America through My Lens: The Evolving Nature of Race and Class in the Films of Spike Lee

Spike Lee is a writer-director, actor, producer, author, and educator who has revolutionized the role of Black talent in cinema. Widely regarded as today’s premiere African American Filmmaker, Lee is a forerunner in the “do it yourself ” school of independent film. Lee’s latest endeavor is the documentary If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise. Such films as Inside Man, 25th Hour, The Original Kings of Comedy, Bamboozled, and Summer of Sam are examples of the breadth and diversity of Lee’s subject matter. Lee’s films Girl 6, Get on the Bus, Do the Right Thing, and Clockers display his ability to showcase a series of outspoken and provocative sociopolitical critiques that challenge cultural assumptions, not only about race but also about class and gender identity.