Andrews

University

SDA Theological Seminary

Department of Discipleship and Religious Education








Media Analysis Project: Spike Lee Red Hook Summer









An Analytical Assignment


Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements


For the Course DSRE 608: Youth & Young Adults in Contemporary Culture









By


Amberdawn Cheatham

Due: February 27, 2014

1

Critical Explanation
Spike Lee is well known for his provocative films featuring the hopes,
failures, and misfortunate of the black community. He is unashamed to say that in
some cases, black people get the raw end of the deal or the short end of the stick.
While he seemingly is pointing the finger of blame at the cruelty of the most
fortunate, he is definitely able shows that there are three fingers pointing back to
the black community. He unapologetically represents in his movies that the black
community too share the blame for misfortune by perpetuating hate and lies,
ignoring or covering up shameful mistakes, and turning our faces from truth. Red
Hook summer, which Spike Lee called a sequel to his well known movie Do the
Right Thing is another attempt at bringing the issues of the black community to
light.
Red Hook summer is about a young black middle class southern boy, Flik,
who stays for a summer in Red Hook Projects. He spends vacations with his
grandfather, a Bishop of the local community church who no one has seemed to
have completely figured out. The Bishop is later revealed as a redeemed child
molester who has broken the trust of his faithful followers and adoring community.
Attached to his iPad and progressive ways Flik tries to survive the summer and
understand the very different life of Red Hook. Throughout his stay, Flik meets a
new friend and several other members of the community, both young and old, that
paint the picture for him and viewers of the lower class black experience.
Red Hook summer was shot in the simplest of ways and was a low budget
film. It aimed to show the life of the project community Red Hook in New York.
When explaining the making of the movie Lee said: It wasn't difficult at all. We shot
it all within a ten-block radius. We were able to do it in nineteen days(Abrams,
2012). He goes on the explain that he was shocked that right across from the
projects there were condos and sold out buildings. Using the small radius of the
projects and familiar sites made the movie and the experience of poor black
Americans real. The journalist interviewing Spike Lee mentioned that he
remembers passing a sign that was shown on several occasions in the movie during
his commute. I believe that using the real Red Hook as a setting was intentional. It

lets the viewers know that this place is real, these problems are real, and these
people are real.
One cannot help but to notice the overt messages concerning religion in the
movie. Each section is laced with scripture, hymns, choruses, and religious
symbolism. Through the use of crosses and pictures of White Jesus Lee is able to
communicate that this film is not just about God, but the influence of organized
religion in the black community. Throughout the movie we see the Bishop trying
eagerly to convert his young grandson to Christianity. The two characters represent
the competing ideas of tradition and the rebellious mentality of the youth in the
black community against organized religion. I believe that these quotes from Spike
Lee sum up his purpose for making the film perfectly "The politics of give me your
money and I'll put it in my pocket," "I'm going to be honest: I'm not a fan of this
prosperity. Not having it. Lee later goes on to say, "I'm not saying I don't love
Jesus" (Banks, 2012). I think throughout this movie Lee is saying there are
issues in the black community, and through faith they persevere, but not without
a price.
Spike lee doesnt just represent the prosperity message in his work; he also
brings our attention to the sad fact that organized religion also sweeps many
issues under the rug. When confessing his sins to Flik, the Bishop explained
that the church covered for him after he molested one of the children in his
church. I believe that the molestation in the storyline of the movie was both
symbolic and realistic. The church has ignored child molestation in organized
religion for several years thus creating no real refuge for victims although peace
and refuge is often promised. Symbolically the molestation represents all issues
that are ignored and unpunished in the church whether it is fraud, abuse, or false
prophecy. In his review of Red Hook summer David Roark writes, Red
Hook attacks a practice of faith where sin and struggles go under the radar and
believers self-righteously avoid transparency and accountability. It also condemns a
practice that over-spiritualizes to the neglect of the physical(Roark, 2012).
Organized religion can sometimes offer a place of refuge at the high cost of
giving your faith, love, time, and money to someone who is imperfect and some

times undeserving of your trust either to a religious leader or for some young
people, God. Lee is presenting a reality that many people are sometimes not
willing to accept being pacified by memorized scripture or catchy songs. Death,
poverty, depression, crime, and misfortune are obnoxiously shoved in their faces
and God or religion does nothing about it.
Personal/Cultural Interpretation
For some members of the black community, the messages concerning of
organized religion in the movie rings strongly. I believe the message is even
stronger for those who live in communities similar Red Hook. Often times the
only good that people living in these communities see is from the church. Their
only hope comes from what is promised to them biblically. However, it is
difficult for many, especially youth, to accept that things will get better. After
witnessing the killings of innocent black boys, young girls pregnant well before
they should be, and poverty why should they have hope. Although this movie is
about the black community I believe that this message reaches more than that
community. All people can understand the feelings of hopelessness,
abandonment, or deceit at the hands of religion or God. At some point, everyone
has witnessed or personally participated in allowing finances and trust to freely
flow into organized religion without question and receiving nothing but empty
hope in return due to the lack of transparency of our church leaders.
I think that non-believers would agree with the negative messages
concerning organized religion. I think they would say that this community
should stop having so much faith in the bible toting and hypocritical bishop and
work to change their circumstance. I believe where Christians and unbelievers
would differ would be in their response to Spike Lees montage of pictures in the
end that was supposed to represent hope. As Christians we are predisposed to
think, things will get better. The pictures of the happy people and rainbows
symbolize that in the end God will redeem and save his people. In the end of the
movie, Flik seemed to have forgiven his grandfather and even opened up to some
of his ideas. Also, even though the Bishop had such a terrible past he was still
dedicated to working in the community and did not quit serving the Lord.

However, for a non-believer I think they can empathize more with the
feelings of Flik throughout most of the movie. I think they can agree that
organized religion is full of flaws. When thinking about the message from the
Bishop, that victory will eventually come through the financial success of the
church or success of the community, I dont know that non-believers will gather
that same message. I believe they share Fliks viewpoint. If God is real, where is
he? Why didnt the church get the money to grow or why isnt the community of
black people thriving? Why are people still dying and Why does everyone want
to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die... Because they dont believe He will
catch them. I believe that people who do not believe in God think that this
organized religion is no good. There is no happy ending unless the people change
things for themselves because in the end church leaders cannot be trusted.

Theological Evaluation
When Christ ministered during his time on earth, he often ministered to
those who were poor and thought of as less than. He shared His message with
people who were on the lowest part of the social ladder and forgotten. That
community like the one in the movie seemed hopeless and needed to know that
there is a brighter side at the end of their struggle. I believe that God requires us to
do the same. We see several occasions in the bible where the children of God are
called to feed the poor, care for the widow, and to uplift the down trodden. In
Matthew 5, Jesus calls people like those in the Red Hook community, blessed and
happy because the kingdom of heaven and all of its rewards belong to them. What I
admired about the Bishop in Red Hook summer was his persistence in trying to help
the community and his grandson understand that God loves them and wants to see
them happy regardless of their apparent circumstances. He was trying to help them
see that the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Although there are many flaws to organized religion, I can say that for the
most part the intentions of most Christians in these churches are good. Jesus
disciples were not the most model citizens in the beginning but God converted their
hearts and used them in a mighty way to build up his community of believers. When

we view religious leaders we should view them like the Disciples of Christ. God is
working on their hearts in the same way he did the disciples so they can bring the
hope and wealth of God to all.

Response
I believe that I selected the message concerning organized religion and their
treatment of the community because I believe that I am called to be take care of our
brothers and sisters. There have been several people who have been mistreated or
victimized by organized religion. Their issues have been swept under the rug or
pacified with cookie cutter phrases like I will pray for you and God loves a
cheerful giver. Tallerico references a line in the movie in his review that spoke
greatly to me when thinking about my response to the movie. I aint pawning my
responsibility off as a parent and saying shes in Gods hands. What a powerful line.
The idea that religion has been used as a crutch, an excuse for communities who
preach that God will save their young ones when they need to do their part is a
passionate and powerful one (Tallerico, 2012). I believe that I cannot just sit on my
hands as a future parent and leader. I need to play an active role in the lives of the
community. I must aim to use theological foundations to inform my actions as I
become an engaged community member and leader. This movie has taught me that
in my zeal for God and my drive to build a community of believers that I must be
realistic about the needs of others. I must also be transparent about issues and
missteps, and be persistent in preaching the Gospel.

Work Cited

Abrams, S. (January 25, 2012). Q+A: Spike Lee Goes Back to Brooklyn. Esquire.com.
Retrieved: February 13, 2014, from: http://www.esquire.com/theside/qa/sundance-2012/spike-lee-sundance-interview-6644213
Banks, A. (August 26, 2012). Spike Lee Focuses On Faith In "Red Hook Summer".
Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved: February 13, 2014, from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/26/spike-lee-red-hooksummer_n_1827864.html
Roark, D. (August 17, 2012). "Redhook Summer: What could have been an insightful
exploration of faith in the hood is squandered." Christianitytoday.com.
Retrieved: February 13, 2014, from:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/august-web-only/red-hooksummer.html

Tallerico, B. (August 24, 2012). Film Review: Spike Lee Returns to Brooklyn in Red
Hook Summer. Hollywoodchicago.com. Retrieved: February 13, 2014,
from: http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/19654/film-review-spikelee-returns-to-brooklyn-in-controversial-red-hook-summer#ixzz2uXc74Ii8