What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDo the Right Thing
Spike Lee · Film · 1989
If you loved Do the Right Thing, start with When They See Us (Ava DuVernay, 2019) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Do the Right Thing across media.
You were drawn to the way Do the Right Thing uses neighborhood tension to expose the raw, systemic realities of American life.
Books on the same thread
A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry · Book · 1995
Explores: Dreams Deferred, Racial Discrimination, Assimilation.
Like the suffocating heat and societal pressure in Do the Right Thing, this classic play masterfully examines the dreams and dignity of families navigating the weight of racial discrimination.
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Dr. Robin DiAngelo · Book · 2020
Shares 2 threads with Do the Right Thing: Systemic Racism, Race Relations.
If you appreciated the uncomfortable confrontation regarding racial pride in Do the Right Thing, this book provides the necessary sociological framework to understand the defensiveness that fuels such conflicts.
A Time to Kill
John Grisham · Book · 1992
Explores: Racial injustice, Revenge, Morality.
This courtroom drama mirrors the explosive moral questions found in Do the Right Thing, focusing on the volatile intersection of racial injustice and the desire for personal retribution.
The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas · Book · 2018
Shares 2 threads with Do the Right Thing: Police Brutality, Systemic Racism.
Much like the tragic escalation of events in Do the Right Thing, this story captures the immediate, life-altering impact of police brutality on a tight-knit community and individual identity.
Series on the same thread
When They See Us
Ava DuVernay · Series · 2019
Shares 2 threads with Do the Right Thing: Systemic racism, Police brutality.
This series reflects the systemic failures and police misconduct central to Do the Right Thing, following the harrowing journey of those caught in the crosshairs of an unjust system.
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
Spike Lee · Series · 2006
Explores: Natural Disaster Aftermath, Government Negligence, Racial Inequality.
Directed by Spike Lee, this documentary expands on the themes of government negligence and racial inequality that simmered beneath the surface of the Brooklyn streets in Do the Right Thing.
The Chi
Lena Waithe · Series · 2018
Shares 2 threads with Do the Right Thing: Community, Urban Drama.
This series captures the authentic struggle for ambition and community survival, echoing the neighborhood dynamics and systemic pressures that define the characters' lives in Do the Right Thing.
Small Axe
Steve McQueen · Series · 2020
Shares 2 threads with Do the Right Thing: Community, Police Brutality.
These stories explore the same friction between immigrant communities and institutional power that you saw in Do the Right Thing, highlighting how racial identity shapes the daily experience.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Shares a thread with Do the Right Thing: systemic racism.
This podcast provides the historical context for the systemic racism portrayed in Do the Right Thing, tracing how the legacy of slavery continues to influence modern American society.
Nice White Parents
Serial Productions & The New York Times · Podcast · 2022
Explores: systemic inequality, educational reform, privilege and power.
Just as Do the Right Thing exposes the subtle power dynamics in a neighborhood, this investigation reveals how the influence of privileged groups maintains systemic inequality in public education.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the central conflict in Do the Right Thing?
The central conflict in Do the Right Thing involves a local resident named Buggin' Out who objects to the Wall of Fame inside Salvatore Fragione's pizzeria. He believes the wall should feature black actors instead of only Italian actors, leading to a confrontation that symbolizes deeper tensions within the neighborhood.
Who owns the pizzeria featured in Do the Right Thing?
The pizzeria in Do the Right Thing is owned by Salvatore Fragione, who is referred to as Sal. The business becomes a focal point of the narrative when a local resident challenges Sal's decision to display only Italian actors on his restaurant wall rather than including black actors.
Why does Buggin' Out get upset in Do the Right Thing?
In Do the Right Thing, Buggin' Out becomes upset because the pizzeria's Wall of Fame exclusively exhibits Italian actors. He argues that since the pizzeria is located in a black neighborhood, the wall should showcase black actors, turning the display into a symbol of racism and hate for the community.
Is Do the Right Thing set in a specific location?
Yes, the story of Do the Right Thing takes place in a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The plot centers on the interactions between the local community and the owner of a neighborhood pizzeria, highlighting the tensions that arise when cultural representation becomes a point of contention between the owner and residents.