Spike Lee does the right thing for imperialism

By Norm Dixon

African-American film-maker Spike Lee, famous for his film version of the life story of Malcolm X, retains the aura of a "progressive". That aura has dimmed somewhat with his decision to help the US military recruit young black people in the midst of a war in the Balkans.

Lee submitted a bid for, and was given, the job to direct six multimillion-dollar advertisements for the US Navy, to be screened on "youth-orientated" TV networks and in cinemas before the new Star Wars blockbuster.

"I'm very grateful to be given the shot", said Lee, "because there are some backward people in the world who have a very narrow vision of who I am, of what I'm about, and what I can do".

The campaign is aimed at 17- to 21-year-olds. While the navy and Lee are reluctant to admit it, it is clear that the ads are pitched squarely at young African-Americans, who in recent years have shown less interest in fulfilling their expected role as the US military's preferred cannon fodder.

The war in the Balkans has not boosted recruitment to the US military, unlike the 1991 Gulf War. Last year, the US Navy fell almost 7000 recruits short of its goal.

As well as playing before this season's crop of action movies, the ads are airing during the National Basketball Association play-offs and will be broadcast before the season's big gridiron games.

Navy spokesperson Edward Brownlee told CNN: "When people ask 'Why Spike Lee?', I say 'Why not?'. He's able to connect with an audience we're interested in recruiting."

From GLW issue 364