Have You Seen The Film Soul Man? The 1986 film Soul Man sparked major backlash for its use of blackface, overshadowing its attempt at social commentary. Civil rights groups and Spike Lee condemned it as racially insensitive, and the controversy hit C. Thomas Howell hardest. Once a rising star, he later admitted regret, but the damage was done—Soul Man became a career-altering stain and a lasting reminder of Hollywood’s missteps with race. | Did You Catch This?