Do The Right Thing : Belief & Postmodernism
Smiley
Smiley, unlike the Radio personality, is always there, and also unlike the Radio personality, he doesn't get the chance to express his opinion. It seems that the entire time, Smiley is the most radically opinionated individual out of all the characters, but his mental disability prevents him from speaking his mind.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X
All of Smiley's intended ideas come from Civil Rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. The two's ideas contrasted each other in that King was interested in creating harmony without violence but Malcolm X was convinced that physicality was the only was the Blacks could be heard. As Smiley tries to preach the leaders' views upon the citizens of Brooklyn, the characters Mookie and Buggin' Out symbolize the views of MLK and Malcolm X, respectively. Audiences may view Mookie throwing a garbage can out the window as an act of violence, but Mookie was never seen inside the restaurant trashing everything in sight once the riot had commenced.
Smiley's absence of voice is a clear representation of R. Wesley Hurd's observations of the postmodern movement. He constantly tries to express himself and develop his own identity, which sums up the aspiration of all human beings. Smiley constantly searches for significance within MLK, Malcolm X, and himself but his search for identity is never answered. The fact that the audience never fully understands Smily makes him a more powerful character because his actions speak louder than words. Smiley was very active in the protest at the end of the film and he was very consistent when bombarding the people.
"(stuttering) This is Malcolm X and this is Martin Luther King. They are dead, but we still have to fight against hate."
Martin Luther King, Jr. Quote From Rolling Credits
"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is
both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending
spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves
everyday life. It is moral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather
than win his underhand; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence
is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community
and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than
dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the
survivors and brutality in the destroyer."
Malcolm X Quote From Rolling Credits
"I think there are plenty of good people in America, but there are also plenty of bad people in America and the bad ones are the ones who seem to have all the power and be in these positions to block things that you and I need. Because this is the situation, you and I have to preserve the right to do what is necessary to bring an end to that situation, and it doesn’t mean that I advocate violence, but at the same time I am not against using violence in self-defense. I don’t even call it violence what it’s self-defense, I call it intelligence."
