You have been kicked to the curb MOOKIE!!!!

By Holly Williams

In urban cites in most specifically New York city there has always been a close relation ship between Latino American and African Americans. From our collective involvement in the birth of Hip Hop culture to the fact that we have and still do live side by side in inner cities across the United States of America, has created close bonds between both ethnic groups.  Spike Lee chose to tackle the dynamics and complexities of this relationship with the characters Mookie and Tina. Tina is the boisterous Puerto Rican Brooklynite with a strong Brooklyn accent and a whiny countenance which mirrors the frustration of an essentially single mother trying to raise their son on her own. Spike came under attack for writing the role as he did but what outraged most Latinos was the fact that she cursed a lot. She seemed to be a stereotypical Latina.

What many people don’t know is that this role was originally written for a black actress. Rosie Perez(Tina) got the role because she read for the part extremely well and Spike realized that her being Latin would give him the ability to explore various issues of single parenthood and Spanish and Black relationships which was a direct reflection of connections historically between these two groups of people. The role of Tina mirrored many women in society who lament the necessity of a father both financially, physically, and morally in the lives of their children. She expressed her dislike of Mookie’s irresponsibility with expletives that seemed to be as popular as the dance she did to Fight the Power in the beginning of the movie. As a mother of color Tina was the voice of frustration and tolerance of women who struggle with the fathers of their children who find themselves hating the daddy and/or loving him at the same time because they have a child together. Tina’s role was not the cussing, sexy, baby momma drama character that everyone on viewed her as on face value. She was the realistic picture of many women everywhere who are more than irritated with the role the father was plays in their life as well as in their child’s life. She left us with the sense of “if your coming, your better come correct or don’t come at all.” She left a resounding message to dads all over the world, Do the Right Thing and be a father to your child!”