Yesterday marked the 32nd anniversary of Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee’s 1994 classic ‘Crooklyn.’ As one of the most endearing portrayals of Black family life in early 1970s Brooklyn, the semi-autobiographical film stars Alfre Woodard, Delroy Lindo, and Zelda Harris, alongside Carlton Williams, Sharif Rashed, Chris Knowings, Tse-Mach Washington, and more.
Reflecting on the film’s deeply personal roots, Lee took to Instagram to share its origin: “The original idea came from my siblings—my sister Joie and the youngest sibling Cinqué Lee,” Lee shared. “The original title of their script was ‘Hot Peas and Butter.’ We got together and ‘Crooklyn’ came from that. This is also my most personal film because this story is of the Lees growing up in the mid-70s in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.”
From its vibrant portrayal of a Brooklyn summer in 1973 to its soundtrack, ‘Crooklyn’ remains a beloved classic. In honor of its anniversary, we have to ask: What’s your favorite scene from the movie?
Photos via Spike Lee’s Instagram
–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm