Spike Lee Jumps into Samuel L. Jackson's Arms after Winning First-Ever Oscar for 'BlacKkKlansman'

After decades of brilliant work, Spike Lee finally gets his well-merited reward: an Oscar.

Spike Lee has won the Academy Award for his work on "BlacKkKlansman." ​​​​​​​Film director, producer, writer, and actor, Spike Lee has had a long and brilliant career in independent films.

Lee was nominated for a coveted Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman," after nominations for Best Original Screenplay for "Do the Right Thing" and Best Documentary for "4 Little Girls" failed to win the Awards.

A VICTORY FOR SPIKE LEE AFTER 36 YEARS IN MOVIES

In 2015, Lee had been attributed the Academy Honorary Award for his contributions to filmmaking, but this was his first victory as a nominee.

“BlacKkKlansman” is based on a true story and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Score, and Best Editing.

AN ECSTATIC LEE JUMPED INTO SAMUEL L. JACKSON'S ARMS

Presenting the Award for Best Adapted Screenplay was actor Samuel L. Jackson, who had previously worked with Lee on "Jungle Fever," "Do The Right Thing," "Oldboy," "Chi-Raq," "School Daze," and "Mo' Better Blues."

On reaching the stage, Lee leaped into Jackon's arms, to the star-studded audience's delight.

A FLURRY OF NOMINATIONS FOR "BLACKKKLANSMAN"

“BlacKkKlansman” is set in the 70s and tells the story of Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, who manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader.

“BlacKkKlansman” is based on a true story and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Score, and Best Editing.

SPIKE LEE'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH CENTERED ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY

Lee thanked his wife Tonya Lewis Lee and then launched into a passionate speech about the history of the African-American people, and their contribution to building the United States.

“The word today is irony; the date, the 24th; the month, February, which also happens to be the shortest month of the year, which also happens to be Black History Month; the year, 2019; the year, 1619. History, herstory. 1619, 2019. Four hundred years, our ancestors were stolen from Africa and enslaved. They worked the land from morning to night.”

Lee also paid homage to his grandmother, born the daughter of a slave who nonetheless became a college graduate and saved for 50 years to put him through college.

SPIKE LEE TALKS ABOUT 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Lee ended his speech by appealing to voters to “be on the right side of history” and “make the moral choice between love versus hate” at the 2020 presidential elections.

“The 2020 presidential election is around the corner. Let’s all mobilize, let’s all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let’s do the right thing! You know I had to get that in there.”

President Donald Trump reacted to the speech with a tweet:

"Be nice if Spike Lee could read his notes, or better yet not have to use notes at all, when doing his racist hit on your President, who has done more for African Americans (Criminal Justice Reform, Lowest Unemployment numbers in History, Tax Cuts,etc.) than almost any other Pres!"

The President's response to Lee's speech and his claim to having done more for African Americans has provoked a tide of comments on Twitter, most of it unflattering.

In a related story, Spike Lee jumped for joy after receiving his first-ever Best Director Oscar nomination.