Spike Lee will speak at the University of Memphis tonight.
This will be Lee’s second appearance at the U of M. His first was in March of 2010 where he talked about his dreams of playing for the New York Mets and his career in filmmaking.
He also encouraged African Americans to pursue careers that were not just based on salaries but were mentally stimulating and meaningful.
This time around, Lee may speak about his boycott of Sunday’s Academy Awards and his recently released film “Chi-Raq.”
Lee’s speech will take place this evening at 7 p.m. in the Michael D. Rose Theatre, which holds about 900 people. Doors open at 6 p.m. and wristbands will be available as early as 5 p.m.
Spike Lee will give a speech followed by a Q-and-A session with the audience. The director is being paid $35,000 to speak.
In his first appearance at Memphis, Lee was paid a total of $38,000. This fee included his personal appearance as well as a copyright fee for the showing of his film “School Daze” on campus in 2010.
This event, sponsored by U of M’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, is one of several events put on during Black History month.
This years Black History Month theme is “Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories.” The multicultural affairs program has a schedule full of events throughout the month of February.
Events began the first of the month, honoring musician David Porter. Other events included a buffalo soldiers and Tuskegee airman exhibit, Lunar New Year’s celebration with the Vietnamese students association and a tour at the Stax Museum. A concluding ceremony will take place Friday with speaker Teri Freeman, the president of the National Civil Rights Museum.
There will be an event nearly every day of the month, said Linda Hall, associate dean of Multicultural Affairs.
“We have some type of activity, whether it’s collaboration with another department or different things.”
On Monday, students rode the University’s Blue Line downtown to the Civil Rights Museum.
A famous film director, producer, writer and actor, Lee is notorious for his stereotypical characters and provocative approach to controversial subject matter.
His production company 40 Acres and a Mule has produced over 35 films since 1983.
His debut in directing began in 1986 with “She’s Gotta Have It.” Since then, he has directed and produced movies like “Malcom X,” “Jungle Fever,” “Love and Basketball” and “The Best Man.”
Lee has also directed music videos featuring Prince, Michael Jackson and Eminem.
His most recent film released was “Chi-Raq.” A modern twist on Aristophanes’ play Lysistrata set in the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago, the film has received several nominations and awards.
Lee is well known for making controversial remarks. Lee’s decision to boycott the Oscars, along with actress Jada Pinkett Smith, has gained lots of attention.
“We cannot support it and [I] mean no disrespect ... But, how is it possible for the second consecutive year all 20 contenders under the acting category are white? And let’s not even get into the other branches,” Lee wrote on Instagram according to a CNN article.
“Of course we didn’t expect him to be boycotting the Oscars,” Hall said.
This issue had not surfaced when they booked the event for Lee to speak. Regardless of Lee’s recent decision, Hall is hopeful for a great turn out from the audience.
“He may answer why in the Q-and-A… He might answer it all in the speech he gives,” she said.
