40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks

40 Acres And A Mule is the production company of Spike Lee.[1][2]

The company is named after a famous episode of the early Reconstruction period. In 1865, General Sherman issued "Special Field Order 15", which ordered the distribution of lots of 40 acres (160,000 m2) to some freed black families on the Georgia coast, and also distributed some surplus army mules. After Abraham Lincoln was killed, Andrew Johnson revoked it, took the land away from the freed slaves, and returned it to the previous owners.[3]

After the success of films Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, Lee expanded the 40 Acres And A Mule brand by opening clothing stores with merchandise that bore the 40 Acres And A Mule emblem. Lee has also done several collaborations with Nike, Eckō Unltd. and Brooklyn Denim.

40 Acres And A Mule also has an advertising division with DDB called Spike DDB located in New York City, New York. They have done Super Bowl, Nike and Lay's commercial spots. They have produced commercials and music videos in addition to Spike Lee's films.

In 2004, 40 Acres And A Mule moved all of its operations to New York City with headquarters in Brooklyn. 40 Acres and a Mule's headquarters is located on South Elliott Place in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Awards and honors

 * 2010 - Peabody Award for If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise[4]