Source: CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA / Getty
Spike Lee defended former President Barack Obama’s comments on undecided Black male voters in an interview.
In an interview on MSNBC, celebrated filmmaker Spike Lee defended former President Barack Obama’s comments on Black male voters when it came to Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Ari Melber brought up male voters from different backgrounds who’ve expressed skepticism about her being in the White House and “breaking towards Trump” when Lee interjected.
“It’s sad but true, some of my brothers have been drinking that Kool-Aid and I just hope that they get their minds straight, get their minds right, in time for this election,” Lee said to Melber. “If they’re conscious, if they’re aware, there’s nothing that this other guy can do that’s going to put us — not just Black folks — but Americans, in a better position going forward.”
Spike Lee referenced Obama’s speech earlier this month in Pittsburgh when he stated that Black male voters weren’t supporting Harris’ presidential campaign, saying he’s “got a problem with that” and inferring that sexism was at play. “Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president,” he said in his speech. Obama’s remarks garnered him a huge wave of criticism – some from allies who feel he shouldn’t come down so hard on Black men who have traditionally voted strongly for Democrats in the past.
“I gotta give credit to President Obama because he’s been going really hard on the brothers — some might think too hard, but I don’t think so,” Lee said. “We gotta wake up and don’t go for the okie doke, the flim-flam — can’t do that. We gotta support our sister to be the first woman president of the United States of America and the first sister.” The interview took place shortly after the Brooklyn, New York, native received the National Medal of Arts from President Joe Biden at the White House Monday (Oct. 21), along with 38 other noted artists and personalities.
The Biden-Harris Administration believes in the power of the arts and humanities. Today, we are proud to celebrate the extraordinary recipients of the National Medals of Arts and Humanities. pic.twitter.com/AduzqWV7pk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 21, 2024
Check out the entire interview above.
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