike has a tendency to bring lots of issues into this. Is he going to start with Rodney King's beating or is he going to start at the time of the verdict from Simi Valley. And if he does, the Reginald Denny incident has to be magnified. It can't be treated like it never happened or it wasn't so significant. So many people found outrage at that and not at the reasons the riots started in the first place. And let's face it; the OJ trial might have some bearing in all of this too.
JimmyJoe RedSky by WISEBLOOD	Dec 9th, 2006 01:43:10 PM
with respect to "white spaniards" those dont exist. There is a difference between european and white. The Romantic empire includewd colors from dark brown to bright white. But thats an academic point, my thrust was that AMERICANS didn't institute the slave trade. Thats all. Your point is well taken though. With respect to the small minority of people who wanted to abolish slavery, I would argue that it was the other way around, but to be honest I would have to research that point a little further to speak on it with any real confidence. It was aside from my point, however, that in America, slavery would not have been abolished had whites not abolished it. The argument stands that whites were in power so they were the only ones who could have abolished it, but they could also have chosen not too. Dont get me wrong, Im not trying to paint whites as saints (Im Irish...the first people bearing my name that arrived in america died on plantations as indentured servants) but I thought it was very important to point out only that not all white people are racist slavers, a point that i thought was not being mentioned in the talkbacks. I agree with you and dont take offense when someone says that the history of this nation is based on the sweat of slaves...remember, Im Irish...some of that sweat belonged to my grandparents.
Geeeezus.... by Freefinger	Dec 9th, 2006 02:52:51 PM
This post is really getting out of hand. We're not saying all black people are racist, we're not saying all white poeple are racist. What we're saying is that Spike Lee has some racisism in him but he can also put that aside if he doesn't go nuts on it in a movie. He decided to take on the LA Riots, so.. he's gotta be carefull about what he's about to do. Hell Kramer sent everyone haywire because he flipped out for a minute. And then a couple who are jewish started to say he was also doing jokes against the jewish community, god.. he's jewish, if a jewish man can't do jewish jokes what next... We all have to understand that if Spike decides to go the racist card on this because of cops beating the shit out of a guy who did not comply with police officers, and was defying them - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R odney_King (Take out any spaces) - I'm sorry but black or white he got what he deserves. Cops are in the line of fire all the time, they do not want to take risks with their own lives, they might be screaming shit at you when they get to your car, but if you can keep your cool down, they cool down too, and then you'll be treated like eveybody else (I'm talking to blacks, whites, latinos, ect ect..) The problem is that when you have most guys running around thinking tey're the next 50 Cents, or Eminem and think they can be 'all that and talk like retards and wear pants down under your ass line with fucking colors that could be seen as gang colors, what the hell do you think they're going to do? Be all nice to you? I'm sorry, but they have a job to do and their job is not getting killed by some teenage fuck face crack addict. If you want to be respected, start respecting yourself and your race. If most of the black men in a city act like gang bangers, then that depicts what cops will think of you all. Ask a cop, hell ask a black cop. They'll all have the same answer, you look like one of them, you'll be treated as one of them. Look at Micheal Jordan's dad, he got shot by one of those little fucks, there's a black man that was trying to help out, being shot by his own stupidness of not being carefull with those fucks. I see white kids acting like that in malls, trying to be a gangster, when they don't move and hit into you and have that little attitude they're really strong and powerfull, but one got to close to my girlfriend and tol her to "move out of my way bitch.." when he approached her and tried to push her (She was pregnant, the little fuck) let's say that he didn't say much after that, since he got my fist to break his nose. What happened next was basically people looking at me then turning to him saying they didn't see shit. That little fuck will probably think twice about that next time. 17 years old and little trash talker got his nose banged up by some random guy, was I happy with it? No, did I do it because he was black, No he was white but he acted like some black rapper, he need his head straightened out, and his folks aren't doing it, so I put some sence back into him. So if you act like a wanna be rapper, or are in the face of cops and they sense danger, you better be polite within the next second or you'll be the next one on the ground. Did they go overboar? yes, yes they did. What the black community did after that was destroy half a city when the cops weren't thrown in jail for 20 years. I remember a certain O.J. being sent back on the streets after killing two people because of some technicalities because a cop once said the "N" word in some bar, and I don't remember the white population destroying half the city? So that's what it means when we say that Black will go nuts if a white man isn't found guilty, but when a black man gets off after killing two people, they all say "Finally Justice".. Fuck that.. We all have some racism in us, let's just hope Spike remembers that and doesn't start a whole new Riot because of a movie.
Kai_Mah'gra by WISEBLOOD	Dec 9th, 2006 03:23:58 PM
First, chill out, and refrain from insulting me (or anyone else) personally because you disagree or think they are wrong. It denigrates your position, and shows that you are either a child or childish. I suspect, based on the strength of your points that neither of those are true about you. Now, with respect to your points: You failed to read the statement that I made correctly about slavery being widespread on the african continent. I said that it CAN BE ARGUED> Not IT IS or IT IS A FACT, but rather that it can be argued...meaning that there are valid points on both sides of the intellectual divide. As for the rest of your response to me, I dont even know where to start. You make circular points that have no bearing on what I actually said and misconstrue the meanings of what you actually managed to read. All I want to say is: At no point in this debate have I attacked anyone, called them ignorant or insulted anyone. I've made valid points that can be debated rationally. I have restated the point several times that EVERYONE is guilty of racism, and that making a one sided argument serves noone. So I will reject your advice, and hope that you will take a minute to consider your response to my points and maybe reformulate your reaction based on what was actually said, not a conclusion that you jumped to without consideration.
AND WITH THAT by WISEBLOOD	Dec 9th, 2006 03:27:17 PM
Im out. Peace in the east, famine or feast.
Freefinger, will you do us all... by glodene	Dec 9th, 2006 04:30:13 PM
A favor, and shut the fuck up! Your bigotry and racism is clueless beyond all bounds. I seriously doubt that black people will start rioting over a movie.
Has anyone mentioned that Porno for Pyros by CreasyBear	Dec 9th, 2006 05:37:22 PM
eponymous song should be this movie's theme music?
glodene... by Freefinger	Dec 10th, 2006 01:06:43 AM
I'm not a bigot, that's the point, we all have our differences but yet nobody seems to be able to point it out. And as soon as someone does, there you go.. I'm a bigot... Congratulations you just proved my point. We're all afraid of passing for racists because of so many things, yet Chris Rock does all this material about white people and that's ok, but for a white guy to do it, he'll get shot down and called racist. We all need to take a fucking breather from this kind of subject, and I hope Spike Lee is going to go the right way on this. I do like his work (some of it anyways) I just hope he doesn't revive old feelings. Hell Look at Micheal Richards, I admit he went way the fuck off on those guys.. way way way the fuck off but he stirred up the whole racism thing again. And all I see this movie could do if not taken in the right way is people will bitch and complain again about how a bunch of white cops got off on beating up a poor blakc guy who was not doing anything wrong. Yeah.. right... So there you go, If I'm called racist because of what I'm saying then it's your point of view and go ahead, no problem you have your rights to think what you want. I'm happy for you and have a good night. Hell I'm thinking of all the time some white kid goes nuts and shoots up a high school, they try to find some link between them and some form of Heavy Metal, but when a black kid gets shot at, they never try to link it with them trying to be the next Gangsta Rapper. So there you go, whites also get tagged all the time, hell when a news anchor who's black dresses up with a suit and tie, then he's a blaxk man who sold out "He ain't black, he's whiter than white!" - Famous phrase to describe Gumble, why is that? Because he actually doesn't try to get shot or walk with a limp? Fuck that! Try to respect your heritage and roots before trashing all white men because of slavery that happened a couple of hundred years ago, yeah it was fucking discusting what they did to those men and women, but I'm not one of them, and you're not one of them either so stop bitching that we're all racist. Some of us have grown up with that history but not in those times, so it's time to move foward instead of backwards like it's doing right now. So there you go glodene if I'm a racist scumbag to your eyes, then I'm sorry, but I'm not throwing the rocks at anyone, I'm just saying what happens when you look or act like something that should be thrown in jail, then you should, same for dumbass Gov Workers who think they're badd ass bikers over the weekend because they ride Harley's and try to act like Hells, they make me laugh as hard as any wanna be rapper. Same fucking boat, act like a human being, don't look like a gangbanger 'cause it's cool and you won't get into half the trouble. I also got handcuffed once because I was giving the cop a hard time, so he didn't take any chances, did you see me resisting him, hell no 'cause i would've been given the beating too. I started with being polite and change my 16 yrs old attitude and he got way more patient. Now, I learned my lesson. We should all do the same and let them do their work.
glodene, Agent sith... by Freefinger	Dec 10th, 2006 11:43:10 AM
And there you go... This is why we all know that black people are the most racist in all category of any race. They discriminate against everyone everywhere anytime, and as soon as someone throws a punch at them... Racist! Guess you guys must be gangbangers that were brought down by police at one point then sent to prison and took it up the ass, now that you like it so much youhave to be all racist against everybody not black or wearing a uniform that has a badge on it. All pissed off at racial profiling, that's what's keeping people safe. Oh, and go check your local prison, majority of inmates are black. Wow you guys do have the majority in something, be proud of your race, look like schmucks act like schmucks and go to jail and then brag about it. Nice, real nice... you can say what you want about LAPD and NYPD, but the fact remains that most of the drugs being pushed to kids out there are being dealt by gangbangers who are black. So there you have it.. They should re-open Alcatraz and hope someone escapes to be eaten by sharks. They could even re-name it "Blackatraz" to represent the majority of the population. Have fun with that comment, see I become more and more racist has I speak with blacks because with all your actions come violence and blame it on someone else, the cops shot a man but the man did something he shouldn't have done, and that acting like he had something on him. They shot before being shot. You play stupid on a playgournd you get hurt, you play stupid on the streets, you get shot. I worked for a music store for 5 years, and you know who stole the most? Rappers, now saying that it kinda makes it obvious that most of them were blacks, but some of them were whites and some were latinos and orientals, but the big difference is, the black dude would always go the racist route, yet he could not take the blame that he stole something, the others just sat there and waited for the police. Blacks will go the racist card everytime they can that's a fact 'cause they know in this day and age people are frighten of being tagged "Racist", I don't care I know I don't discriminate because of color but because of attitude whatever your skin color is. SO there you go.. post away... hit the racist guy.. you're all pissed right now because you know I'm right. And I don't care..
oh and.. by Freefinger	Dec 10th, 2006 11:44:36 AM
ps.. the plunger guy.. was a guy who was on the cops radar for ages... So basically anytime they rough up an asshole (pun intended) it makes it a little safer for your kids to play outside.
Freefinger is not a racist... by glodene	Dec 10th, 2006 08:56:09 PM
He's the MLK of our time. He's like Big Bwana who's gonna sweep down to the black/latino/asian part of town and teach those po' savages a thing or two about learnin' theys' station in life: 1) Acceptin' the status quo; 2) The police is theys' friends; 3) White is Right & last (but not least) 4) Questionin' white authority is akin to blasphemy, punishable in a most Draconian fashion...Dang Freefinger! You would've fit in right nice in Apartheid South Africa. Jawol! Mein Herr!
It's about itme we had.. by Freefinger	Dec 10th, 2006 09:53:16 PM
a good fucking post.. see I went all out just to get things going... Hope you all don't think I actually believe all this shit. Mouahaahahahah!! But I think I bent people the worng way... It was just a way too fucking boring post anyway. Kudos to you two for actually standing up for somethinh. Ps... You wouldn't believe my color if I told ya ;P But see what could potentially happen if Spike doesn't treat this subject the right way? If a post can get people going imagine a widespread movie. ps. the arrest thing... Yeah ... I think I remember posting my dad used to be a cop, let's say we know how to be more carefull around cops and help situations calm down because we know what our folks go thru everyday. That's an actual fact, try to not piss of a cop when they pull you over. They're always some bad apples, but modt of them are just trying to get home to their families. Hope I didn't mess up your days glodene and Agent sith, but all this shitty bickering.. proves that one little thing can ascalate to far worst things.
nah .. fu** it... by Freefinger	Dec 10th, 2006 11:39:36 PM
Agent sith - Who cares ... Hope you popped a vain while writing all that. Must've been hard to think more than one word at a time. Bad grammar, this is a post for Christ sake, I don't double check my shit while I type... Fuck it... glodene - I'm not gonna sweep in; I wouldn't want to put shit on clothes. The only thing I would worry about is the kids that are stuck in those fued up communities because their folks are too fuing lazy to dress up to go out for an interview and/or teach them what 2 + 2 adds up to. They're too busy blaming everyone else for the black man being manhandled by the white man. Is it so bad to act like civilized human beings? It’s not acting white, it’s just being normal and not looking like a fuing moron. When I see shows like “Unique Autosport” and see a dumb ass sport icon who spends over 80,000$ on four custom rims, tires and a couple of dvd players in a car instead of actually doing something with that cash that could help some families to get out of the gutter, then see their faces in a commercial to help out communities and poverty, that fucking makes me think that there is no more honest people out there. Same goes to all the Stars who do the same thing. But black players are the worst because they all talk about them living in the ghettos and how hard it was yet they spend more money on buying the next Mercedes than money in schools that could actually do something for those kids. Hell with guys like the Nascar drivers and the rest of them out there, they never even seen a black guy up close, so you expect them to not donate that much, but when you come from the shittiest part of the US, you should give back not just in time, ‘cause that don’t put no books on their tables, it just tells them to play sport ‘cause that the only way out, bad fucking message. Try not to buy crack for a couple of hours and buy your kids some food or books, then wait for Will Smith's new movie to come out and go see it, you'll see what a father does so he can support a child instead of blaming a 200 year old white dead man. But then again, you might put Will Smith in the "blacks who went white" category right? I'm just gonna wait and see what the hell are you two going to write next. So fuing funny...
Aside from the retard fest... by onemanarmy	Dec 11th, 2006 12:23:23 AM
..going on here with the arguing. I'd just like to say that I refuse to support Spike Lee's efforts as a filmmaker after that retarded shit he pulled with Ted Turner. Who tries to sue a major media mogul for naming a channel "Spike TV" because it has nothing to do with you or your stupid name? Oh yes...that's right...people that think the world is out to get them do shit like that.
Agent sith by Freefinger	Dec 11th, 2006 06:43:30 AM
actually i USED to work in a music store, when I was 16 ya dumb man milk lover. And you rambling on after I clearly make it obvious that all I'm doing here is trying to piss you off 'cause you have a brain the size of a jelly bean is clearly an indication that you don't actually read the whole posts. And I didn't generalize ya dumb turd pusher I'm clearly pointing at the gangbangers and parents who aren't doing there jobs with their kids. I have a kid a house am still with the same girlfriend after 10 years and don't have "Sith" in my username because I would not sit outside a theatre for 20 hours to see a movie (like you probably did because you must not get a whole lot of action - not counting your hands of course). So if you think you got under my skin? Mouahahahahaahahahahahahah!! funny how you just saw me posting "I'm sorry" then "Fuit" yet you responded. Now that shows you how much brains you have. I have to tip my hat off to glodene for not even bothering responding as she might have actually seen that I was just fuing with you guys! Oh attacking onemanarmy, that's just fu**ing low, he just commented, nothing to do with us. But I'm guessing you're the turd that will start a fight in a bar then retreat out of the fight, once your buddies gang up on one guy, you'll go up and kick the guy with a "There you go bitch don't fuck with me!" - But then this is assuming you have more than the geek squad

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