Bruce
November 4th, 2005, 07:22 AM
Spike Lee lashes out at gangsta image
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/story.html?id=836b0571-f00a-4326-af78-e860f72d10bf
Associated Press
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Filmmaker Spike Lee. (AP File/Jim Cooper)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Spike Lee says the value of education is being overshadowed by the images that gangsta rap glorifies.
"Young black kids didn't grow up wanting to be a pimp or a stripper like they do now," Lee said of his youth in Brooklyn.
He drew two standing ovations as a featured speaker at a conference on cultural diversity at Middle Tennessee State University.
The 48-year-old filmmaker, who is working on a documentary on Hurricane Katrina, urged students to find a way to make being educated cool again.
"Back then, we were not called sellouts for using our brains. And being intelligent was not frowned upon," Lee said.
He likened the images from some rap videos to the distorted view minstrel shows of the 19th century gave most of the world about American blacks.
Lee said he has tried through his films, which include School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever and Malcolm X, to show the diversity of the black experience.
© The Associated Press 2005
...............
Hey, Jessica. Did you go see him speak?
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/story.html?id=836b0571-f00a-4326-af78-e860f72d10bf
Associated Press
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Filmmaker Spike Lee. (AP File/Jim Cooper)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Spike Lee says the value of education is being overshadowed by the images that gangsta rap glorifies.
"Young black kids didn't grow up wanting to be a pimp or a stripper like they do now," Lee said of his youth in Brooklyn.
He drew two standing ovations as a featured speaker at a conference on cultural diversity at Middle Tennessee State University.
The 48-year-old filmmaker, who is working on a documentary on Hurricane Katrina, urged students to find a way to make being educated cool again.
"Back then, we were not called sellouts for using our brains. And being intelligent was not frowned upon," Lee said.
He likened the images from some rap videos to the distorted view minstrel shows of the 19th century gave most of the world about American blacks.
Lee said he has tried through his films, which include School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever and Malcolm X, to show the diversity of the black experience.
© The Associated Press 2005
...............
Hey, Jessica. Did you go see him speak?