Griffin Speaks

I DID THE RIGHT THING

In 1978, I did the right thing when I selected Hollywood film director Spike Lee, at the time a Senior at Morehouse College, to be in charge of the Coronation for the Morehouse College Homecoming Queen, Miss Marron and White. What I saw then is what millions of people would later see in Spike Lee. Spike is an entertainment genius.

Of course I tell everyone that I gave Spike Lee his big break. I am joking when I say it, but you can be the judge. In 1978 I was student body president at Morehouse College. One of the biggest decisions that the President has to make is to select the person that will be in charge of the Miss Maroon and White Coronation. The Coronation is almost the most important annual event on campus. Only graduation surpasses it in importance.

The 1978 Coronation was the most magnificent coronation in the school’s history. Spike received overwhelming reviews for what many called the event of the Millennium. Jasmine Guy danced in the Coronation. At the time she was a high school student. Jasmine Guy’s dad, Rev. William Guy was my pastor and religion professor.

I asked my right-hand man Jerome Walker to set up the appointment for Phillip Blue and Spike Lee to meet with me in my office. Phillip and Spike both wanted to be selected to direct the coronation. I was leaning toward selecting Phillip Blue. He had ties with the King family. At Morehouse in many instances that was all a person needed.  One of my close friends, Robert Ike, lobbied me to select Spike. I told Jerome that I would give each one of them 10 minutes. If they stayed longer than 10 minutes he was to enter my office and rescue me. I have never liked long meetings.

Robert Ike called me just before my meeting and told me that I should select Spike Lee. We called Robert Ike, Rev. Ike. He was the funniest man on campus. I selected Spike because Rev Ike convinced me to do it. I am surprised that Spike has never asked Ike to star in one of his movies. Phillip Blue went on to manage the Martin Luther King Jr. empire. He and Dexter King are best friends.

Years later I would hear from Spike again. This time Spike wrote me a letter seeking a $15,000.00 investment to finance his first movie, “SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT,” which won the Prix de Jeunesse Award at the Cannes Film Festival and launched Spike’s movie-making career. At the time I was an associate general counsel to millionaire Birmingham businessman A.G.Gaston. I didn’t have any money to loan Spike so I asked Dr. Gaston to lend it to him. When I told Dr. Gaston the name of the movie, he said, “She’s gotta have what?” Dr. Gaston was not persuaded to make the investment.

I have Spike’s letter in a frame hanging in my office. I received the May 29, 1985 letter on June 4, 1985. I framed it the same day. I knew after the Morehouse Coronation that he would become famous. Here’s what that remarkable letter written in Spike’s own handwriting said:

DEAR GREGORY:

THANKS FOR CALLING ME BACK SO SOON. ENCLOSED IS THE INFORMATION I MENTIONED. A PARTNER IS $15,000. I SUGGEST YOU GET 3 OR 5 PEOPLE (PROGRESSIVE) TO FORM A GROUP AND DO IT LIKE THAT. GREGORY TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE SO I DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU CAN DO. DON’T FORGET YOUR WIFE, MAYBE GAIL PUGH, THAT MILLIONAIRE YOU WORKED FOR. PLEASE TRY AND RACK YOUR BRAIN.

AS I TOLD YOU LAST NIGHT. I’LL BE GOING TO ATLANTA FOR JOHN’S WEDDING AROUND JUNE 12. SO LET’S USE THAT DATE AS A DEADLINE. OF COURSE IF PEOPLE ARE STILL INTERESTED AFTER THEN IT’S STILL NOT TOO LATE. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET ALL THE MONEY NEEDED TO BEGIN SHOOTING ON JULY 8TH.

GREG GIVE ME A CALL.

PEACE, SPIKE LEE

I TELL ALL MY FRIENDS THAT SPIKE WILL ONE DAY DWINDLE OFF INTO OBSCURITY AND I WILL DISCOVER HIM AGAIN. HE WILL WIN HIS OSCAR WHEN HE DOES THE “GREG GRIFFIN STORY” THEY LAUGH AND I LAUGH AS WELL!”

Greg Griffin is a columnist for the historic Montgomery-Tuskegee Times. He can be contacted at www.greggriffin.com

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