Double Consciousness In 'Do The Right Thing'

Eng 234 Midterm prompt 4

Shelton Jackson, formally known as Spike Lee, has established himself as a well respected American film director, producer, writer, and actor known for bringing to attention the issues of identity, racism, and socialization towards the black community in his work. In the film “Do The Right Thing” we can tie in the idea of W.E.B. Du Bois’s double consciousness when examining the pivotal role of the character Mookie. Throughout the film Mookie is constantly walking on a thin line between two highly segregated social groups, which as a result leaves Mookie torn to where his place in society should stand. W.E.B. Du Bois’s concept of double consciousness is intended to describe an individual whose identity is divided into several facets, and in this particular situation African Americans. In his book, In The Souls Of Black
“The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife – this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost.” (Du Boise) As much as Mookie tries to equally manage his divided identity, because he is a Negro he realizes he will never be viewed as a “true” American. As Mookie throws the empty trash can through his old Boss 's window, Mookie is showing he no longer wishes to live with a double consciousness and symbolized the destruction of his life and pursuit in becoming an accepted American for he no longer wishes to confront the veil that stands between the two social