SE Valley Times

Legendary filmmaker Spike Lee recently participated in Arizona State University's Delivering Democracy 2025 dialogue, captivating an audience of approximately 2,500 people at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in downtown Phoenix. The event was organized by ASU's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy.

Lee's conversation was hosted by Lois Brown, director of the center and an English professor at ASU. Their discussion covered a wide range of topics including history, politics, filmmaking, family, and the role of artists in shaping public discourse. During the event, Lee was honored with an ASU Gammage Courage Award.

The Delivering Democracy dialogue is now in its 12th year and has previously featured speakers such as jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, actress Viola Davis, and broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper.

In addition to Lee's participation, the event recognized this year's Architects of Change award recipients: actor and producer Matthew Earl Jones; broadcast journalist Linda Williams; Jeffrey Guldner, CEO of Arizona Public Service Company; and Cloves Campbell II, publisher of the Arizona Informant.

During his talk, Lee shared personal stories about his early struggles and career beginnings. He recounted growing up in Brooklyn during the summer of 1977 when New York City faced economic challenges. It was then that he discovered filmmaking after being handed an 8mm camera by a friend.

“No one had any money,” he said. “There were no summer jobs. I mean, it was rough. It was the summer of the blackout, which is crazy." That moment marked a turning point for him: “That day changed my life.”

Lee pursued higher education at Morehouse College for mass communications before attending New York University's graduate film school where he is now a tenured professor. His film credits include notable works such as “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Jungle Fever” and "Malcolm X."

“I found something I wanted to do,” Lee stated. “I want to repeat that now... I'm blessed because I'm making a living doing what I love.”

Lois Brown also addressed how Lee secured funds for his early films. She remarked on his entrepreneurial spirit necessary to produce them: "To make art, one needs to have money," she said.

Lee shared anecdotes from producing "Malcolm X," recalling financial challenges that led him to seek support from friends like Janet Jackson and Oprah Winfrey. He humorously recounted how competitive dynamics helped secure funding from Michael Jordan.

He praised Denzel Washington’s dedication in preparing for his role in "Malcolm X" saying Washington spent a year transforming into Malcolm X — describing him as today's greatest living actor: “The cast and crew were pinching themselves because we were seeing transformation right before our eyes."

When discussing artists' influence on society with Brown’s inquiry about their impact potentialities amid societal issues—he noted that historically they have spoken truthfully amidst critical times stating: “Artists — whether they be poets filmmakers singers—we have raised up at times need…to speak truth power."