I recently experienced the “Spike Lee: Creative Sources” exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum and I cannot stop thinking about it. For anyone who watches Spike Lee’s films, you are well aware of his dedication to telling the stories of Black people. His level of detail in his films is undeniable, whether portraying intimate relationships, jazz musicians, college campuses, Brooklyn in the 1980s, Brooklyn in the 1990s, interracial relationships, or drug use. I haven’t always agreed with Lee’s portrayal of Black women in certain films, but that is what makes him so compelling. Every Spike Lee Joint leaves you wanting to discuss, debate, demand, and more.
For anyone who cares about the works of one of the great filmmakers of the late-20th and early-21st century, is a student of cinema, appreciates the evolution of Black culture into the mainstream, or likes to chronicle sports and the interplay between race and mainstream consumption of America’s various athletic endeavors, the Spike Lee exhibit is for you. If you’re a NY Knicks fan, you already know this exhibit is for you…
What impressed me the most about the exhibit was the breadth and depth of Lee’s collection of Black artifacts and objects that extend beyond his cinematic works. Yes, you can find mementos and posters from his well-known films. However, I was not expecting to see so many first edition books, original works by Gordon Parks and James Van der Zee, original paintings from Black masters, and such a detailed collection of Black sports memorabilia spanning decades incorporating a myriad of sports where African Americans have integrated and excelled.
Each room is a new and unique experience, a love letter to his craft, and a window into the mind of a man who truly and deeply cares about the legacy of Black people. I am so glad this son of Brooklyn was able to showcase some of his collection at the premiere cultural institution in Brooklyn that prides itself on social justice and boundary expanding exhibits.
I have been a member of the Brooklyn Museum for years and each time I go to the museum, I learn something new, even if I am just revisiting my favorite permanent exhibit of period rooms on the fourth floor. It is imperative that we continue to support the cultural institutions that spark our interest and creativity, no matter the age. It was wonderful to see so many elementary school children at the Spike Lee exhibit. I couldn’t help but to wonder if the next great filmmaker was walking beside me.
Luckily, the Brooklyn Museum has extended the exhibit to February 11. To find out more about “Spike Lee: Creative Sources” and other exhibits, go to www.brooklynmuseum.org.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio. She is a 2023-24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY.