Radio Rahim is a fictional character who appears in Spike Lee’s 1989 film “Do the Right Thing.” He is a young, enthusiastic, and outspoken radio DJ who serves as a sort of Greek chorus throughout the film, commenting on the action and characters as events unfold in the Brooklyn neighborhood where the story takes place.
Radio Rahim is known for his trademark boombox, which he carries with him everywhere and blasts loudly to play his music. He also wears a pair of large, distinctive rings, each inscribed with the words “love” and “hate,” which he uses to illustrate a philosophical point about the duality of human nature.
The character has become an iconic symbol of the film and of Spike Lee’s work more broadly, representing the importance of self-expression, community, and speaking truth to power. Lee has continued to use the character of Radio Rahim in subsequent films, including “Jungle Fever” and “Mo’ Better Blues,” as well as in his recent Netflix series “She’s Gotta Have It.”
