BlacKkKlansmanhas taken home gold makingSpike Leean Oscar winner for the first time!
Lee’s biographical crime comedy-drama won Best Adapted Screenplay at Sunday night’s award ceremony.
The script beat out fellow nomineesThe Ballad of Buster Scruggs,If Beale Street Could Talk,A Star Is BornandCan You Ever Forgive Me?
Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson.
In his speech, Lee paid tribute to Black History Month and shared some of his family’s own stories of triumphant in the face of oppression.
The iconic director celebrated the sacrifice his grandmother made for him, revealing she “saved 50 years of social security checks” to put him through Morehouse College and NYU graduate film school. (She also affectionately nicknamed him “Spikey-poo.”)
Be sure to check outPEOPLE’s full Oscars coverageto get the latest news on film’s biggest night.
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Lee ended his speech — which hadJordan Peelein tears — on a political note.
“The 2020 presidential election is around the corner,” he said. “Let’s all mobilize. Let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing!”
His sentiment was a call to action and also referenced Lee’s 1989 filmDo the Right Thing. The film examined race relations in a Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood and the tragic consequences of letting hate and racism go unchecked.
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His powerful speech was not something he had rehearsed, as just before his first ever win — he has previously been awarded an Honorary Oscar —The Daily Showspotted the director quickly scribbling down his speech.
“While walking around backstage, I noticed a small figure hunched in a corner writing something,” he captioned a photo of the director which he shared on Instagram. “I got closer and realized it was Spike Lee writing an acceptance speech for his Oscar nominations. I asked him if I could take this picture to remember the moment and he said yes and “I hope I get to use this.””
John David Washington stars as Stallworth, while Adam Driver, Laura Harrier and Topher Grace also feature in the film.
The 91st Academy Awards are broadcasting live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on ABC.
source: people.com
