Spike Lee (left) and Tyler Perry

Movie-maker Spike Lee’s response to broadcast journalist Ed Gordon’s provocative question about “certain images” in popular plays, movies or music has the Internet grapevines buzzing and radio talkshow lines lit up.

The “Our World with Black Enterprise” interview actually took place on May 18 and was aired May 30. It was reissued Wednesday (Oct. 28).

“Our World with Black Enterprise” is a weekly, half-hour television series that spotlights the contemporary African American experience. Hosted by the Emmy Award-winning Gordon and co-produced by Chicago-based Central City Productions, the nationally syndicated program features news, entertainment, roundtable discussions, and special interest stories about African Americans from all walks of life.

Lee clearly had Tyler Perry’s work in mind as he talked with Gordon. Perry, whose latest box office hit is "I Can Do Bad All By Myself," recently told "60 Minutes" that Lee’s comments left him "insulted" and "pissed off." The “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday (Oct. 25.), with Perry saying his characters were “bait” to get people talking about God, love, family and faith.

Here is a transcript excerpt from the Black-Enterprise interview:

Ed Gordon

Ed Gordon: There is a school of thought that says we’re not diversifying our imagery enough in our community. Yet there are certain images, whether they be in plays or movies or music that we flock to whether we admit it or not.  I am wondering – is that just the black middle class saying “No, that is not what we want” with a lot of us wanting it?


Spike Lee: This is a complex subject because each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors. But I still think a lot of stuff that is on today is coonery buffoonery. And I know it’s making a lot of money, breaking records – but we can do better. That’s just my opinion. I’m a huge basketball fan. And when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows and I am scratching my head. We have a black president – are we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep n’ Eat?
 
Ed Gordon: Yet, if those films – I mean, we’re talking about Tyler Perry at this point. No, no I mean look – let’s not give them fodder for tabloids. I am not saying we’re talking about Tyler Perry, but those are the shows we’re talking about. If we’re talking about that and we look at the numbers that come, and see his movies, and view the shows on TBS – my question is, is that, in fact, maybe what black America wants to see?  I hear a lot of NOs in the audience, but there are a lot of people watching it.


Spike Lee: We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton – people came out to see “Boys in the Hood.”  He did “Rosewood,” nobody showed up.  So a lot of this is on us. You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time, sitting in front of the idiot box. And the man has a huge audience. Tyler is very smart with what he’s done.  He started out with these plays, and church busses would pull up, packed, and he’s parlayed it. He’s bought his own jet.  If you can buy a jet you have money. But at the same time, for me, just – the imagery is troubling.  
 
FULL VIDEO DISPLAYED HERE [19:42 Version]
CLIP HERE [3:00 Edit]