DAYTON, Ohio - Spike Lee told a crowd at the University of Dayton to "do the right thing" in this year's presidential election.

"We are living in some very exciting times," Lee said Monday. "And the months leading up to the election in November will determine which way this country is going to go; forward or backward. It's up to you to do the right thing."

He said he supports Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.

Dressed in a sweater, jeans and ball cap, Lee spoke of growing up in New York City, being a fairly average student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, and becoming a director.

"At first, I didn't know that people actually made movies," Lee said of his childhood. "We would go to the movies on the weekend and stay until our parents dragged us out.

"I didn't decide to become a filmmaker until I went to college. But I did realize that the richness of the African-American experience that I saw on the corner every day was not on the screen."

Last week, Lee was in Columbus to receive the $50,000 Wexner Prize that recognizes innovation, quality and integrity among artists.