-Thank you so much for being in studio, for being here.
-Nah, when I got the offer... -Yeah.
-...I said, especially MLK Day,
I'm gonna come here in person to be with you.
-Thank you for that. I appreciate that.
Thank you. [ Cheers and applause ]
Means a lot. Thank you.
-Thank you, thank you. -I appreciate that.
I want to get into "Da 5 Bloods."
You know I loved it. -Thank you very much.
Second time for "Da 5 Bloods," appreciate it.
-Yeah, that's right. I want to talk to you about
a project I heard is going to be your next project.
-Right. -Stop me if I'm wrong.
It's a musical, right? Okay?
You're doing a musical, and it's a musical about Viagra.
-True story. [ Laughter ]
And I'd like to say, though,
if God willing, and the creek doesn't rise.
But I want to give you another piece of information
about the film referred to, Brother Jimmy.
[ Laughter ]
This is gonna be the hardest film I ever made.
[ Laughter and applause ]
♪♪
I had to think of all -- -Had to think of all of it --
-It's gonna be the hardest film I ever made!
[ Laughter ]
Stop the show! Stop the show! -Stop the show!
Go to commercial! Go to commercial!
-I want to talk about your other film,
the one that you came out before, "Da 5 Bloods."
-Yes. -It is on every list
for award buzz. And well-deserved.
I loved it. And I actually told you, my dad was in Vietnam,
and I had him -- -You told me that.
-Dude, he loved it, as well. I just love that all these guys
and girls have stories to tell that fought in Vietnam.
-Well, again, thank you for having me today, on MLK Day.
The black soldiers in Vietnam did not know
till two or three days later
that Dr. King had been assassinated.
And, uh...
They learned through Hanoi Hannah...
-Yeah.
-...who was the voice of the Viet Cong.
Hanoi Hannah told the black soldiers,
"Why are you fighting for a country that does not love you?
Why are you fighting for this country
when your brothers and sisters
are burning a hundred cities in America?"
And that's documented.
And to continue this, April 4, 1968,
I was 11 years old.
11 years old, sitting on my stoop --
Not porch! In Brooklyn, it's stoops.
-Yep, that's right. -Stoops!
I hear a woman screaming.
And as the voice gets closer,
I recognize, it's my mother's voice.
And she's screaming -- I swear on her grave --
She's screaming, "They killed Dr. King!
They killed Dr. King! They killed Dr. King!"
And an argument can be made that Dr. King was assassinated
not because of the Civil Rights Movement
but because he was one of the first people, vocally,
out front, to say the war in Vietnam was immoral.
-That scene in the movie is so poignant
because they're hearing this over the radio.
-That's where the majority of the black troops --
Would also like to say, in the latest stage of the Vietnam War,
black soldiers, the Bloods,
they made up a third of the fighting forces.
Yet African-Americans are only 10% of the population
of the United States of America.
Only 10% of the population but yet we were third
of the fighting force in Vietnam.
Facts. Facts, undisputable.
-I'm glad you're getting it out there,
because these stories need to be heard.
-Yeah, there's so many stories. And also, over the years,
thank you for having me on your show,
letting me reach your audience, love.
The Roots, love you guys.
The Knicks are good this year. Watch me.
[ Laughter ]
-I want to show everyone a clip from the movie.
Here is a scene from "Da 5 Bloods."
Take a look at this.
-Black G.I. In Memphis, Tennessee,
a white man assassinate Dr. Martin Luther King.
Dr. King also opposed the U.S. War in Vietnam.
Black G.I., your government sent 600,000 troops
to crush the rebellion.
Your soul sister and soul brothers
are enraged in over 122 cities.
They kill them.
Why you fight against us?
So far away from where you are needed.
[ Applause ]
-Spike Lee, everybody, the one and only!
[ Cheers and applause ]
You know I love you, man.
Thank you so much for being here in studio.
-The house! -Spike Lee.
"Da 5 Bloods" is streaming now on Netflix.