Filmmaker Spike Lee, a frequent and devout critic of President Trump, compared the president’s black supporters to house slaves, essentially calling them Uncle Toms.
In an Instagram post earlier this week, the “Do the Right Thing” director shared a photo of several of Trump’s supporters in the black community, including YouTube stars Diamond & Silk, praying over him in the Oval Office.
Employing deeply racist language recalling that of a submissive southern house slave, Spike Lee wrote, “Massa, We Love You, Massa. We Gonna Pray Fo’ You Massa. Singing- ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.'”
Reactions to Spike Lee’s post were mixed, with some celebrating it and others condemning it.
“Lee loses his mind anytime another black person wanders off the plantation,” commented one internet user.
“Let people be. If they want to pray over him, let them,” said another user. “The bible even says to pray for your leaders. Some may pray for him to be removed, some may pray for God to save his soul, some may pray for God to save every person in the White House. People need Jesus that is the truth. My allegiance is to Jesus, not man. I can care less about Trump.”
“When will we ever learn that tap dancing for massa has no value or brings nothing to our community,” said another. “This picture is appalling in more ways than one. We need to unite on the front of getting this clown out of office. Simple and plain!”
Spike Lee’s post came during the same week in which he had a public meltdown for not being allowed to enter the employee entrance at Madison Square Garden in New York City with his VIP Access pass, prompting a public rebuke from the New York Knicks.
“The idea that Spike Lee is a victim because we have repeatedly asked him to not use our employee entrance and instead use a dedicated VIP entrance — which is used by every other celebrity who enters The Garden — is laughable,” the Knicks said in a statement. “It’s disappointing that Spike would create this false controversy to perpetuate drama. He is welcome to come to The Garden anytime via the VIP or general entrance; just not through our employee entrance, which is what he and Jim agreed to last night when they shook hands.”
Earlier this year, Spike Lee said that Republican Senators who helped to acquit President Trump during the impeachment trial will “burn in hell” if they swore on the Holy Bible.
“I wouldn’t want to be standing [next] to none of those guys because they’re gonna be struck by lightning,” Lee said. “History will say they were on the wrong side of history. The wrong side, the wrong side. So everybody — here’s the thing. I’m not speaking for anybody but myself. This is me speaking, everybody. Whoever comes out of the Democratic convention I’m voting for, because we cannot have another four years of Agent Orange.”
Prior to that, Lee used his Oscar acceptance speech after winning an award for screenwriting last year as a call to oust President Trump from office.
“The 2020 presidential election is around the corner,” said Lee. “Let’s all mobilize, let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing!”
President Trump ripped Lee on Twitter for his “racist hit,” mocking the director for being barely able to read his notes.
“Be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit on your President, who has done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts,etc.) than almost any other Pres!” he wrote.