Spike Lee Slams Clint Eastwood Over Representation Of Black Soldiers

UPDATE: Clint has responded Spike and told him, among other things, to "shut his face."

********

CANNES, France - Spike Lee is slamming Clint Eastwood over his two recent Iwo Jima movies, saying the filmmaker overlooked the role of black soldiers during World War II.

Lee _ whose next film is this fall's "Miracle at St. Anna," the story of an all-black U.S. division fighting in Italy during the war _ said Eastwood's 2006 movies "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters From Iwo Jima" were whites-only affairs.

"He did two films about Iwo Jima back to back and there was not one black soldier in both of those films," Lee said Tuesday at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was a judge in an online short-film competition.

"Many veterans, African-Americans, who survived that war are upset at Clint Eastwood. In his vision of Iwo Jima, Negro soldiers did not exist. Simple as that. I have a different version," Lee said.

Eastwood was in Cannes for his missing-child drama "Changeling," starring Angelina Jolie. At a news conference for the film, a reporter tried to ask for his reaction to Lee's criticism, but the moderator cut her off and told journalists to limit questions to Eastwood's own movie.

Due in U.S. theaters in October, "Miracle at St. Anna" centers on four Americans _ played by Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Omar Benson Miller _ in the Buffalo Soldiers division in Tuscany.

___

On the Net:

http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en.html

Comments

[j0em0mma]

I'm not a huge fan of Spike Lee, but rejecting this out of hand only perpetuates one of the great injustices of our history. Black Americans served honorably and valiantly in WWII. Is it too much to ask that they be included?

[massive]

More to the point, however, is it too much to ask that Spike Lee occasionally directs a picture that anybody wants to see? Seriously, the guy has directed a slew of movies that are all awful. Nobody goes to see them, because they're all appallingly bad. Yet Clint Eastwood has directed modern classics that people flock to.

Spike Lee should spend less time worrying about what Clint Eastwood directs and more time on what he directs. I've seen people direct traffic with more talent.

[Str8flush]

most of his film are blah - but "Inside Man" was a good movie

[chamberslee]

You miss the point. It is about revisionist history--something white America has mastered. I like Eastwood and his movies, but he did a disservice to black WWII veterans by omitting their service. It perpetuates the myth that blacks did not contribute in WWII.

[Robert59]

Eastwood's not perpetuating anything. Iwo Jima (both movies) just didn't involve many black Marines. Between 300 and 500 black Marines served (in support roles) at Iwo Jima out of a force of 72,000 Marines. To be forced because of political correctness to have a black serving in a front line combat would be historically inaccurate and in a way a slap in the face to those who served.

Mexican Americans played a much greater role in WW2 because they were allowed to serve in combat units. Ditto for the Japanese Americans. And Jewish Americans. The reality is the military of WW2 was very segregated, even more than during WW1 where 1 percent of the officers were blacks.

Spike is advertising his movie by belittling Eastwood. That's the sign of a small man.

[OhPlease2007]

I would like to ask Mr. Lee, "Are you part of the solution, ... or part and parcel of the many run-of-the-mill childish whiners, at election time, who are continually, ... part of the problem ?

Think about it.

[chamberslee]

Why is it when blacks point out the racist history in America they are viewed by many whites as whining or playing a race card. Of course Spike is a part of the solution. He is releasing a movie that highlights the service of blacks in WWII. He is generating discussion about historical revisionism and omission. Who else is doing that? I know most whites could not care less, but that is okay. Spike is right.

[nuglet304]

sound like whining to me. mr lee needs to learn how to let his work do his talking.

[amanda85]

"Why is it when blacks point out the racist history in America they are viewed by many whites as whining or playing a race card."

For the same reason every African-American hate crime victim is depicted by American conservatives as "playing the race card"...

[tippy6]

While I can understand Spike's point (and I am a fan of his), I wonder, will filmmakers now have to do some sort of "race tally" to account for all different ethnic groups involved? Seems like a bit of a chore, but if it should be done, it should be more for historical accuracy than for political correctness.

No one can deny the fact, though, that thousands and thousands of african-american soldiers served in different theaters of the war (and no I don't have any specific statistics handy to back that up). If there were such a large contingent of non-white soldiers present on Iwo Jima, it seems that the movie producers should have at least attempted to portray some to avoid appearing historically inaccurate.

[chamberslee]

No, they do not need to do a race tally: Just be fair and honest. If you make a docudrama, be factual. despit what white America was taught in school--and in the media--blacks fought valiantly in WWII. How much extra work is that and is it too much to ask to be true to the facts?

[amanda85]

Don't you think it's about time we start correcting errors and omissions from a racist past?
There were no pictures of black soldiers in wartime propaganda because Americans at that time were still mostly racist and wouldn't have like to see them The truth, however, is that many African-American soldiers fought in WWII, especially in the last few month, roughly since FDR died and Truman took over.

These are the stories and the pictures of black marines who FOUGHT at Iwo Jima (nope, they were not cooks...), take a look at them and then tell us they don't deserve to be respected and remembered like every soldier who fought against fascism.

http://www.mpma28.com/page/page/2271596.htm
http://www.geocities.com/nubiansong/montford.htm

[tippy6]

Thanks Amanda for these. I wish everyone in this country could see these pictures and really realize how much these men contributed to the war, and yes FOUGHT and DIED in battle.

My point was that filmmakers need to make an effort to portray these men (black, hispanic, native american, and so on) as a matter of historical accuracy and giving credit where its due, and not because of some half-hearted PC attempt: I can imagine a Hollywood producer saying "We need to throw in some (token) black soldiers here..." Seems disingenuous and, actually, a bit racist in itself.

[realveive]

Poor Spike, he ought to do a better job of picking his fights. There were 900 black GIs on Iwo Jima out of a force of 110,000. That means less than one percent of the troops were black. Given the film was largely made from the Japanese perspective, the chances of them seeing a black opponent were not very good. Had Eastwood tossed in a few black combatants, Spike would have accused him of tokenism even though that slim proportion would have reflected reality.

[Yaa]

Spike Lee's point is that there are NO African Americans in the two films when historically there were African American soldiers fighting in World War II.

It is weird that minorities are so often left out of films, historical and otherwise. as if we do not exist.
It's good that Mr. Lee spoke up about this problem.

[chamberslee]

If their were 900 there, then, show ONE of them. White history is a JOKE.

[scottarino]

Brilliant reply. White history is a joke. Absolutely fucking brilliant.





>sarcasm off.

[Horus]

So from now on, in every movie made, the director needs to call his casting director to the side and ask, "So, did you find out how many races lived in NYC in 1986? .......Rea­lly?! That many?? Well, I guess go out and find one of each...or someone is gonna bitch."

Come on, a movie is art and art should come from the mind of the artist or artists with no external pressure making them bend and scrape all to make sure someone doesn't cry little self pity tears into their F****N soup. Let it stand as it is.

[massive]

Can reporters ask Spike Lee the following question:

"Spike, Clint Eastwood directs great movies, yet all of your movies are terrible. Can you explain that, please?"

[mattejob]

I agree that Spike has made bad movies, but not all his movies are bad. His first film, 'She's Gotta Have It', is amazing. I became disillusioned with him when he made 'Do the Right Thing', which I thought was was very negative as message about race (no offense, but if I ever owned a pizza joint, I would hang pictures that I wanted to also, since it IS my business/risk) and his subsequent films were just too much re: race issues, that, to me, it was less than a movie (entertainment) and more propaganda. However, I feel he did a tremendous job with his doc on Katrina 'When the Levee Breaks', which, i believe, was about race. I thought 'Inside Man' was a refreshing break from Spike's usual cinematic vision, and quite well made.

[Rule Of Law]

I also missed any Eskimo Americans, or Hungarian Americans, represented in these fine films

[frankky]

What about Latinos? We are the ones that win the highest percentage of medals in just about every war and we are constantly ignored by fantasy land. Then again since we are talking about fantasy land I think is proper to leave us out. Thanks Hollywood continue with our bs.

[Vantunow]

What is Spike talking about? The Japanese Movie that Clint directed, barely showed US Soldiers at all. It was from Japanese point of view and 95% of the movie was about them and through their eyes.

When he did show the US Soldiers, it was only for few moments and I would dare to say, he showed them in slightly bad light as they were shown as being cruel to Japanese Soldiers. He also showed some acts of kindness as well from US Soldiers.

Only Historians would know that whether any African American Soldiers were part ot the Units that fought in Iwo Jima.

I don't believe it serves any useful purpose to inject African American Soldiers in situations where they historically didn't exist. Where does that logic end? We should then go ahead and show few soldiers from every race and culture who were all part of US forces.

[Levittown]

How else would Mr. Lee get such free promotion of his film. Attacking Mr.Eastwoo­d is a sign of envy seeking equality by comparison. I think he has failed the smell test.

[chamberslee]

White revisionist history passes for fact. What a joke. Blacks fought in WWII--regardless of what your white history teaches. I once had a 54 year supervisor who did not know there was a Negro Baseball league. It was never taught in her school--omitted like so much black history. This is the result of racism in white controlled society.

[shag11]

I'd like to here Clint's answer on this issue. I think Spike may have a point, but Clint has done such a great job of making sure blacks got much deserved credit on the jazz history, I'd be pissed if this was a conscious omission.

[talkingclock]

Of all people, you would think that Clint Eastwood, would have gone above and beyond to include all those who have served in the war during that time. Am I surprised, no. Credit should be given were credit is due, not to just the selected few.

[KevinH]

All we got was Spike Lee's opinion on this. You don't have the full story so please don't assume that you do. When was the last time Spike Lee ever did something on behalf of other races other than black??

[amanda85]

"All we got was Spike Lee's opinion on this."

...and a few **DOCUMENTED HISTORICAL FACTS** you are --unsurprisingly-- unaware of:

"While the film's battle scenes show scores of young soldiers in combat, none of them are African-American. Yet almost 900 African-American troops took part in the battle of Iwo Jima, including Sgt McPhatter.­"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/oct/21/usa.filmnews

[rzan]

I so admire both of these men that I don't know what to think. I did not see the Iwo Jima films because I despire war movies, but It does seem strange that there were no black soliders in these movies. A major oversight, I would say. Eastwood does need to address this.

[SethandRay]

I'd like to hear Eastwood's reasoning.
http://sethandray.wordpress.com

[AnAmericanWoman]

I say, let us ALL stand up and be counted!
For far too long, people have acted as if AA soldiers didn't exist - in WW1, in WW2, In Vietnam, and now as ONE American soldier in Iraq!

ALL of our soldiers need to be honored for their service, not the select few regardless of color of skin - all blood runs RED on the battlefield. Looks like another Clinton defender, Mr. Eastwood needed to be reminded of that.

[jvarga]

Have you read any of the comments about the actual historical perspective in the movies? What was Mr. Eastwood to do, cast blacks as Japanese soldiers for the one movie?

[amanda85]

The first movie (Flags of our Fathers) is almost entirely from the American perspective. There are no blacks and only one Native-American, depicted as a drunk, despite the FACT that Navajo code talkers were instrumental in the final victory, as the USMC today officially recognizes­... Nope, good ol' GOP Eastwood doesn't score too well on fairness..­.

[monsieurjac]

It's surprising to me when great directors overlook some important fact in a story.
Clint is not a racist we all should know that from his life's work but stuff can happen when
you're doing two films in one year.

I was amazed at Martin Scorsese, the king of Hardboiled Verité, leaving a very significant
fact out of "The Aviator". The fact that Howard Hughes was a bona fide racist, that he would throw tons of money to thwart elections of black candidates among other things. There could've been one small scene to show that, making the story more realistic.

As for Spike Lee, the only thing that turns me off about him is his obsessive love for The Knicks.
Don't ever change Spike.

[abuttah]

The point is being missed here. In the entertainment industry it is perfectly ok to eliminate the black face/ voice and have it look normal. The point is Blacks did serve in these wars and for not one to be represented is not only factually incorrect but it continues the racial bias and stereotype of hollywood. There are fabulous black actors who will not only bring true history to light but also contribute and credit these films. Spike's problem is not with Clint it's with the industry.