Spike Lee Urges African Americans to Return to Their African Roots

Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee Discuss Benin Citizenship and American Politics at UN Assembly in New York

In an insightful discussion during the UN General Assembly in New York, acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee and his producer wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, shared their experiences and perspectives as newly appointed thematic ambassadors to Benin. Their appointment is part of an initiative inviting the African American diaspora to reconnect with their roots by offering citizenship to descendants of enslaved Africans, with no investment requirement.

Benin’s Call to the African American Diaspora

During the interview with Emegypt, Spike Lee explained Benin’s heartfelt invitation: “Our brothers and sisters in Benin are telling us, ‘come home, welcome us home, come back to the motherland. Come back to where your roots are.’” The Lees intend to amplify this message, envisioning their role as a model for other African nations considering similar initiatives.

“We could be a blueprint,” Spike Lee remarked, suggesting that other African countries might follow Benin’s proactive stance in offering citizenship to descendants of enslaved people.

The Current U.S. Political Climate

Addressing the United States’ political environment, Spike Lee expressed his perspective on the era under President Donald Trump as “the year of living dangerously,” referencing the 1982 film by Peter Weir. His wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, offered her take on race relations, remarking, “To me, Donald Trump is nothing new. He’s saying the quiet parts out loud,” while reflecting on the racial progress over generations.

• Tonya recalled her parents’ experiences in the segregation-era South, emphasizing the cyclical nature of racial progress: “We make a lot of progress, and then we take steps backwards, and then we make progress again.”
• Her hopeful outlook persists despite the challenges: “The good news is, Donald Trump will not be president forever. And people will rise up, as they are doing.”

Spike Lee shared this optimism, highlighting the recent incident involving comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show, which was reinstated following public demand. “People are being galvanized by what’s happening in the White House. So justice is going to prevail,” he concluded, encapsulating the spirit of resilience and activism.