Do the Right Thing

  Both Do The Right Thing  and "How Bigger Was Born" were stories told from the perspective of those who had been involved in events like the ones in the movie/book. A similarity between the two were that they both talked about how race relations could effect a community. In "How Bigger Was Born" Wright explained the significance of all of the "Biggers" that he saw through his life. they were all bullies who refused to be treated differently than anyone else. not only did they not want to be discriminated against but they wanted to be given more respect then anyone else. In Do The Right Thing, a similar situation occurred. Radio Raheem walked around the block like he was the kind. No one could tell him what to do and he demanded respect from everyone he encountered. an example of this was when he went into the store owned by the Asian couple to buy batteries. he treated the couple with complete disrespect and believed it was okay to do so. later when he went into Sal's Pizzeria and ordered pizza while his music was blasting throughout the store. Sal did not tell him to turn off his music because he disliked the style nor because he was black. instead it was because it disrupted his business. Radio Raheem did not give Sal the respect he deserved and therefore did not receive the respect he demanded in turn. These two characters were very similar because their actions showed that they demanded something that they could not give in return. a relationship between the two races can only exist if there is a mutual sense of understanding and respect between them. without that mutual appreciation, relations will only get worse.

I believe that every main character in this movie handled a situation the wrong way. As human beings we make wrong decisions. The combination of all of the wrong decisions made by the various characters caused for the fallout between the three groups of people, the police, Sal and his sons, and the black people. I thought it was very intresting how this movie spiraled out of control. When Buggin' Out first suggests that the black community living in that area boycott eating at Sal's, all of them laugh at the idea. The say that Sal is a good man who had never done anything to be unfair or unjust towards the people who ate there. Evryone he talked to thought he was crazy to even think such a thing. this changed very quickly as soon as the fight broke out. Those who were Sal's friends and loyal costumers jumped from defending him to Buggin' Out to trashing and burning his restaurant to the ground. The community turned against him because in one heated moment he got upset and broke a radio, starting a fight. The reason the community chose the side they did was due only to race and not who was right and who was wrong. Mookie throwing the garbage can through the window of the shop was a significant moment especially because earlier that day Sal had told him he would always have a place to work at Sal's. He had treated him like a son. I thought the idea that Mookie had thrown it to protect Sal, Vito, and Pino was very compelling. If he hadn't of done that the mob would have gone after Sal and his sons and they would have no chance to survive. Although I don't believe anyone did "the right thing" and everyone was wrong, I do believe what the police did was the worst. The police are supposed to protect everyone, they are not supposed to choose sides. they are supposed to protect everyone and let the judges decide who is guilty. The police in this situation not only chose a side, but killed Radio Raheem, who they believed was in the wrong. This action was the worst because it killed someone who although not innocent, was just as wrong as Sal. This action was unforgivable and the worst crime out of all that happened.

Two Societies: Separate and Unequal

After the Detroit riots, President Johnson convened an eleven member commission to find the causes of the riot in Detroit as well as previous riots related to race relations. This commission was made in July of 1967. The findings of this commission study were submitted in February of 1968. In this study they discussed the idea of two different societies. One white and all powerful and one black and forced to follow the will of the whites. They then recommend what to do for the future. They suggest making programs that are as big in scale as the problems themselves. they believed it was important to make this program will quickly affect the problems in a positive way. Lastly they thought it was important to experiment with different methods to change the system that exists now and abolish ghettos and areas restricted by race. This plan needs to be carried out quickly, efficiently and with as much money is as necessary.

The Kerner Commission concluded that America “is moving toward two societies, one black, one

white—separate and unequal.” What were the causes? Who was responsible for the division?

The causes of the two separate and unequal societies were due to long enduring discrimination and division of the races. The division is caused by long standing prejudices and decisions. Many people have not changed their opinions from when slavery and segregation were lawful and encouraged. The lack of change in mindset has caused for this division of the races.