Spike Lee, Denzel, and the Black Film Marketing Problem

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, reunite for A24’s Highest 2 Lowest (in theaters August 15). But you wouldn’t know it from the marketing.

Its low-profile rollout has people asking: is this racism or just business? And will the burden of promoting the film fall once again on Black moviegoers?

Episode Summary: • Is undermarketing Black films racism or just business? • Did Spike and Denzel agreed to this deal? • The long history of under-promoted Black films • Black films that did get a marketing push • The problem with “we support our own” • Denzel’s big payday vs. the film’s performance • Why Brad Pitt and George Clooney chose streaming • Black audiences carrying films to box office success

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