![Quick Quotes: Kenya Moore Addresses Nene Leakes’ ‘Big Ego’… [VIDEO]](http://cdn.straightfromthea.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Kenya-Moore-Rolling-Out-121.jpg)
![NEWSFLASH! Usher Raymond’s Nanny Sues For Unpaid Wages… [PHOTOS]](http://cdn.straightfromthea.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cecilia-Duncan-Usher-Nanny-520x693.jpg)
Dr. Cornel West addressed the Tyler Perry vs. Spike Lee controversy during his book tour in Atlanta last week. In case you’ve missed all the hoopla, Tyler Perry has been facing extreme criticism over his portrayal of Black America in his films and plays. Spike Lee was even quoted comparing Tyler’s Meet The Browns characters to a modern day Amos & Andy:
‘I think there’s a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery. I see ads for ‘Meet the Browns’ and ‘House of Payne’ and I’m scratching my head. We’ve got a black president and we’re going back. The image is troubling and it harkens back to Amos ‘n’ Andy.”
Tyler responded via a 60 minutes interview where he was visibly upset about the comment and stated that he uses the characters as “bait” to draw in White America then hits them with storylines consisting of God, love, faith, forgiveness and family. Dr. West, in addressing the “beef” between the two filmmakers made a few comparisons as to why each approaches their subject matter differently. The well-known public intellectual spoke of Lee’s background as a well-to-do Morehouse Grad versus Tyler’s abusive childhood and life on the streets. He goes on to explain how Spike Lee is a GREAT filmmaker while Tyler Perry is a GOOD filmmaker and although Spike’s comments may have been based with good intentions, the delivery could have been better.
You’ll have to watch the video to understand but West didn’t diss Tyler, he actually gave him props. He does, however state that if Tyler’s still doing Madea at 65 THEN he has a problem. I guess that gives us about 25 more years of Madea since TP just turned 40.
Video below:
Video ~ Dr. Cornel West Speaks on Spike Lee v. Tyler Perry
Thanks for the video. I posted on my blog.
Bravo, Dr. West.
Um Spike Lee is NOT a GREAT filmmaker. He’s on the same level as Tyler Perry as far as execution. I swear if I see that floating character thing again (which he adds in every movie even if it’s inappropriate um Malcolm X anyone) I’ll scratch somebody’s eyes out. The only thing Spike can say is he ATTEMPTS to deal with certain issues in the black community and he doesn’t even do that well. That is it. I won’t go into his issue with Black Women that go ALL the way back to She’s Gotta Have It. He’s a piss poor writer, which is a shame because if he’s educated AND went to film school and still can’t put a good script together, than personally I think TP has bested him there. Now when he’s directed films that he neither wrote or had any hand in the production of the movie then he’s good, i.e. Inside Man. Anything else where he’s done the entire film solo, man come on don’t even try it.
I’m not a Madea fan by any means and haven’t seen TP’s shows but I do think his heart is in the right place. He employs black actors, keeps them steady working (even through writers strikes), get’s them their SAG cards and built studios in ATL so that he can do films his way at low cost and so can others. He also isn’t afraid to support other black film makers (Precious anyone?). The ONLY person I’ve seen Spike Lee ever promote is SPIKE LEE.
Sorry Ms. ATLien for my rant, I just can’t believe someone actually said Spike was a GREAT filmmaker. I love me some Dr. West but sometimes just cause we black and friends don’t mean we need to always stand up.
*jumping down off my soap box and kicking it back up under the table.* :O)
Spike lee needs to just stop it. And I def agree wit the other commenter he’s NOT A GREAT filmmaker by any means and I personaly think TP is a great filmmaker. Spike lees movies are garbage to me. I’ve never been able to get into them and quite frankly spike lee seems to be purly hating to me. Bottum line TP is a great man and does not deserve to bashed like that
And o yea..Dr. West, comb ur daggon hair. No .. Matter of fact cut that mess…. Thank u =-)
Spike doesn’t get it! Tyler is family friendly, and Spike Lee is vulgar. Spike does NOT speak to the Christian community. Sorry Spike. You missed out on a whole demographic, Black CHRISTIAN women. Don’t hate…
[...] who’s caught heat over the years from the likes of Spike Lee and Dr. Cornel West, now faces the hip-hop heads with McGruder’s take on his chitlin circuit gospel plays, which [...]
[...] both phenomenal movie producers. Each with their own individual styles and views. Dr. Cornel West once compared the two, stating that “Spike Lee is great… Tyler Perry is good” but that comparison was [...]
[...] Perry’s work in the past and Dr. Cornel West even put his 2 cents in their disputed once by comparing the two. Perry responded to all the criticism by telling them all to go straight to hell (and I’m not [...]
Uh did Tyler Perry really say he uses Madea and the likes as bait for White America? I have never in my life heard of any other group besides African American have a like for Tyler Perry. My friends and I have on occasion made fun of him. I don’t think I could intellectually respect someone who sees these movies. They are not even "stupid good" in my opinion because they are taken seriously.
And his comment about other groups never complaining about their own…wrong. I’m Indian, and I believe most of Bollywood is garbage.