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Spike Lee Blasts Clint Eastwood

May 21, 2008 

spike lee
Spike Lee was at a press conference on Tuesday at the Cannes Film Festival where he lashed out on fellow filmmaker Clint Eastwood for not casting enough black people in his movies.

Lee feels like there should have been more African-American in Clint Eastwood’s Flags of our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima.

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."

Do you feel like he makes a valid point?
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Reader Comments
9:55PM 05/21/08 Dave Barmore
Seriously, Clint Eastwood cast Morgan Freeman in the role as a true intelligent man of honor and compassion, struggling with lesser humans in, "Unforgiven". He allowed Morgan to steal the picture and post a memorable performance. If he missed someone, he should be "forgiven". We all miss someone, sometime. Crap! Have you seen my kids? They were here a minute ago..
9:40PM 05/21/08 Dave Barmore
I am incensed that Mr. Eastwood has overlooked, in every picture, the role of color-blind Americans of Irish descent. No mention is ever made of our role in spotting camoflage or snipers. No, we're delgated to roles as dumb drunks who cannot match their clothes. When will this persecution end! Can I sue? Do you know a good lawyer?
0:30PM 05/21/08 Anonymous
There were about 900 black soldiers at the Battle of Iwo Jima, but they were in auxiliary and support roles, not fighting the actual battle. There contribution was necessary and much appreciated, but it shouldn't be a surprise that they weren't focused on in Eastwood's films. Also, it is my understanding that blacks aren't entirely absent from his movie, but just seen in passing. I think this has more to do with publicizing Spike's new World War II movie than any real racism. In any case, Spike really needs to buff up on his history because blacks didn't fight the Battle of Iwo Jima. Rather than blame the exclusion of blacks from such movies on racism, we need look no further than our history books to find the reason. Unfortunately, in the current times we live, it is not only fashionable to spew such divisive garbage, it is also fashionable to blindly believe it.
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