Topic > Do the Right Thing: How Aggression Catalyzes Racism

Does aggression help make a situation better or just make it worse? Similar to the effect of one domino pushing down another, acts of aggression and violence only prove to create more problems one after another. The reason why people choose to become violent while taking a stand is a major predicament in America, and is shown in Spike Lee's film, Do the Right Thing. This film describes what racism was like in New York City in the 1980s and the aggression that came with it. When one member of a community decides to become violent, others almost always join him. While they think they are defending themselves, they only create more problems. This film is a great representation of what America faced not only in the 1980s, but today as well. To do the right thing by people of different races, aggression is never the answer because it creates a domino effect of violence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout the story of Do the Right Thing, serious aggression between the races occurred, which ultimately caused the inevitable outcome of violence in the city. Two important characters, Buggin' Out (played by Giancarlo Esposito) and Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) discover that they both have a problem with Sal (Danny Aiello) and his pizzeria. Buggin' Out causes a problem in Sal's pizza place because there are only photographs of white celebrities hanging on the wall. He wants to feel a sense of equality when he enters. When he goes to get a slice of pizza, he wants to feel welcomed in the store, but instead he feels like Sal and his children are racist. Sal clearly disagrees about the photos, claiming that it's an Italian pizzeria, so only Italian figures are hanging on the wall. However, Buggin' Out claims that all of Sal's customers are African-American and that he should try to please the community more. Radio Raheem clearly has a passion for the music that escapes his stereo and the song "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy, but Sal makes a problem of it by telling him to turn off the music while he's at the pizza place. Even though Sal started out respectful, it quickly turned aggressive, which obviously infuriated Radio Raheem. Sal wanted peace and quiet in his pizza place, which is reasonable, however, the way he handled the situation made the problem even worse. If Sal wants to continue serving his customers, he should be more willing to work with them. Now he's creating a problem with Radio Raheem and Buggin' Out, who will most likely tell other people, making it seem like Sal isn't loyal to his customers. Many of the characters in the film make quick, bad decisions that create a problem. riot of aggression, leading to a domino effect of violence and even death. Radio Raheem and Buggin' Out attempt to boycott Sal's pizzeria due to previous experiences. Radio Raheem entered the store blasting his stereo with the song “Fight the Power.” Obviously enraged, Sal reacts without thinking about the consequences; he started screaming in Radio Raheem's face and made the decision to smash the radio with a bat. This caused Raheem to start fighting Sal, which was just the beginning of the domino effect. Everyone in the pizzeria started arguing with each other, and then took it outside, where the entire community united. Hordes of people pushed, punched and kicked until the police arrived. However, the police make the situation even worse by grabbing Radio Raheem and choking him with their truncheon. They never stop, even if the people around them also beg them. There were so many others.