Do the Right Thing - Characters & Cast

To support his son and girlfriend while maintaining a delicate peace in the neighborhood.

He starts as a drifter trying to get paid and navigate between his Black friends and his Italian employers. In the end, he is forced to choose a side, shattering the window that initiates the destruction of the pizzeria.

To run his business successfully and pass it on to his sons.

Sal takes pride in feeding the neighborhood and sees himself as a benevolent figure, but his paternalism masks deep-seated racial biases that erupt violently under pressure.

To spread his message of "Love" and "Hate" and demand respect through his music.

He is a constant, imposing but peaceful presence whose only demand is respect. His death transforms him from a neighborhood fixture into a martyr for the community's rage.

To maintain harmony and win the affection of Mother Sister.

Dismissed as a drunk by many, he consistently tries to keep the peace and offers wisdom. He saves a child from a car and tries to stop the mob, proving his worth to the community and Mother Sister.

To assert Black identity and challenge the status quo.

He is the spark that lights the fuse, constantly complaining and organizing the boycott. His aggressive pursuit of representation leads directly to the final tragedy.