Spike Lee shared his thoughts on the coronavirus, its impact on the African-American community, and the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic during a recent interview on SiriusXM’s The Joe Madison Show.
The award-winning director and writer told host Joe Madison that he’s angry about misinformation and conspiracy theories claiming African Americans are “immune” to COVID-19.
“I mean look, sometimes our people are messing up. And there were several people in media saying that African Americans cannot get this,” Lee said. “My African American sisters and brothers: this stuff is real. If you look at the numbers, proportionally we’re dying more than anybody because this disease has pulled, you might say, into the spotlight, how poor our health care is.”
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Lee then turned to the statistics coming out of several metropolitan areas that say African Americans are disproportionately affected by the virus.
“African Americans, we over index in hypertension, blood pressure, it goes on and on and on,” Lee said. “Health care, food deserts, fast food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I really hope that the federal government, state governments and local governments… this disparity in health is criminal.”
[Listen to the Interview Below]
Despite the growing death toll and despair caused by the virus, Lee said he thinks stay-at-home orders around the world are having a positive impact on the planet.
“Pollution is clearing up. Skies are clear. Animals are coming out. I mean you know, the Earth was angry at us,” he said.
“People may think I’m crazy that I believe it in my heart and soul. That we have gone too far and Earth said, ‘hold up, gotta change this.’ Because we were killing this planet. And this time that everything is shut down, the Earth has come alive, ” he added.
The discussion then turned to the Do The Right Thing filmmaker’s feelings about President Donald Trump, whom he refers to as “Agent Orange,” and why he thinks New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo would be a strong opponent against Trump.
“I mean, he, if it wasn’t too late, he could be P–,” Lee said before his voice trailed off.
“I’m proud that he’s my governor. And when you compare him with the other guy, it’s the difference between night and day. It’s really, it’s really, I mean. You see what happens when pressure comes, some pipes break… Well, I don’t call him by his name. I call him Agent Orange,” he said.
Madison then asked Lee to finish what he was saying: “All right. Go ahead. Your governor, because you were about ready to say this. Your governor, Cuomo, if it wasn’t too late he could run for President.”
“You know, it would be interesting,” Lee responded with a chuckle.
