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Brown & Black Social Club
Brown & Black Social Club
Spike Lee, Denzel, and Hollywood's Black Film Marketing Problem

Spike Lee, Denzel, and Hollywood's Black Film Marketing Problem

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington reunite for the fifth time in A24's 'Highest 2 Lowest'. But you wouldn’t know it from the marketing.

Aug 14, 2025
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Brown & Black Social Club
Brown & Black Social Club
Spike Lee, Denzel, and Hollywood's Black Film Marketing Problem
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Spike Lee and Denzel Washington at Cannes Film Festival. May 19, 2025 (Credit: Sameer Al-Doumy)

A24’s Highest 2 Lowest, from director Spike Lee and star Denzel Washington, arrives in theaters August 15th, with almost no marketing nor promotional support. Social media is debating: is this bias or just business? And how much does the lack of promotion fall on Black audiences? Listen in!

  • (2:14) – Is undermarketing Black films bias or just business?

  • (10:56) – The long history of under-promoted Black films

  • (24:02) – Black audiences carrying films to box office success


Retro Quote of the Week ❞

“I don’t have a lot of faith in any institutions in this country because they have always discredited and disregarded work by women and people of color. Until the body of the people voting on the projects reflects our society, there will be no change.”- Director Melina Matsoukas on her frustration with the movie industry.


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