Pfleger on Spike Lee’s “Chiraq” movie: “I trust him”

Praised Lee for taking black-on-black crime

By Chinta Strausberg

Saying he was fed up with critics of actor Spike Lee’s upcoming movie, “Chiraq,” Father Michael L. Pfleger late Wednesday night said he trust the actor he says is a “very conscious director” who is trying to find a solution to the escalating violence in Chicago.

Pfleger made his remarks during the Parish Council meeting held at Saint Sabina. “They told him “Do The Right Thing” would start a race riot and wouldn’t get David Dinkins elected,” said Pfleger, noting that there was no race riot and Dinkins was elected the first African American mayor of NYC.

On his Facebook page, Pfleger said, “I’m so tired of hearing people on FB upset about the Spike Lee movie title Chiraq…. The killing in Chicago and around the Country by both Police and Black on Black crime is Unacceptable, and it’s real,

“If Spike Lee has the courage and God knows the talent to dig into this Black on Black Crime and try to bring about a Healing and Solution…THANK GOD…. I trust Spike Lee. Everyone of his body of work has been powerful…. and to those worried about tourism…. if you’re worried then help stop the problem. Give us jobs, opportunities, economic development. Stop a Governor whose wiping out programs for youth.

“Personally, I don’t give a damn about some tourist being afraid to come here, if some child here is afraid to LIVE here… And to all those outraged about a title…are you outraged about the 1 killed and 11 shot last night”?

Pfleger explained that Spike Lee “decided to take on the issue of Black-on-Black crime and create a solution. He reached out to me last November and has spent” a great deal of time at Saint Sabina and in Chicago.

Pfleger said the script for Chiraq has already been written and that Lee has reached out to local artists like Jenifer Hudson, Common, John Cusack, Joakim Noah and others including rappers and is holding casting calls.

On the title Chiraq, Pfleger made it clear, “I have concerns about the title, but I understand and respect him.”

Admitting Lee “has been edgy,” Father Pfleger said Spike Lee “has raised the consciousness” of people. “I got to trust him as a genius…and his love for black people.” Lee is very concerned about the genocide that is taking place in the black community. “He is getting a lot of push back,” said Pfleger noting he too is being sharply criticized for supporting the controversial actor.

Having met with Mayor Rahm Emanuel Wednesday over the issue, Pfleger said, “The title is going to catch people, but his focus in the movie is to address Black-on-Black crime” and the need for this to stop.

Earlier, after the mayor met with Spike Lee, he told reporters he is not happy with the actor’s movie title “Chiraq.”

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.