Great film.... but Sal forgot how to run an American business.

There's a few ways you can look at the Sal/Buggin' Out feud... but as said by Spike Lee himself, there is no good or bad guy in that conflict.

Sal was somewhat of an *beep* Good-natured, and didn't truly hold malice for anyone, but had a bit of an attitude with the way he addressed people- from Mookie to Buggin' Out to Radio Raheem. So him having no true problem with anyone but also being a prick built up through the film, which resulted in him eventually losing it and revealing some deep-seated racial feelings of his own by the end i.e. "you black c**ksucker, I'll tear your *beep* ni**er ass". That said, he generally got along with everyone up to that point. In fact, he even reprimanded his son for having blatant hatred for Black people. And as said by Spike, although Sal's attitude sucked, he was correct in saying that it was his store and he was well within the right to do what HE wanted to do.

With Buggin' Out, he was a regular dude who seemed to be the type that got a fuse sparked in his head and went about it all wrong. His character seemed to be a commentary on those who bought a few medallions and suddenly became Black activists in their own minds. So with his misguided activism, he was dying for something to lead and he decided this petty argument with Sal over pictures on the wall would be his cause. He starts this boycott and is able to sway no one. Everyone says it's a waste of time- Mookie, Jade, Da Mayor, the guys on the corner... because ultimately it is. He could have used that same energy for something much more useful. The only people he is able to persuade are people who had their own run-ins with Sal earlier that day. That said, his conflict with Sal did prove to expose that maybe Sal had some racism in his heart after all.

And so that's why that conflict builds the movie and makes it great- there are some good guys and bad guys in the whole thing, but the two main people at the core of the situation are neither all the way bad or all the way good.

And yet, it was his business. If his patrons don't like it, they SHOULD boycott his business. It seemed like buggin out was the only one who was bothered.

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Anyone who thinks that someone can walk into a business and dictate what should be on the walls is seriously deluded. Like someone else was written, why not change the menu. And if we are going to go that far let them decide who should be employed there.

“Oh, I see you only have one person of color working here. Terminate a white employee right now or less I am going to throw a fit.”

Why not go into a sports bar that features sport heroes and demand that they hang a photo of Obama just because. Get real.

But if all else fails we reserve the right to fire bomb your place of business down to the ground and we would feel safe knowing that we did the right thing.

Sal was there before the neighborhood changed, so it wasn't like he just moved into the black neighborhood. He could've shown his appreciation by putting up a black person since he made most of his recent dough of them, but it is his business and he has the right to put up who he wants. Why didn't the blacks open their own pizzeria?

The whole problem with the point of asking for black pictures on the walls was

#1 - His business had the only Italian pictures on the walls for 20 years and this is the first time it was an issue

#2 - The issue was made by a kid who was acting like a douche. I wouldn't do anything the kid requested either even if I agreed with his point. The idea could have been brought up in a friendly, joking manner such as - Sal, you got Sinatra on the wall, where is a picture of Sammy - no love for the brother?

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I think all of you are completely missing the point (though I'm not sure even Spike Lee understood it). Sal's Pizzeria is a PRIVATELY owned and operated business. NO ONE is forced to go there. The American Way is leading your life the way you choose. That means running your business the way you choose. If your customers don't like it, they can give their money to another business.

Of course the smart, reasonable business person would make a few minor changes if it meant more satisfied customers. But the business owner is not obligated legally or ethically to make those changes.

The trouble starts because of Radio Raheem and Buggin Out. They go into the pizzeria blaring music and screaming. Buggin Out call's Sal a "guinea bastard" before we hear the N word. Sal smashes the boombox with a bat, but it's never directed at any person. After a moment of calm, Raheem GRABS Sal, throws him to the ground and strangles him.

Radio Raheem and Buggin Out were totally in the wrong to barge into a privately owned business and start making demands.