Do the Right Thing succeeds simply because it avoids tackling head-on the inconceivably complex subjects of racism and ethics and becoming �preachy;� at the same time, it does not completely skirt the issues, either. The film is also exceptional because of its practical lack of a main character or a key conflict; the �main character� of the film is, in essence, the street block in New York City. The movie revolves around the goings-on and inhabitants of the block, and there is no true hero in the movie. Mookie is the character the story seems to draw to, for he is the character it is easiest to identify to, as he is an Everyman of sorts.
There is no doubting that Mookie is a fair, reasonable man; however, he is not a true hero for a movie, and he is far from an antihero. He is likeable, fairly honest and well intentioned; on the other hand, he is a poor father to his illegitimate son and a lazy employee as well. Every character is of such ambiguous nature, thus enhancing the debate of �what is the right thing?� The two block mainstays, Mother Sister and Da Mayor, are friendly, honest, and loving people; however, Da Mayor is a drunk and Mother Sister can be fairly malicious at times. Sal, the owner of the pizzeria and Mookie�s boss, seems to truly like the African-Americans that frequent his shop and comprise most of his business; however, he is not without his prejudices, as he shows during various confrontations with his customers. Buggin� Out is well-meaning in his quest for �brothas on the wall,� referring to the Wall of Fame in Sal�s Famous Pizzeria, on which Sal hangs only images of his fellow Italian-Americans. Unfortunately, the hysterical Buggin� Out does a terrible job of executing his mission, and ends up inadvertently inciting the riot that serves as the climax of the film.
One might argue that Buggin� Out actually did an excellent job of executing his mission, considering that a picture of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. ended up gracing the Wall of Fame, thanks to the courageous efforts of Smiley. However, this goes back to the issue of �doing the right thing��what constitutes the right thing? This is an issue that mankind has grappled with since the ancient days, and Spike Lee, no matter how intense his efforts, is not going to solve the matter of universal ethics with a two-hour film about a New York City street corner. What he can do, and does, is at least concern his audience with the matter of ethics and morality, and this effort, in and of itself, is a victory.
The key theory of ethics that is offered in Do the Right Thing is the idea that �the ends justify the means,� that if the result that is achieved is for the greater good of mankind, how it is achieved is irrelevant. There are two important moments in which the aforementioned philosophy is brought into question, with Buggin� Out�s quest for pictures of African-Americans on the wall, and with Mookie�s tossing of the garbage can through the window.
In Buggin� Out�s situation, it might seem that he was arguing for just a few photographs, perhaps a notion that can be scoffed at, but what was truly at the heart of the matter was racial equality�a severely important issue. His end was achieved, but the means were questionable: he touched off a riot that led to the death of Radio Raheem and massive property damage. At the end of the film, before the end credits begin to roll, two quotes are shown onscreen. The first is from Martin Luther King, Jr., who denounces the use of violence in any and all situations. Malcolm X�s quote, however, condones violence if the situation is correct and the violence is necessary for a justifiable end, or in a situation of self-defense.
However, it is unlikely that anyone would condone the tragedy that arises because of Radio Raheem and Buggin� Out�s demands, stubbornness, and willingness to allow the situation to escalate to violence. A few pictures on the wall is a very weak cause, and even though Buggin� Out may see the wall as a sign of a greater problem, having �some brothas on the wall� does very little to actually enhance the community. Although the picture goes up on the wall, the ends did not justify�or even come close to justifying�the means.
Not five minutes later Mookie is forced to make an incredibly tough decision, in which he must decide if the ends justify the means. After the police have left with the murder victim Radio Raheem, the tension is as volatile as ever, as the crowd, after watching a fight and police brutality towards their friend, has turned angry. Sal and his sons are the natural target for the resentment, and they are in true danger of being attacked. Mookie, sizing up the situation and recognizing that neither police interference nor urging for peace will help, decides something needs to be done. His decision to take a nearby trash can and hurl it through the window of Sal�s was an incredibly tough decision, but also the correct one�for the ends justify the means.
In the director�s commentary of the film, Spike Lee, when asked whether or not Mookie did the right thing, says, �I have never once had an African-American ask me that question.� This quote has often been misconstrued, for Lee is not saying that African-Americans condone violence as a legitimate expression of anger; rather, perhaps he is saying that the African-Americans can understand where Mookie is coming from. Actress Joie Lee (Spike�s sister), who plays Mookie�s sister Jade in the film, also says on the commentary that when she talks with white people about the film, they always seem more concerned with the destruction of Sal�s place of business, rather than the death of Radio Raheem or near deaths of Sal and his family. While these are fairly daring comments, they represent the racial tones of the movie in its entirety: Spike Lee takes a no-holds-barred approach to the issue of racism and its consequences. Many believe Do the Right Thing is racist against whites, yet others see it as racist against black people; their own personal prejudices prevent many from realizing that this film does not take a specific stance on racism (except denouncing it in all of its forms).
Spike Lee himself may or may not be racist against white people, but in this film, he puts aside any prejudice for or against any ethnic group and instead focuses on the issue that truly lies behind racism: love and hate. The most obvious example of this is Radio Raheem�s brass knuckles, with �hate� carved into his left set and �love� into the right; these props show up at a crucial stage of the movie to make a powerful point. As Radio Raheem is in Sal�s arguing for pictures of African-Americans on the wall, he is standing in such a way that the word �love� is clearly visible. Later, when he falls to the ground after being murdered, he lands at an angle that prominently displays the word �hate.� Radio Raheem and Buggin� Out are hardly being racist, as can be interpreted by a casual, knee-jerk reaction, rather they are just demonstrating their love of their history and their �brothas.� The white policeman, however, is acting strictly through his hatred of black people�he arrives on the scene saying �Let me at �em! Let me at �em,� and earlier in the movie he is shown to be a complete bigot, when he drives through the neighborhood and is disgusted with its inhabitants.
Later, as Mookie is throwing the garbage can threw the window, he yells �Hate!� right as he begins to sprint towards the window and unleash the can. Mookie is not saying this because he is tossing the garbage can in hatred towards Sal, or towards the policeman�he expresses himself in such a manner because he is disgusted by the sheer acts of hate that have forced to do such a deed. As if these examples weren�t strong enough, Spike Lee shows this Martin Luther King, Jr. quote at the end of the film: �Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible.�
However, since there is no doubt that Mookie has done the right thing through a violent act, this quote must not be universal truth, which is why Spike Lee balances it out with a quote from Malcolm X, condoning violence if it is completely appropriate and needed. These two quotes are a microcosm for the entire brilliance of Lee�s philosophy in this film: he does not permit his personal prejudices to allow him to be moralizing. Therefore he is able to comment on ethics without preaching, and able to examine the issue of racism without taking a controversial stance himself. He does, however, make two things known quite clearly: the value of love and the dangers of hatred. By being so open-ended and non-conclusive on such volatile matters, Lee created a powerful, thoughtful and emotional movie, and thus, with such a work that forces its viewers to react and examine the world objectively, Spike Lee has won the battle.