At long last, Spike Lee is an Oscar winner.
The legendary movie maker took home the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Sunday night for "BlacKkKlansman," based on a true story of the first black detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department who infiltrated the local KKK chapter in the 1970s.
Based on Ron Stallworth's 2014 memoir of the same name, Lee's haunting movie was an early favorite, but the iconic director has been waiting his turn for more than 30 years, since his seminal "Do the Right Thing" was snubbed.
To an immediate, roaring standing ovation, Lee jumped on Samuel L. Jackson, who presented him with the award along with "Captain Marvel" star Brie Larson.
"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. 400 years, our ancestors were stolen from Africa and enslaved. They worked the land from morning to night," Lee said from the stage.
"My grandmother, who lived 100 years young, a college graduate even though her mother was a slave. My grandmother, who saved 50 years of social security checks to put me through college. She called me Spiky Poo. She put me through film school. NYU! Before the world tonight, I give praise to my ancestors who built our country, along with the genocide of our native people. We all connect with ancestors, to regain our humanity. It will be a powerful moment.
Lee, outspoken as ever, also took a moment to look forward.
"The 2020 presidential election is around the corner. Let's all mobilize, let's all be on the right side of history," he said.
"Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let's do the right thing! You know I had to get that in there."
The 61-year-old previously received an honorary Oscar in 2015, but this was his first competitive award.
