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“Do the Right Thing” on MLK Day

by on Jan. 16, 2012, under Arts, Life, Politics

Today is the annual holiday in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, civil rights leader who was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. Being as that tragic event was over 43 years ago, there are many young people now who do not remember Dr. King, who was born on January 15, 1929.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr

I came across one of his famous quotes recently:

“Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’
Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’
Vanity asks the question, ‘Is it popular?’
But, conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’
And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one’s conscience tells one that it is right.”

Today let us reflect about Dr. King’s legacy about what is right to do in political issues, especially this year as we embark upon another Presidential election, redistricting of current maps, civility in public discourse.

And FREE today at the Loft Cinema (3233 E. Speedway) at 5 pm.: “Do the Right Thing” 1989 movie directed by Spike Lee:

http://www.loftcinema.com/node/2766

“DO THE RIGHT THING, Spike Lee’s incendiary (and controversial) look at race relations in America, circa New York City in 1989, is a joyful, tumultuous masterpiece – perhaps one of the best films ever made about race in America, revealing racial prejudices and stereotypes in all their guises and demonstrating how a deadly riot can erupt out of a series of small misunderstandings.
Set on one block in Bedford-Stuyvesant on the hottest day of the summer, the movie showcases the whole spectrum of ethnically-diverse life in this neighborhood, raises the heat to a high boil, and then leaves it up to us to decide if, in the end, anybody actually does the “right thing.” Featuring a stellar cast including Danny Aiello as Sal, the pizza parlor owner; Lee himself as Mookie, the lazy pizza-delivery guy; John Turturro and Richard Edson as Sal’s sons; Lee’s sister Joie as Mookie’s sister Jade; Rosie Perez as Mookie’s girlfriend Tina; Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee as the block elders, Da Mayor and Mother Sister; Giancarlo Esposito as Mookie’s hot-headed friend Buggin’ Out; Bill Nunn as the boom-box toting Radio Raheem; and Samuel L. Jackson as deejay Mister Señor Love Daddy.
Brash, bold and highly entertaining, DO THE RIGHT THING is a rich and nuanced film to watch, treasure, and learn from–over and over again.”

Let us remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today and what he stood (and marched) for.

UPDATE: My comments on the MLK events in Tucson below in comment section.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 16th, 2012 at 7:08 am and is filed under Arts, Life, Politics. Tags for this post: , , , , , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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  • Al

    And FREE today at the Loft Cinema….
    And remember, FREE stands for From Revenue Earned Elsewhere.

  • Carolyn Classen

    100′s of people there at UA Mall this morning for 27th annual MLK Day march to Reid Park.  Mayor Jonathan Rothschild related that 2 years ago he did the re-creation of the civil rights march from Birmingham to Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and told the crowd that “the struggle continues today, that this was a “living struggle, a living march.” Also speaking were Councilmemer Richard Fimbres (“reflect upon Dr. King’s messages”), and Supervisor Richard Elias (“we are the progeny of the civil rights warriors”).  Also there today was TUSD governing board candidate Betts Putnam-Hidalgo, and Ruben Reyes, District Director for Congressman Raul Grijalva.  The MLK Rally begins at 10 a.m. at the  Reid Park Demeester Stage.

  • Carolyn Classen

    2nd MLK event: rally at Reid Park, where Mayor Rothschild read the City of Tucson’s proclamation declaring today “MLK Jr. Day”, then speeches by CD 7 Congressman Raul Grijalva (“inequality is a bad disease”), D 5 Supervisor Richard Elias (quoted Dr. King – ”right defeated is more powerful than evil triumphant”), Ward 1 Councilmember Regina Romero (“continue this peaceful fight for injustice”), LD 28 State Senator Paula Aboud ( need “unity that MLK brought together to stand up for justice”),Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham (“remember, honor, pray together”), LD 27 Rep. Macario Saldate (“may the spirit of Dr. King live forever”).  Cheryl Rodgers (aide to Councilmember Uhlich) sang “Oh Beautiful”, with musical groups now performing for the remainder of the rally.

  • Ernie McCray

    May love and human respect reign on this beautiful day dedicated to a beautiful man. I’ve been thinking of a beautiful woman who taught me a lot about love by loving me strongly and unconditionally when I was growing up in the Old Pueblo and encouraged me to give as much love to the world as I can muster – my mother. She died on Martin’s birthday in 1975.

    • Carolyn Classen

      Ernie, glad that this MLK holiday reminded you of your beloved mother. Wish you could have been there this morning for the march & rally.

  • Carolyn Classen

    3rd MLK event: Tucson Arts Brigade is repainting 2 murals on 4th Avenue (Winsett Park) “Share the Bounty” originally done in 1997.  Dr. MLK Jr., Mother Teresa, Malcolm X, and Emma Goodman depicted on the south side mural.  If you want to help with time, $, paint donations, please go to their website, http://www.tucsonartsbrigade.org, 520-791-9359. This project has the help of Howenstein HS students, and may take 6 weeks to do.

  • Carolyn Classen

    Final event for MLK day – watched this movie again and clearly saw the violence escalating due to the lack of civility & respect from all the Americans involved: Italian pizza owner & sons, Black customers in the neighborhood, Koreans operating the store across the street, Latino customers/neighborhoods as well, and the white police officers in NY. Spike Lee forced the audience to reflect upon their own racial prejudices and cultural norms, and how to act as peacekeepers in our own societies.  The last shots of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X, and their respective teachings makes the point in this powerful movie.

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