Essay, Research Paper: Crooklyn

In the movie Crooklyn, inner city life was portrayed much different than what was expected. When the phrase the hood is heard, images of beaten up buildings, violence, and a sky-high crime rate come to mind. I anticipated a small neighborhood, dominated by African Americans living in poverty. Although the area had probably seen its share of hardships, houses and apartments were kept in good condition. There was little or no violence and crime, except for an occasional grocery store shoplifting. My original thoughts are probably a common misconception of life in a busy city such as Brooklyn.
The script of this movie was most likely easy for Spike Lee to write because it was probably what he knew best. Since the story was told through the eyes of the protagonist, Troy Carmichael, much of the trials and tribulations that she went through must have been a part in his life. Lee likely had similar losses as Troy. Some more devastating than others, but especially a significant one that was represented in the movie as Troy s mom, the heart and soul of the family, dying of cancer.
Troy grew up as the only girl out of 5 kids, in a family that could afford the luxuries that many others on the block could not. Though they argued more than they talked, the Carmichaels had a strong bond and a deep love for one another. Lee could have had a similar or even identical family throughout his childhood.
In order to see how where Lee was coming from when he made this movie, I did some researching. As it turns out his father was a composer and his mother was a teacher who died when he was 10 years old. Like Troy, he also had 4 siblings. Although he was born in Atlanta, Georgia, he went to high school in Brooklyn, New York. From this evidence, I would say that Crooklyn is an accurate portrayal of his childhood and early years.