Black VoicesMizzouUniversity of Missouritim wolfe

Spike Lee's New Joint Documents Mizzou Protests

The short film is a part of Lee's "Spike Lee's Lil' Joints" series.
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By 

Black Voices Editor, HuffPost

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For his most recent project, director Spike Lee focuses on the protests that rocked the University of Missouri last fall. 

The short film, titled "2 Fists Up," is a part of Lee's "Spike Lee's Lil' Joints" series. It includes the story of how Mizzou's football team stood in solidarity with the campus organization Concerned Student 1950 to combat racial tensions on campus, which ultimately led to the university's system president's resignation.

Watch the documentary, which premiered on The Undefeated on Tuesday, above.

Lee was in Columbia, Missouri, in March to watch the student-made documentary "Concerned Student 1950" -- which followed student activists at Mizzou -- at the True/False Film Festival. During his trip, the director interviewed and filmed students as they led a protest aimed at the continued racial tensions on campus.

Student activist Kendrick Washington told The Maneater how appreciative he is of the director's approach to the subject of campus racism. 

“I think I can speak on the behalf of Concerned Student, but we are extremely appreciative of Spike’s presence -- him wanting to hear our narrative is a great feeling and it’s an accomplishment,” Washington said. “We know people care about our movement on a national level, and our dedication inspired him to come to know more about us.”

"2 Fists Up" is one of four documentaries in Lee's ESPN series, directed by him and various other black filmmakers. The films will air weekly on ESPN during June.

This story has been updated to reflect new information on the film.

Before You Go

The Deeper Issues At Mizzou
Racism(01 of03)
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Let’s not give more weight to the actions of one professor than to students who have been forced to confront racism on campus.

This entire ordeal is the result of a litanyof overt incidents of racism, ranging from a swastika smeared in feces on the wall of a residence hall to regular tales of hate speech used toward minority students.

Protesters directed their anger at Wolfe after he refused to engage with them during a demonstration at the school's Homecoming parade in October. He instead forced his motorcade through, clipping a student in the process.

A graduate student named Jonathan Butler later started a hunger strike to protest the school's response and earned the support of the university's football team, which began boycotting any football-related activities. (credit:Michael B. Thomas via Getty Images)
Money(02 of03)
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Following months of unrest on campus, Wolfe resigned Monday only after the Mizzou football team joined the protests.

Had the team forfeited this weekend's game against Brigham Young University, the school would've been hit with a $1 million fine, not to mention the financial losses associated with ticket sales, stadium concessions and TV distribution deals, notes The Atlantic. (credit:Replay Photos via Getty Images)
Health Care(03 of03)
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Under pressure from state Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), who "pledged to get MU out of the abortion business," MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin asked for a review of university health policies this September. This resulted in the loss of access privileges for Planned Parenthood doctors.

The changes are scheduled to take effect Dec. 1, at which point the Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia will lose its ability to perform abortions.

The move has met considerable resistance on campus. Petitions asking the chancellor to reverse his decision have garnered more than 2,500 signatures from students, faculty, staff and community members.

The same day Wolfe announced his resignation, Loftin said he would step down at the end of the year. A letter from nine deans at MU accused Loftin of creating a "toxic environment through threat, fear and intimidation."

It's unclear if Loftin will reinstate privileges for Planned Parenthood doctors before his departure. (credit:Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Misssouri)
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