The character of Robert, played by Ossie Davis, has the words "LOVE" and "HATE" tattooed on his fingers, a detail directly lifted from the film *The Night of the Hunter*. In that film, the menacing preacher Harry Powell (played by Robert Mitchum) has the same words tattooed on his fingers.
Spike Lee uses this imagery to highlight the duality of human nature and the constant struggle between love and hate that exists within us all. This is a central theme in *Do the Right Thing*, and the speech, delivered by Radio Raheem, emphasizes this struggle.