Review of 4 Little Girls (1997) by Joseph R — 03 Aug 2008

I came across Spike Leeâ??s arresting documentary 4 Little Girls early in the morning on cable without any intention of watching it. I had wanted to see it for a long time, because I am an admirer of Spike Leeâ??s films, but I wasnâ??t planning on watching it at that time, but I couldnâ??t turn it off. This is a healthy testament to the film. It does not tell the tale of four innocent young victims of racism and guilt you into hailing it as great by the mere fact that itâ??s fact. Lee is very natural and without airs in his command of the subject, which is four young girls who were victims of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama by the Ku Klux Klan.

Spike has always pursued the noble purpose of using his status as a name director to address issues in the black community, but sometimes despite his many great achievements he does not succeed without brandishing the racial chip on his shoulder. At times he can be a hypocrite and at times he indulges in the less favorable aspects of what is considered black culture in America. 4 Little Girls is an honest, balanced triumph in poignancy and subjectivity plays no part.