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You know, in my days as a sociology grad student, we used to wonder about that: Is there a version of gentrification that can benefit existing residents? I mean, it improves law enforcement in the neighborhood, stuff like that.

Yeah, yeah. You can play that Disney movie if you want to. Here I want to talk about the reality of gentrification. I’ve said before that there are benefits to it, but here’s the key thing about gentrification, which might make another film. We never hear about what happens to the people who get pushed out. Where do they go? Where do the people go who get pushed out of the Lower East Side? Where did the people go who got pushed out of Williamsburg? Where did the people go who got pushed out of Harlem?

And this goes into a bigger thing, this goes across racial borders. When is it gonna be: We need more affordable housing in New York City? I don’t care who you are, I mean, it’s becoming crazy to live here. People can’t afford to live here! Everybody keeps moving further out, further out. But once you get past Coney Island you’re in the Atlantic Ocean! Where you gonna go? Live on the beach? Under the boardwalk?

[…]

There is a degree of anger in this film. It’s not on the surface, or mostly it’s not. But it definitely comes bubbling up here and there.

Anger’s good sometimes. It can be used creatively. Instead of getting angry, James McBride and I made a film. Gentrification is not just about New York City, it’s happening all over. I’m all for diversity, but here’s the last thing I’m gonna say: When you move into a historically black or Hispanic neighborhood, be humble. Have respect. Just don’t come in bogartin’, saying, “I’m here now and this is the way it’s gonna run.” Don’t do that!

- Spike Lee | Interview by Andrew O’Hehir for Salon