On Feb. 26, legendary director Spike Lee spoke to a full house at K.R. Williams Auditorium on the campus of Winston-Salem State.
Lee served as the keynote speaker for Black Men For Change’s 5th Annual Black Male Symposium.
A jet-lagged Lee talked to students and audience members about several topics, ranging from the upcoming presidential election to the inspiration behind his career and his films.
Lee urged students to pursue their passion and not to choose a major because of what their parents want them to do.
“Parents kill more dreams than anybody,” Lee told the audience.
“I get down on my knees every night and thank God ’cause I have a job that I love.”
Lee also cautioned the audience to be aware of the effect that the media has on people’s lives. Lee told the young women in the audience that listening to derogatory music just because they like the beat is inexcusable.
“We have to start holding our artists more accountable,” he said.
“You have to start listening to lyrics.”
Lee also discussed several of his films, including 1988’s “School Daze.” Lee said the film draws heavily off his experiences from his years at Morehouse, a historically black university in Atlanta.
“That film was my four years at Morehouse crammed into a homecoming weekend,” he said.
Lee was a third-generation Morehouse student. He had his college tuition paid for by his grandmother, a retired school teacher who saved up her Social Security checks to put him through school.
Lee managed to keep his composure as a belligerent audience member interrupted him while trying to ask a question prior to the designated Q &A session. After campus police quieted the man, Lee allowed him to ask the first question:
“Why don’t more black people of your caliber hire black people?”
“I can’t think of another black person in cinema who has hired as many black people in front of and behind the camera as I have,” Lee said.
Several students who attended the event said they came away inspired by Lee’s speech.
“He was very inspirational and gave me alot of insight on the issues throughout the black community,” said senior Alexia Whitley.
Sophomore ShaRanda Royster also found Lee’s speech riveting.
“I was very impressed and inspired by Spike Lee,” she said.
-SHADONNA BOYD CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.