Do The Right Thing vs. "How Bigger Was Born"

Both Do The Right Thing and "How Bigger Was Born" bring to life all forms of the spectrum in regards to black pride. "How Bigger Was Born" detailed a number of Biggers who all acted differently about a similar subject, which was violence and thought-process. There were the extreme Biggers who faught and became enraged while there were also Biggers who bottled up emotions and pride but still held the same perspective. When all of these sides were combined, they all compelled some sort of an action. This is best said when Wright writes, "The process was like a swinging pendulum, each to and fro motion throwing up its tiny bit of meaning and significance, each storke helping to develop the dim negative which had been implanted in my mind in the South." (442) Because of the constant clash of cultures, they all affected each other and encouraged some sort of action to occur. This was prevalent in both the book and the movie. Also, in Do The Right Thing Spike Lee had characters who could show every perspective to black pride. There were the violent ones who took action, like Buggin' Out and Radio Rajim. There were the static ones in the middle like Mookie and then there were the ones who could care less about violence, like Da Mayor and Senor Love Daddy. Do The Right Thing showed how everyone thought that their actions were the right thing because they were all different people with varying opinions.

It's hard to reflect back on the movie when I feel as if some of my initial reactions have been tainted since I heard the views of my classmates. I only liked Mookie. I saw too many flaws in the other characters. Even though Da Mayor saved a life and comforted Mother Sister, I didn't like him because he was a drunk. The Italians frustrated me and the group of kids annoyed me. I find it funny that the character I connected with the most was neither white nor female. My opinions seem as if I watched the movie color blind. To me, this seemed like a Shakespearian tradgedy. Takes place in a short amount of time, more than one side is fighting and the characters demonstrate different view points. And even though the end is sad and worrying, some part of the story seems to be wrapped up. I also found similarities with Mookie and Jade and Romeo and Juliet. They're from two different races but have a romance, even though the people outside wouldn't necessarily condone it. I also felt that the death of Radio Rajim at the end of the movie goes out as a message, similarly to the ending monologue of Romeo and Juliet.