By:  Wilson                                            H.R. No. 127
       73R3157 PAN-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  Spike Lee for his extraordinary contributions as an
    1-3  African-American director and social commentator; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A native of Brooklyn, New York, this celebrated
    1-5  filmmaker received an early grounding in the arts from his mother,
    1-6  Jacquelyn, who often took him to performances at Radio City Music
    1-7  Hall, Broadway shows, and weekly matinees at the Lido Theater; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, After high school, Mr. Lee followed in the footsteps
    1-9  of his father, noted jazz musician Bill Lee, and attended Morehouse
   1-10  College in Atlanta, where his father had been a classmate of Dr.
   1-11  Martin Luther King, Jr.; it was here, during the summer between his
   1-12  sophomore and junior years, that Mr. Lee developed the love of film
   1-13  that would lead to his life's work; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Following his graduation from Morehouse College,
   1-15  Mr. Lee continued his education at New York University's film
   1-16  school, where he won a student academy award for his senior thesis
   1-17  film, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop:  We Cut Heads; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, His first feature film, She's Gotta Have It, which
   1-19  came out in August 1986, was entered in the Cannes Film Festival
   1-20  that same year and was followed in close succession by a series of
   1-21  widely acclaimed films over the course of the next five years; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Having earned a devoted following with the films
   1-23  School Daze in 1988, Do The Right Thing in 1989, Mo' Better Blues
   1-24  in 1990, and Jungle Fever in 1991, Mr. Lee next took on the project
    2-1  of a lifetime in his attempt to tell the life story of Malcolm X,
    2-2  one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Defying daunting odds, Mr. Lee worked diligently to
    2-4  craft an interpretation of this respected leader's life that could
    2-5  do justice to the man who has so profoundly influenced the lives of
    2-6  people the world over; and
    2-7        WHEREAS, Blessed with a unique gift, Spike Lee has used his
    2-8  talent to promote better understanding among the thousands of
    2-9  moviegoers who have been touched by the spirit of his work; a man
   2-10  of rare commitment, he is indeed worthy of special recognition and
   2-11  praise for his continuing contributions in this regard; now,
   2-12  therefore, be it
   2-13        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-14  Legislature hereby honor Spike Lee for his exceptional
   2-15  contributions as a film director and his efforts to create a
   2-16  climate that will ensure the dignity and basic human rights of all
   2-17  citizens; and, be it further
   2-18        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-19  prepared for Mr. Lee as an expression of high regard by the Texas
   2-20  House of Representatives.