It comes down to this: black people were stripped of our identities when we were brought here, and it's been a quest since then to define who we are.

Quote by Spike Lee

Topics: Spike Lee Quotes

We grew up in a very creative environment and were exposed to the arts at...

We grew up in a very creative environment and were exposed to the arts at...

I live in New York City, the stories of my films take place in New...

I live in New York City, the stories of my films take place in New...

I think my work shows that I love women. I understand where these types of...

I think my work shows that I love women. I understand where these types of...

Don't think that because you haven't heard from me for a while that I went...

Don't think that because you haven't heard from me for a while that I went...

A lot of times, we censor ourselves before the censor even gets there.

A lot of times, we censor ourselves before the censor even gets there.

I think it would be very boring dramatically to have a film where everybody was...

I think it would be very boring dramatically to have a film where everybody was...

There's an unwritten law that you cannot have a Jewish character in a film who...

There's an unwritten law that you cannot have a Jewish character in a film who...

I'm just trying to tell a good story and make thought-provoking, entertaining films. I just...

I'm just trying to tell a good story and make thought-provoking, entertaining films. I just...

Any time you talk about the look of the film, it's not just the director...

Any time you talk about the look of the film, it's not just the director...

I don't dictate, you don't dictate to Stevie Wonder, not successfully.

I don't dictate, you don't dictate to Stevie Wonder, not successfully.

I get offered to do stuff where the money's nice but it's not something I...

I get offered to do stuff where the money's nice but it's not something I...

I think people who have faults are a lot more interesting than people who are...

I think people who have faults are a lot more interesting than people who are...

A lot of times you get credit for stuff in your movies you didn't intend...

A lot of times you get credit for stuff in your movies you didn't intend...

Violence is a part of America. I don't want to single out rap music. Let's...

Violence is a part of America. I don't want to single out rap music. Let's...

If we became students of Malcolm X, we would not have young black men out...

If we became students of Malcolm X, we would not have young black men out...

My cousin Malcolm Lee is also a filmmaker.

My cousin Malcolm Lee is also a filmmaker.

Fight the power that be. Fight the power.

Fight the power that be. Fight the power.

Everything I do is always scrutinised. But that's all I'll say about that.

Everything I do is always scrutinised. But that's all I'll say about that.

There's a lot of Americans, black and white, who think that we've arrived where we...

There's a lot of Americans, black and white, who think that we've arrived where we...

All directors are storytellers, so the motivation was to tell the story I wanted to...

All directors are storytellers, so the motivation was to tell the story I wanted to...