A Collective Spike Lee Joint: How Brooklyn Museum's Immersive Exhibit Captures Black Identity

By Joey Giraldi

The Brooklyn Museum

Two years ago, in Los Angeles, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures showcased some of Spike Lee's belongings, including movie props, original film scripts, vintage photos, and unique costumes. While being interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, Lee noted that these pieces were just a small selection of his extensive collection. Rather jokingly, he commented that he could probably fill the Brooklyn Museum in its entirety.

Two years later, the Brooklyn Museum made sure that this comment became a reality.

On October 7 of this year, the Brooklyn Museum debuted a major exhibit dedicated to the legendary Spike Lee titled "Spike Lee: Creative Sources." The exhibition includes hundreds of Lee's items, all of which come together cohesively to tell a story of the Black experience and Black culture in America.

I was lucky enough to experience this exhibit in person this past Friday. As I made my way to the museum, I imagined all of the possible things I would see, ranging from simple movie posters to legendary original scripts of countless films that I have grown to love over the years. After my experience, I can safely say that the exhibit blew me away and exceeded all of my expectations. There were two entire rooms dedicated to sports memorabilia, much of which consisted of Knicks gear and, most incredibly to me, signed sneakers from Michael Jordan himself.

 

Michael Jordan's signed sneakers are a memory of failure for the Knicks, Spike Lee's favorite team. This idea of failure is relevant to the work I am connecting this exhibit to, which will be discussed later.

Other memorabilia included the likes of prominent African American athletes like Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali, acknowledging their respective achievements in the sports of baseball and boxing and highlighting their unwavering courage in paving the way for future African Americans in sports. 

In addition to this, the exhibit includes other prominent political figures who played a tremendous role in advocating for the rights of African Americans. Among these figures are Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., both of whom can be seen in a photo together shaking hands. Interestingly, this photo is colored with what seems to be a marker. 

This piece was made in 1955 by Roger Guenveur Smith. By including this in his beloved collection, Spike Lee shows how he continuously merges playfulness and expression with history.

Spike Lee also included quite a selection of literary works in this exhibit, many of which helped in the production of his films. In being so well-read, Spike Lee has always been able to accurately represent historical events and figures in his films while including his unique spin on the overall production. The combination of the two mixes the playful with the matter-of-fact, leading to a very pleasing viewing experience. I was very interested to see a work of James Baldwin's present in the selection, titled Blues for Mister Charlie.

Upon doing research, I found that the play explores themes of racial bigotry, the flawed justice system, and the costs of racism. It was at this point that I gained a better understanding of what the exhibit was truly poking at---this was a display of achievement through adversity, highlighting that this adversity continues to exist today. This is very similar to the message that Malcolm X gives at the end of his autobiography, stating that although the groundwork can be laid out for change to occur, it will take much more from everyone for change to occur.

The work that I am connecting this exhibit to is the Autobiography of Malcolm X, as the topics of adversity, accomplishment, failure, solidarity, and active change. As mentioned above, the exhibit in its entirety tells a story of Black success despite adversity in America, and more generally, across the globe. Malcolm X discusses the accomplishments that can be made if the Black community sticks together as one community, as a strong body of people who exhibit Black Thinking. In a parallel way, the exhibit showcases the accomplishments of many African-American athletes, as well as Spike Lee himself, throughout their careers. In terms of failure, Malcolm X refused to give up and succumb to the hands of a racist America, and advised others to follow this notion. Spike Lee displays failure in his exhibit, with the Knicks losing to Michael Jordan, not as an acceptance of defeat, but as a reason to get back up and continue competing. Translating to society, this is a message that parallels that of Malcolm X. Finally, the display of written works lays down the groundwork that is needed for active change to begin, continue, and be taught to future generations.

Overall, this exhibit is much more than what meets the eye, and what meets the eye is more than incredible.