We need more like you

**sensitiveguy** · 05-21-2008, 07:00 AM

Spike Lee launched a bitter attack on Clint Eastwood yesterday, condemning his failure to include a single African-American soldier in his films about the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The Oscar-nominated African-American director, one of the most influential figures in contemporary cinema, said that black soldiers were conspicuous by their absence from Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima. Hundreds took part in the battle for the Japanese island in 1945.

Lee said: “There were many African-Americans who survived that war and who were upset at Clint for not having one [in the films]. That was his version: the negro soldier did not exist. I have a different version.”

He was speaking at a press conference in Cannes, where he gave the world premiere of an eight-minute trailer for his latest feature film, a war drama with which he hopes to set the record straight.

Miracle at St Anna is an epic story about members of the all-black 92nd Buffalo Division, which fought the Germans in Italy.

While refraining from using the word “racist”, Lee said that rewriting Second World War history was typical of Hollywood. The Dirty Dozen was among the few films that showed the contribution made by African-American soldiers, he said. White heroes played by John Wayne and other Hollywood stars had until now overshadowed the sacrifice of brave heroes of colour who laid down their lives for their country, he added.

“Here’s the paradox,” he said. “These African-American men wanted to fight against fascism in the name of democracy. At the same time, they were still second-class citizens.” Although Lee emphasised his respect for Eastwood as a film-maker, he claimed that the director had been told of the African-Americans who fought at Iwo Jima, and had chosen to ignore that “information”.

He said: “It’s not like he could say he didn’t know. It was a conscious decision not to have any black people.” Half an hour later, Eastwood was at the other end of La Croisette, giving his own press conference for his latest film, L’Échange (formerly The Changeling), the story of a woman, played by Angelina Jolie, who brought down a corrupt police department in 1920s Los Angeles.

Asked twice by The Times to respond to Lee’s criticism, Eastwood stared out into the audience as the compere refused to accept a question that did not relate to L’Échange. Later, his spokeswoman also declined to comment.

Miracle at St Anna, set in 1944, tells the story of four black Americans who find themselves trapped behind enemy lines and separated from their unit after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy.

The film is based on the 2002 book by the bestselling African-American novelist James McBride. The village in the title, Sant’Anna di Stazzema, was the site of a massacre by SS troops who rounded up and slaughtered 560 civilians.

Lee’s film reflects the pain felt by the segregated black soldiers. One says in the film: “I love Italians. I ain’t a nigger here. I’m just me.” Lee added: “At the beginning of the war, black soldiers did not fight. They cooked, cleaned and drove trucks. That was all they were allowed to do. There was a theory that the black soldiers would run. That was proven false.” Miracle at St Anna was a testament to brave men who fought for the country they loved.

Wearing a T-shirt promoting Barack Obama, he also spoke of the significance of the United States having a black American president one day. His great-grandmother was born a slave and would never have believed it.

**TUCKER** · 05-21-2008, 12:52 PM

You know SPIKE LEE never misses an opportunity to do a little self promotion. This suggestion about Eastwood's war films not portraying Blacks is another of Spike's jabs. Don't get me wrong, I like him per se and I believe in what he's doing and saying and he's right about the Eastwood films that were mentioned, but I think the purpose of those films was to depict some of the atrocities of war that civilians never see or hear about. I'm a VIET NAM veteran, trained to kill and NEVER deprogrammed and theres little I haven't seen if it could be done by man to man in war.

Certainly one overlooks the whole thing "WARs THEMSELVES ARE RACIST" if you want to look at it that way. I'm not mellowing out on this racist issue at all and I never will, but I aint about to let SPIKE LEE, a guy though well intended I suppose, send me out on a bullshyt tip! Spike aint no veteran and all he knows is what someone told him about it. He has no 1st hand knowledge of which he speaks. He glamorizes and colorizes his stories just like Eastwood and all the others. He didn't spend much time on the dark side of his characterization of MALCOLM X because he knew that would be box office suicide. Now hes pretty much arrived as far as finances and notoriety. He acts like all the other Hollywood Big Shots, imo. Especially the Black ones, who weren't used to having nothing. He aint trying to open no doors for noone as far as I know. He did his best Clarence Thomas impression with me and my dealings with him. "See my assistant" was one of his favorite lines. Hes a media darling because they don't want him making a documentary about them. He has this love/hate relationship with the press, but it works for him.

You recall the line hes best known for "WAKE UP!" Used to say it at the end of all his films.

"Lee’s film reflects the pain felt by the segregated black soldiers. One says in the film: “I love Italians. I ain’t a nigger here. I’m just me.” Lee added: “At the beginning of the war, black soldiers did not fight. They cooked, cleaned and drove trucks. That was all they were allowed to do. There was a theory that the black soldiers would run. That was proven false.” Miracle at St Anna was a testament to brave men who fought for the country they loved."

In battle conditions, I've seen some Blacks desert their posts, but I've seen 3x as many barbarians break and run. Anyone remember the scene in PLATOON when ol boy took off and ran straight into that girl holding the bayonet? To keep it balanced, the barbarian sgt pulled a body over his head and hid out. Remember the kid who stabbed himself in the foot so he could go home? That movie is one of the most accurate portrayals of what military life is like that I've seen todate. Remember all the pot heads hung out together? Remember there were few Blacks in the platoon, but they took care of each other and didn't necessarily hang together? Remember all the barbarians like BUNNY were heroes, ready to kill something in a heartbeat? Remember how they thought of and treated those people in that village? Oliver Stone is not my hero by any stretch of the imagination, but he portrayed the military, Viet Nam, racism, and everything else about life in the military, as accurately as I've ever seen it in Platoon. If you haven't seen PLATOON, maybe you should. (generally speaking) BTW check out the HOWARD ROLLINS production of 'A SOLDIER'S STORY." Your life will be more enriched than it already is if you see this movie.

Alls I'm saying is apply a little common sense to all these calls to glory. Don't be nobodys pawn in a situation that does not need Hollywood putting no spin on it for dramatic affect or realism. RACISM is real, and its everywhere. It is just as prevelant today as it was in the era Spike nem talking about. Like everything else, its manifestation has evolved. Your sight must evolve accordingly.

MY MOTTO: "EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION!"

I'd use the get off the soap box smiley here if someone hadn't been tinkering with the damn things and took them all away!

**sensitiveguy** · 05-22-2008, 08:30 AM

Tuck, I hear what you’re saying but I just applaud Spike for wanting to make sure the story is told accurately.

**TUCKER** · 05-22-2008, 09:25 AM

Before I give him too many accolades, I'll wait and see what kind of spin he'll put on the same story. Personally, I like him, but he's unashamedly cashed in on stuff before.

**sensitiveguy** · 05-22-2008, 09:27 AM

When I read this article, it made me think of two movies.

The first movie was "World Trade Center" where two black 9/11 heroes, (Jason Thomas and Bruce Reynolds) were portrayed by white actors.

The second movie was “A Mighty Heart” where Angelina Jolie (who is white) portrays Daniel Pearl’s widow, Mariane, who is black (technically, her ethnicity is black/cuban/dutch). Does it matter to any of y'all that Angelina had to be made up to look like a black woman for this role? Or that white actors portrayed the black 9/11 heroes? I know it's not the first time Hollywood has done this and it won't be the last but I'm just curious since there was quite a bit of controversy about both.

I have to admit they DO resemble each other (Mariane is pictured on the left).

**TUCKER** · 05-22-2008, 09:39 AM

You know JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is on the front line for the role of Michael Jackson right?

I recall James Earl Jones setting the world on fire in his portrayal of Shakespeare's Romeo!

This doesn't have much to do with it, but Jim Brown's kiss on Raquel Welch caused quite a stir.

The original AMOS & ANDY were barbarian, of course this was on radio.

How bout AL JOLSON getting rich singing Mammy in Blackface paint!

Recall the girl in IMITATION OF LIFE? Still don't like to watch Sarah Jean!

**sensitiveguy** · 05-23-2008, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUCKER

You know JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is on the front line for the role of Michael Jackson right?

Really? I didn’t know that. I would think if they’re looking for someone young and talented they might go with the likes of Usher. Or maybe even Chris… I can’t think of the young man’s last name but he did a tribute to Michael Jackson at one of the awards shows. He’s always dancing and flipping and shyt. LOL