During this Thanksgiving break, I had the chance to watch Malcolm X, another piece of work by Spike Lee which he presents the racial tensions in the American society in a completely different forms compared to Do the Right Thing.
In Malcolm X, Lee uses a biographical framework to chronicle the life of the controversial civil rights leader, which gave me a sense of something in between categorical and rhetorical style of documentary. While Lee was objective with historical accuracy, he dramatized moments to probe the complexities of Malcolm X’s ideology. Cinematic techniques such as montages, voiceover narration, and historical footage were all present in the film, giving viewers an immersive feeling into the era, presenting Malcolm X as a transformative yet polarizing figure. Cinematography and mise-en-scene is significantly different from Do the Right Thing which consistent of tilted camera angles and detailed description of the neighborhood.
Lee also discussed Malcolm’s endorsement of violence as a form of self-defense, whether he “did the right thing” or not. Something that stood out to me particular was in the middle of the film when they were protesting in front of the hospital to the police, they actually were able to achieve “non-violence”. The particular scene also demonstrated Malcolm’s leadership that he can just lead the African American people through simple hand gestures. Then there was the transition of showing the corruption of Elijah Muhammad that catalyzes a shift in his worldview. Witnessing the racial harmony of Muslims from diverse backgrounds profoundly impacts him, leading to a reevaluation of his beliefs about race, violence, and unity. By the end of the film, Malcolm X adopts a more conciliatory and inclusive stance, diverging significantly from Elijah Muhammad’s separatist and militant views. He begins to advocate for a broader coalition of oppressed people, emphasizing dialogue and understanding over violence.
I think it was really interesting to see how Lee’s both films engaged with the ethics of violence in response to systemic oppression. In Malcolm X, violence is strategic and ideological, a means to an end. In Do the Right Thing, it’s spontaneous and emotional, rooted in community outrage. Through these contrasting portrayals, Lee criticized the complexity of America’s racial inequities resistance of determining what is “right” through different forms of film designs.
