Do the Right Thing (Ending)

Although I've already created an overall post for Do the Right Thing, the topic of the ending is enough to create another.

Spike Lee questions people's prejudice by questioning which topic abnormal atrocity lingered more on our minds. He believed that the large amount of discussion about Mookie's decision shows racism because people cared more about a broken window then the death of a man.

I do believe that the reviews Spike Lee read were quite racist. The suggestion that the movie would spark riots amongst black communities was outrageous. However, I disagree with the idea that if Mookies wrong is more prominent in one's mind than the wrong of the policeman, that person is racist.

Mookie is a main character. We see most of the movie through his eyes. We have a deep understanding of his relationship with Sal. We only see the policemen once before the riot, and we have no insight into their relationship with Radio Raheem. While the policemen's actions were disgusting and Radio's death left me speechless, the emotion caused by Radio's death was quickly replaced by confusion. Mookie completely goes against any relationship that had been established in prior scenes. A conundrum like this tends to linger a bit more. Furthermore, the destruction of Sal's pizzeria lasted much longer than Radio's death scene and came after Radio's death scene. It is not surprising to me that people tended to remember that part better than the part of Radio's death. In addition, the destruction of a window is much more pleasant than the death of a human, so it is natural that a viewer will try to shut the death out of their mind.