Something that is interesting to point out is that Radio Raheem is somewhat of a racist like Sal. Sal, for example, only has famous white people’s pictures hanging on the wall in his restaurant because it is his property and he can do what he wants with it; while Radio Raheem on the other hand only plays “Fight the Power,” by Public Enemy, on his radio because it’s his radio and he can play whatever he wants. This shows that Radio Raheem is a racist because he only plays one kind of music, like Sal having only pictures of white people. As a result, there are people who react to this. When Radio Raheem and Buggin Out go to Sal’s Pizzeria to demand that he put some pictures of black people on his wall is also when Sal tries to get Radio Raheem to turn his music off, only one of them succeeded though. Once Sal destroys Radio Raheem’s radio it marked the downfall within the community and the destruction that was to come. But, when Radio Raheem dies is when the real chaos happens causing everyone to go crazy and revolt against each other eventually resulting in the Sal’s Pizzeria being destroyed. The fact that Radio Raheem is never coming back is just like Sal’s Pizzeria never being the same even though it can be rebuilt. His death also marked the end of all trust between the community and between races.
Yes, I completely agree that there is more racism going on in this society than that of the pictures hanging up at Sals. For example, in the movie, Senor Love Daddy has posters of only black artists such as Public Enemy and Whitney Houston on his walls. Also, during the movie he begins listing artists that will be played on the station. Again all these names were of black artists. This however is completely overlooked by Buggin Out, who demands that his people should be equally represented.
I too agree that racism is wide spread through out this film, but the results are very different. The destruction of property vs the destruction of life cannot be compared. Yes Sal lost his pizzeria that he built with his own two hands, but Radio Raheem was murdered because he was playing a song that Sal didn’t like. These two outcomes cannot be compared on the same level. Also, Sal’s pizzeria was supported by the African American community and he would not have his business if it were not for that community buying his pizza, which is why Buggin Out felt entitled to representation at Sal’s.