Spike Lee speaks to students about modern education
By: Beth Spencer
Issue date: 3/18/10 Section: News
Students and movie lovers packed U of M's Michael D. Rose Theatre to capacity to hear actor, producer, director and writer Spike Lee lecture about the importance of education in modern society.
Lee, who directed and starred in films like "Summer of Sam" and "Malcolm X," has produced documentaries, commercials, music videos and short and full-length films.
"Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I had no idea I was going to be a filmmaker," he said to the audience of more than 900 people. "I thought I was going play second base for the New York Mets, but genetics conspired against that dream being realized."
Lee said his mother inspired his curiosity about filmmaking by dragging him to Broadway plays as a child.
"That's where the foundation was laid," he said. "That's the best thing a parent can do is expose (children) to as many things as possible because you never know what they can do."
Lee encouraged young black students to pursue careers that would stimulate them mentally, instead of trying to earn giant salaries.
"Most people go to their graves working jobs they hated most of their lives," he said. "A whole bunch of people who have jumped out of windows or put a gun in their mouths and pulled a trigger had plenty of money in the bank. You don't want to be in the position where you have to drag your ass out of bed every morning going to a job that you hate when they don't want you there either."
Sophomore biology major Jessica Bell waited in the staggering line, which wrapped around the University Center, for more than half an hour to hear Lee's message.
"He's very monumental in the black community," she said. "He tries to speak the truth (about race issues) as much as possible."
Some fans, like Tonya Dyson, local entrepreneur, arrived to the Rose Theatre more than two hours in advance to hear the filmmaker speak.
"He has been embroiled in a lot of different debates," she said. "I'm interested in hearing what he has to say."
Lee, who directed and starred in films like "Summer of Sam" and "Malcolm X," has produced documentaries, commercials, music videos and short and full-length films.
"Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I had no idea I was going to be a filmmaker," he said to the audience of more than 900 people. "I thought I was going play second base for the New York Mets, but genetics conspired against that dream being realized."
Lee said his mother inspired his curiosity about filmmaking by dragging him to Broadway plays as a child.
"That's where the foundation was laid," he said. "That's the best thing a parent can do is expose (children) to as many things as possible because you never know what they can do."
Lee encouraged young black students to pursue careers that would stimulate them mentally, instead of trying to earn giant salaries.
"Most people go to their graves working jobs they hated most of their lives," he said. "A whole bunch of people who have jumped out of windows or put a gun in their mouths and pulled a trigger had plenty of money in the bank. You don't want to be in the position where you have to drag your ass out of bed every morning going to a job that you hate when they don't want you there either."
Sophomore biology major Jessica Bell waited in the staggering line, which wrapped around the University Center, for more than half an hour to hear Lee's message.
"He's very monumental in the black community," she said. "He tries to speak the truth (about race issues) as much as possible."
Some fans, like Tonya Dyson, local entrepreneur, arrived to the Rose Theatre more than two hours in advance to hear the filmmaker speak.
"He has been embroiled in a lot of different debates," she said. "I'm interested in hearing what he has to say."