Spike Lee vs. Tyler Perry
Posted by admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 27-10-2009
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I didn’t want to do it but my hand was forced. I must intervene in the feud between Spike Lee and Tyler Perry on behalf of embarrassed black folks everywhere. Spike, you may be smiling right now, thinking that my embarrassment is because of Tyler’s “coonery”, but you couldn’t be further from the truth. My embarrassment is solely directed at you, Spike.
Spike, it is not incumbent upon you to enjoy Tyler’s films, or even identify with his work. It is your responsibility, however, to be professional, thoughtful, consistent, and honest in your criticisms of him. You also have a duty to give more than a minute’s worth of thought as to how your snobbish statements impact the larger African-American community.
In case you’ve forgotten, the lineage of slavery has done tremendous damage to our collective psyche. One of the most prominent symptoms of our collective disease is the mindless impulse to denigrate and destroy one another. Are you the proverbial crab in the barrel Spike?
If not, why didn’t you give Tyler Perry a call and invite him over for drinks so that you two could discuss the future of black cinema? Isn’t that how grown ass, powerful, wealthy black men settle their differences? Isn’t this the mature route?
Apparently, it is only in my black-fist-in-the-air utopian fantasy where powerful black men show mutual respect and courtesy for one another. But it was once Spike Lee’s dream too, remember Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X? In real life though, Spike, you’re a brother who still defers to his ego in lieu of adhering to principles which actually strengthen the African American community.
Spike, once the voice of the young black brother, is now the voice of the elite, spending his time and energy breaking down another black man who’s doing his thing, his way. Damn Spike, when did you become THAT DUDE?
Your defense certainly can’t be that you honestly feel Tyler is damaging the black community because there are numerous hip-hop artists a.k.a. former crack dealers, who are much larger offenders of sense and sensibility than Tyler Perry.
In fact, Tyler’s movies are always uplifting, fun, and mostly profanity-free. Hence, the very idea that you are being genuine in your criticism is laughable.
What you are though, Spike, is losing relevancy. Instead of awakening the genius within, you’ve decided to attack the enemy outside – Tyler Perry.
It’s a sad day Spike…..for you and the black community.
I just want to say that Spike Lee is like crab in a barrel. Every time a black man comes up he tries to bring him down. Just because he not the premier black film maker anymore is no reason to hate on Tyler Perry. Obviously he has forgotten about the earlier stuff he did. It wasn’t all “Get on the Bus”. Do the Right Thing, Clockers, School Daze, Girl 6 & Bamboozled were not the most uplifting movies for our people. I think Tyler is a genius. You act like these people don’t exist in your family. All he’s doing is wrtiting what’s real. Plus he does a lot in our community by keeping lesser known black actors working and donating money to great causes. Tyler alot of people love you for what you do. Don’t let the devil steal your joy! Spike you need to stop being such a hypocrite and a hater of you own people.
@Charmaine
I agree whole heartedly. Spike’s comments were both divisive and dismissive. What irony though, to see Spike who spent much of his cinematic career creating movies designed to bring black folks together, now in the middle of a controversy where he’s the antagonist to true black power. It’s a sad irony… I guess you never know a person until you know a person..
I must disagree with Charmaine in that I don’t think Tyler Perry is a genius but I do think that he works hard to give a certain group of people exactly what they are looking for. Although I think Tyler Perry’s works are clearly lacking professional training, I don’t think that it is Spike Lee’s job to criticize anyone. Spike Lee has done some of those same works where he recycled his actors and actresses. His sister is in all of his movies and so is he (sound familiar Spike). I do believe that everyone has to start somewhere so I think that Spike should just quit being a crab and let Tyler grow. Why should one black filmmaker criticize another? I think Spike is a bit jealous of Tyler being in the spotlight and yes he is a crab in that barrel.
It’s interesting how Spike seems to have something divisive to say about every other film maker who isnt Spike Lee. He’s had issues with Quentin Tarrentino in the past, which may be understandable… to a point, but to have issues with Tyler Perry is ridiculous. Tyler writes with humour, insight, and class. Many of his characters are recognizable of types we’ve seen in our communitiies and families, plus he has never abandoned his core, religious audience(for lack of a better term) and is able to incorporate themes of faith in his storylines that are believable and refreshing. It’s sad how Spike doesnt want to accept that he’s not the only brother who has something to say to our community. Who made him a watchdog anyway?
@Elgin Subwaysurfer Bolling
I’ve yet to determine who made Spike the black cinema police…hopefully he’ll produce a badge..but I believe his ego made him do it.
For years, he has been heralded as the quintessential black producer / director / writer and Spike doesn’t want to see that spotlight stolen by anyone, much less a guy with no formal film training. However, as a conscious black man, Spike should be more interested in the big picture than his own internal machinations. In my mind, this just illuminates Spike’s own immaturity…
Yvette
You’re calling out Spike concerning ego in defense of Perry? Seriously? The only good thing Perry does is hire black people, which he does to plaster his name on crap and rake in cash, just like a greedy, white bastard. Everything he makes is an embarrassment to blacks, keeping stereotypes alive, just like those greedy, white bastards. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if Tyler Perry isn’t in reality a white guy in blackface, mocking all of us and laughing all the way to the bank.
What!? Are you serious? I feel Spike Lee is 100% correct. Tyler Perry is an embarrassment to African American film. Spike was right I am so happy someone finally spoke up!
Tyler Perry markets his movies, plays to a subset of the African American community who, guess what, enjoy his work. This is his right. And, for the most part, I believe his “Madea” character has been a positive addition to the African American narrative. Yes, you can mock her as a man in drag, but the character is much more complex than such vacuous caricatures. Tyler breathed new life into the role of matriarch, ever present in the African American community. Good job. Now, would I appreciate more complex story lines. Indeed. But that criticism is no reason to trash the man, as many of you are so apt to do.