Culture

Watch Spike Lee Win the First Academy Award of His Career

Source: ABC

Oscar-award winning director Spike Lee.

Legendary director and screenwriter Spike Lee has won the first Academy Award of his career.

READ: Boots Riley Claims Spike Lee Yelled at Him for Blasting BlacKkKlansman

Spike won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay, along with Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, and Kevin Willmott, for BlacKkKlansman. Frequent collaborator Samuel L. Jackson was the one who presented the award. When Spike won he literally shouted out his name.


Spike was the one who gave the acceptance speech. And the first moments of it were bleeped because he was cursing.

During his politically charged speech, Lee gave a brief overview of his life and career:

My Grandmother who lived 100 years young, who was a Spelman College graduate even though her mother was a slave. My Grandmother who saved 50 years of social security cheques to put her first grandchild – she called me “Spikey-poo” – she put me through college and NYU film.

He did mention the upcoming 2020 election, capping off off his speech by saying “Let’s do the right thing!:”

The 2020 election is around the corner. Let’s all mobilise. Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love verses hate. Let’s do the right thing!

READ: Spike Lee Wore an Outfit Honoring Prince at the 2019 Academy Awards

This was Spike Lee’s fifth Oscar nomination, and his first win.

Check out his entire speech below.

Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Dimas Sanfiorenzo is the Managing Editor for Okayplayer. He specializes in coverage centered around music, pop culture, and politics. Email: Dimas@okayplayer.com

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Tags: 2019 Oscars

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