Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" Block Party
It was nothing but Black excellence, love and power in Bed-Stuy yesterday at Spike Lee’s block party celebrating the 30th anniversary of “Do The Right Thing.” Held on the Stuyvesant Avenue block where the 1989 film was shot, between Quincy Street and Lexington Avenue, a packed crowd rocked for hours to DJ Spinna and DJ Scratch (who never let their feet off the gas), as well as surprise performances by Chuck D and Maxwell. While Spike held court as the party’s emcee, cast members Rosie Perez, Giancarlo Esposito, Danny Aiello, Roger Guenveur Smith and others shared reflections on his masterwork — still profoundly relevant 30 years later — surrounded by stoop dwellers, nutcracker peddlers, double dutch jumpers, rainbow flags honoring WorldPride Day, “Fight the Power” picket signs, and just all-around beautiful Black people. ⠀
Drawing parallels between the police killing of “Do the Right Thing”’s Radio Raheem and the real-life death of Eric Garner from an NYPD chokehold, Smith commented: “That’s why this film continues to resonate in the hearts and minds of people not just in Brooklyn, but in every community that is under attack all over the country and all over this world.”
If you were there, you know how epic and replenishing this event was. We only wish every Sunday of the Brooklyn summer could be so good.
