The Vernon Johns Story (1994) - full transcript
Vernon Johns, a brilliant man coupled with an eloquent speaker, upsets his community through his radical ideas on social change and economic independence of blacks. From his pulpit, he attacks the white power and denounces police brutality towards his brother race. His biggest enemy is nonetheless his own congregation who hesitates to mobilize behind him.
I'’m James Earl Jones.
When Vernon Johns
saw a good fight,
he followed
his father'’s advice...
and got in it.
Portraying him on the screen
is both challenging
and rewarding.
And I invite you
to join me
forThe Vernon Johns Story.
In a time of
intimidation, fear,
and silence,
Vernon Johns fought back.
Last week,
a white man was fined
for shooting a rabbit
out of season.
But it'’s safe to
murder Negros.
A rabbit is better off
than a Negro,
because in Alabama,
niggers are always
in season.
All that
Vernon Johns wanted
was something better
for his children.
You must have
the courage.
Daddy, I'’m not like you.
I'’m afraid of dying.
A world premier
movie for television.
James Earl Jones, Mary Alice, Cissy Houston,
Nicolle Rochelle,
and Joe Seneca.
In the true story of
a forgotten American hero.
The Vernon Johns Story.
Coming up next.
My father never stayed
in one place for long.
He was a restless man,
and one of God'’s most angry and brilliant preachers.
He was the kind of man
who said exactly what
was on his mind,
no matter what
the consequences.
And there was never a day that I didn'’t fear would bring news of his death.
In the summer of 1948,
it was the possibility of
a good job,
so my father came south
to join the family in
Montgomery, Alabama.
Back then, Montgomery
was a sleepy little
Confederate town.
Mean in spirit.
He had arranged to meet the deacons of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church,
at the Montgomery Courthouse.
The deacons only knew
of my father'’s reputation
as one of the great colored
preachers at the time.
Other aspects of
his reputation, however,
had not yet reached
the good deacons of Dexter.
Deacon Wilkes?
Reverend Johns?
Well, I was expecting a...
older man.
I'’m Deacon Wilkes.
Deacon Wilkes, you are
exactly as I expected.
Um...
The whole congregation
is excited.
And I'’m expecting
a full house tomorrow.
This is Deacon Henderson.
Dr. Johns, I just wanna say
that it'’s an honor to
be in your presence.
Deacon Henderson,
you flatter me.
Stop doing that.
I don'’t like it.
How are you doing?I'’m Deacon Hill.
Deacon Hill.
You look like you just
stepped off from
behind the plough.
I'’m the football coach
of Alabama State.
I'’m the token roughneck
on the Deacon Board.
Can I take your luggage,
Dr. Johns?
You ever been in
Montgomery before?
No, but my wife
has told me stories about it.
What'’s your line of work,
Deacon Wilkes?
I'’m a mortician.
Business must be booming.
We pride ourselves on
the great number of doctors,
lawyers, and educators that we got among our congregation.
Negro class in Montgomery
is making big strides.
You couldn'’t have come at
a more advantageous time.
These here are not
Dexter folk.
We are only as great
as the least of us.
Amen!
My father called
me Baby Dee,
which was his way of
saying "Baby dearest."
Mom!
Daddy'’s home.
My beautiful babies.
Jeanne.
Enid.
Baby Dee.
I thought you were
never coming home.
Can you believe I kept myself
away from this woman
for six whole months?
Mm.
I smell Virginia hams,
collared greens
and bakes yams.
Something that good must
be coming from
the neighbor'’s house.
Dr. Johns, if you don'’t
mind my asking,
what will the text of your
sermon be this Sunday?
You know what
Jesus would say
if he were here...
right now...
in Montgomery, Alabama?
No, sir.
He'’d say...
"I'’m hungry. Let's eat."
I see you got
moved in okay without me.
Yes, Vernon, we'’ve become
quite expert in that.
Is your teaching job
at the Alabama State
satisfactory?
Yes, Vernon.
You should have
seen the look on their faces
at church
when they learned
Mama was married
to the Vernon Johns.
They practically begged Mama
to get you here for
a guest sermon.
I guess they
must be interested.
We want you to stay, Daddy.
Jeanne...
How many times
have I told you not to
lick your ice cream?
With your tongue sticking
out like that,
you look like a dog.
Bite your ice cream.
Go on. Bite it.
Don'’t lick your ice cream.
Bite it.
He said I looked
like a dog.
But you do look
like a dog!
Bite it!
Go on, bite it!
Girls, quiet.
Shh.
And if they like you,
they'’ll ask for
a second sermon.
And after that,
they'’ll offer you
the pulpit.
It'’s a good church, Vernon.
The people mean well.
They'’ve been over a year
without a pastor,
and they'’re looking for
someone to lead them.
Vernon?Yes.
Now, you mustn'’t
lose your temper.
You'’ve got to give
them a chance.
I know.
Charleston was a good pulpit
and you walked away from them.
Bunch of blowhards
and.
Vernon, please.
The girls need you here.
I need you here.
Why, Enid and Jeanne
barely know you.
Dee'’s found a place where
she fits in,
but it'’s that time of her life
when she needs her father.
She'’s 14 years old.
Who'’s 14?
Dee'’s 14?Yes.
It'’s time to stop moving
from church to church,
from town to town.
How many pulpits
have you lost?
I found it!
I found your hat!
Hold still, Daddy.
I didn'’t think you
could look this good.
Oh, Vernon,
you'’re not really gonna
wear that nasty thing!
My, my, my!
Have you ever seen
anything so beautiful?
I can'’t remember
a crowd like this.
No!
Vernon, go easy with them.
Unless you'’re regular
members of this church,
you must remain outside.
You can hear the sermon
out here.
I said, you must
remain outside.
A young man
of little distinction
forced his way into
the Dean'’s office
at Oberlin College.
He was angry...
because his application
for admittance
had been rejected.
The Dean said
to the young man
who wore overalls
with mud caked
on his shoes,
"You have no credits."
The young man replied,
"Do you want a man
with credits or brains?
The Dean gave the young man
a book
of Greek scriptures
and ordered him
to translate it,
thinking it was
an impossible task.
The young man not only
translated it right
on the spot,
but was admitted
and went on to graduate
valedictorian of his class.
A doctor of theology.
The first colored preacher...
Deacon Hill...
what does a white man call
a colored man with a doctorate?
I don'’t know, Dr. Johns.
Nigger.
Brothers and sisters...
that man is here today.
The Reverend Dr. Vernon Johns.
You all know
Christ parable about
Lazarus and Dives.
Dives was a rich man.
Lazarus was a beggar.
The rich man was clothed in
purple Raymonds and fine linen.
Lazarus was clothed in rags.
The rich man dined
sumptuously every day.
Lazarus was forced to live
off the crumbs that fell
from the rich man'’s table.
When Dives took a walk
in the cool of the evening,
Lazarus was compelled
to remove himself from
the rich man'’s sight,
so as not to offend
the man'’s delicate
sensibilities.
The two men met
a common fate.
Both of them died.
Dives was surprised
to find himself
in one of the upper
circles of Hell.
His shock was
further compounded
when he looked up to Heaven
and there,
seated at Abraham'’s side
was the beggar Lazarus.
Lazarus not being
a spiteful man,
looked down and smiled
and said, "Hello, Boss."
And the fires of Hell
tormented Dives.
It was agony.
He lifted his head
toward Heaven and implored,
"Abraham, send Lazarus
with drink to cool
my parched tongue."
Abraham said,
"No!
"You shall live in death
as you did in life, apart,
"because you have conditioned
yourself to human inequality."
So it was not Dives'’ riches
that condemned him to Hell.
What condemned Dives
was his acceptance
and insistence
on human inequality.
The nastiest and deadliest
sin in the world today
is the innate hatred
between the races.
Here we have men
hating other men
to the point of murder.
Legislating against children
even before they are born.
Denying them any chance
of a fulfilled life,
because of one thing,
the color of their skin.
And this inane and
foolish hatred
threatens to
devour civilization
like a moth caught in
a Hell fire.
Proceed.
Rose...
Let'’s change things here.
How about Go Down Moses?
I can only play
what'’s on the printed
order of service.
But I'’m asking you
to play Go Down Moses.
I'’m sorry, Dr. Johns,
but spirituals are not
played at Dexter.
We don'’t play sorrow songs.
Are you telling me that
Go Down Mosesis
a sorrowful song?
It'’s undignified.
Proceed.
♪ I sing because I'’m happy
♪ I sing because I'’m free
♪ His eye is on the sparrow
So there is something
he can'’t do.
"Send Lazarus
with drink to cool
my parched tongue."
Daddy, I'’ve never seen
so many people in that church.
And when Rose
wouldn'’t play that spiritual,
I was so proud of you
for not arguing.
Daddy,
can we go to the circus?
Or can we go on
a picnic?
Yes, Vernon.
The girls have been dying
to have a picnic.
And I promise you...
Daddy?
Daddy?
This family will use
nothing Jim Crow.
Nothing segregated,
unless our lives
depend on it.
No movie theaters,
no drinking fountains,
and no buses.
How am I supposed
to get to school?
You will walk.
Dr. Johns is known to be
demanding on his congregation.
So, why shouldn'’t
he be demanding?
It'’s his job.
They say he'’s a man
who likes trouble.
Has anyone bothered to ask
why Johns left his last pulpit
in Charleston,
West Virginia?
I know that
Charleston congregation.
They'’re not open to new,
challenging ideas.
They couldn'’t understand
a man like Dr. Johns.
And we can?
Let'’s put it to a vote.
Dr. Johns, will you
come in, please?
Dr. Johns...
Normally, we would require
a second ceremony.
But in this case,
we'’ve decided it was
quite unnecessary.
I... That is, we,
the deacons here
of Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church,
would like to
offer you pastorship.
What about you, Coach Hill?
To be candid,
I wonder if this congregation
is ready for you, Dr. Johns.
How much does it pay?
One fourth?
Eat.
If I eat one more
piece of apple,
I think I'’m going
to burst.
Burst. Now, eat.
It'’s how I learned
fractions, Jeanie.
One time I ate too many
apples I got sick.
But you learned.
One half?
Daddy!
Good morning.
Mrs. Rawlins, I...
have, I now realize,
neglected to dress.
Reverend Johns, it'’s my boy.
He'’s dead.
I came to ask a special prayer
for my boy, Reverend.
His name was Isaiah.
They stopped him for speeding.
And they killed him.
No, you stay.
I want you to hear this.
They say he tried
to resist arrest.
That boy is no fool.
He would never back talk
a Montgomery Police officer.
I can give you a hundred
special prayers, sister.
But special prayers
aren'’t what you need.
What you need is justice.
No, no. No, Reverend,
I don'’t wanna cause
any more trouble.
All we want right now
is to know that Isaiah'’s soul
has gone to heaven.
Were there any witnesses?
Yes, sir.
Who were they?
I can'’t say.
Where are the wounds?
There were three.
He was shot in the back.
This wasn'’t
resisting arrest.
This was a lynching.
Dr. Johns, we don'’t know that.
And please limit
that kind of comment
to the confines
of this room.
Charges must be brought
against the police
who did this.
Will bringing charges bring
this boy back to life?
Or ease the grief
of his loved ones?
What greater grief can there
be than to know that your
son has been murdered
for no reason but that
his skin is black?
And the killers
walk away scot-free.
Dr. Johns!
Nobody denies Isaiah'’s death
was tragic.
But we are working closely
with the city to improve
the lot of the colored.
Montgomery is finally
improving the colored
public facilities.
There'’s even talk of
a Negro representative
in the City Council
to tell our side
of things.
Don'’t rock the boat on this
and jeopardize our good work.
Allow the family
their quiet dignity.
It'’s best at a time like this.
You all know the story of Moses once he got his hands
on those stone slabs.
But, Rose, did you know
that Moses
was a Prince in
the pharaoh'’s court?
Oh, yes.
A prince in the enemy'’s court.
So one beautiful day,
Moses went for a stroll.
And he came upon an Egyptian
whipping his slave.
It was common practice
to whip your slaves.
It was socially acceptable.
The slaves didn'’t like it,
but they accepted it.
But in a sudden and
uncontrollable fury,
Moses grabbed his sword
and killed the cruel Egyptian.
And then, feeling a pang
of guilt and remorse,
buried his body in the sand.
And God, looking down on him
on high said,
"Who is that man?
"I can use him
"in my program."
Moses felt remorse,
because no matter how cruel
the Egyptian,
he had no justification
in killing him.
Besides, he threw away
his entire future
with the royal court.
So why did he act as he did?
Moses realized
that slavery
is a horror
even greater than murder.
That slavery
is an abomination!
I tell you this story
because a boy was killed.
A member of our congregation,
Isaiah Rawlins.
Shot in the back
for allegedly
resisting arrest.
Were any of you there?
Who among us here today
witnessed this killing
and refrained from
coming forward?
Were you there?
No one?
And I don'’t suppose
any of you were there
when the police shot
Robert James three times,
killing him, because
he was running away
after stealing a whole
case of soda pop.
That was four days
before Christmas.
No one.
Were you there on Spruce Row,
when the police beat
poor Patrick?
They handcuffed him
to a tree first.
No one.
Well, the papers reported
that a large crowd
of colored was there.
One of you said to me recently,
that we shouldn'’t
rock the boat.
Lynching like this,
we should let the family
have their quiet grief.
It is best at a time like this.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
I want to tell you,
that I... am...
a boat rocker!
What do these murders
have in common
besides their brutality?
They have in common
that the perpetrators
acted with impunity,
knowing that not one
of you would dare
come forward and say,
"This will not stand."
And I say to you,
in your silence
you have become accessories
to murder.
Be ashamed to die
until you have won
some victory
for mankind.
Dr. Johns!
I think you misunderstood me.
I wish that was so.
Dr. Johns,
wait a minute.
Weren'’t you
a little hard on us?
What did you expect
the witnesses to do?
Tell the truth.
Coach Hill, my daddy
always said to me,
"If you see a good fight,
get in it."
But did your daddy
have a fine piece of mind?
Hill, come with me.
Are you hungry, Deacon Hill?
How about a ham sandwich?
I don'’t wanna go in there.Why not?
I'’m not hungry.
Don'’t lie to me, Hill.
Dr. Johns, we can'’t
go in there.
It'’s whites only.
Do you know why
they don'’t wanna sit
next to us?
Do you accept that?
Doesn'’t it bother you
that whatever their reasons,
they pass a law against it?
The truth is I'’m no more
comfortable eating with them
than they are with me.
Dr. Johns, I don'’t like being
disrespectful to you.
But I truly believe you
wanna join that Rawlins boy.
I truly wanna eat.
Now, this kind of behavior
didn'’t go over to well
in Charleston, West Virginia,
did it, Dr. Johns?
No, it didn'’t.
Smells good, Coach.
I want a ham sandwich
and a lemonade.
Boy, you better get your
black ass out of here.
After I get my
ham sandwich
and my lemonade.
Another.
Here you go, Mr. Nigger.
Depending on my thirst,
that could get expensive.
Imagine...
serving up a pistol
with a ham sandwich.
As I left that
fine establishment,
I gave the shortest
blessing of my life
over that ham sandwich.
I said...
God damn it!
Huh.
All right, Rose.
I haven'’t asked you
in a long time.
Go Down Moses.
I know you know
the song, Rose.
Is that the way you all
feel about it?
Nobody out there wants
to hear Go Down Moses?
What'’s wrong with it?
These spirituals were sung
by our slave ancestors.
They belong in the church.
You act as if they will
diminish your dignity.
You mistake dignity
for vanity.
If I didn'’t know
any better,
I'’d say you were ashamed
you came from slaves.
You'’re ashamed of
what you are.
Well, I'’m ashamed of
what you'’ve become.
They'’re a bunch of idiots!
Just because
they'’re professionals,
they think that puts them
above the rest of the people.
It only puts them in
a position to leave.
And they'’re shirking
their responsibilities.
Of all the congregations
I'’ve preached to,
this is the most placid
and cowardly.
Do you have a mistress,
Vernon?
What?
Do you have a mistress?
No!
Then why are you looking for
a reason to leave us again?
I'’m not looking for
a reason to leave.
Well, from your actions today,
I would think that you hate
the people at Dexter.
They'’re a bunch
of educated fools.
It'’s not a church.
It'’s a fashion show.
if I hated them,
why would I waste my
time on them?
Tell me. Tell me!
Daddy!
Look at this.
Have you seen
sweeter Kansas City steaks
in all your life?
Not an ounce of fat on them.
I couldn'’t believe it when
I passed the butcher'’s store.
They called me my name.
Vernon! Tony and the girls
would love
some steaks tonight.
Where'’s Dee?
Baby Dee!
Baby Dee.
Thank you for visiting me
in my office.
What are you doing up?
I had a bad dream.
I dreamt that I heard
all this laughing,
and ran towards the sound.
There was a crowd of people
in a circle around something
I couldn'’t see.
I was afraid,
so I stood back.
But when a few men
moved out of the way,
I saw what they were
laughing at.
It was you, Daddy.
And you were lying in
a pool of blood.
And the people around you
were laughing,
'’cause they were glad
you were dead.
I was too frightened
to run to you.
Why are you so angry at us?
Sometimes I think
you wanna die.
That all you care about
is proving to every colored
person in that church
that you aren'’t afraid.
It'’s all that matters to you.
And you don'’t care what will
happen to us when you are gone.
It'’s because I care about you
that I do what I do.
You must have the courage.
Daddy, I'’m not like you.
I'’m afraid of dying.
Sometimes I dream
that I'’m dead,
and I'’m just
lying in this casket.
It is dark.
There'’s nothing to do,
no one to talk to.
That'’s the way
it will be forever.
Sometimes I wake up
so frightened...
I'’ll never leave you.
I'’m not a child.
Don'’t make any promises
you can'’t keep.
Come on, Enid,
we'’ll be late for school.
My feet hurt.
I'’m the only girl
that'’s always late.
All the other girls
take the bus.
Quit your complaining.
If you walked fast
you'’d never be late.
I told you,
my feet hurt.
I think I'’m getting
a blister.
All right. Come on.
What are we doing?
Come on,
we'’re taking the bus.
But Daddy said...I know what Daddy said.
Now shut up.
If we don'’t take the bus now,
we'’ll never get to school.
Good.
I don'’t recognize anybody.
If Daddy finds out...
Daddy'’s not
going to find out.
Unless you tell him,
you little rat.
♪ Go down, Moses
♪ Way down in Egypt land
♪ Tell old Pharaoh to
♪ Let my people go
♪ Thus spoke the Lord
Bold Moses said
♪ Let my people go
♪ If not I'’ll smite
Your firstborns dead
♪ Let my people go
♪ Go down, Moses
♪ Way down in Egypt land
♪ Tell old Pharaoh
♪ To let my people go
Will you sing it that way
on Sunday morning?
I'’ll sing it if
Rose will play it.
That'’ll be a cold day in Hell,
wouldn'’t it?
What are you doing
here, Hill?
You'’ve met my wife
and three sons, have'’t you?
Yes, I have.
You have
a beautiful family, Hill.
Dr. Johns, everything I do
or don'’t do,
I have their welfare and
concern to my mind.
I know what you'’re thinking
right now is that I was
afraid to go into
that coffee shop.
What I'’m thinking right now
is if I plant these seeds
too deep,
they never break earth.
Plant them too shallow,
the birds will eat them.
Aren'’t you worried
about your family?
Aren'’t you scared that one day
somebody'’s gonna kill you?
Hill...
Segregation will continue
until we decide in our minds
we'’ll no longer accept it,
no matter
what the consequences.
If you haven'’t found
a reason to die, you haven'’t
found a reason to live.
I'’m not asking you
to die, Hill.
There are other things
just as important.
Such as?
I wanna
show you something.
We'’re not going back
to that restaurant, are we?
No.
Brother Hill, what do you see?
I see a grocery store.
What do you see?
I see a whole mess
of negro dollars
going into white pockets.
Look at that.
They'’ll take our money,
but they despise us so much,
they will not touch our hands
in the exchange.
Money is power,
Brother Hill.
You ain'’t lying.
Why are we
turning over our power
to people who despise us?
But Dr. Johns, the members
of our congregation
are professional people.
They'’re not
business oriented.
Yeah, and that'’s our
biggest mistake.
Right now we are
only consumers.
If we'’re only consumers,
we'’re parasites.
Do you want a definition
of perpetual motion?
Give the average negro
a Cadillac,
and tell him to park it
on some land that he owns.
If gold
was discovered in
the hottest regions of Hell,
the whites would be there
within a fortnight.
Mining it for
all its wealth.
The colored will show up
three weeks later,
offering their services
as maids and butlers.
Thing to do is
to get there first.
We don'’t think that way.
Just to show you
what can be done on
a small parcel of land,
I grew these at
the parsonage.
Left the roots and
the tops on
to prove they are not
store bought.
The Bible tells us
that a feast is made
for laughter,
and wine maketh merry,
but money answereth
all things.
Now what does that mean?
It means that whoever controls
the money has all the answers.
You get control of the money
by producing.
Negros need to own
more businesses,
and Negros need to
patronize those businesses.
By the way...
I noticed that
some of you
were staring at my feet
this morning,
because I had neglected
to wear shoe strings.
I'’ll start wearing them
when Negro folks
start producing them.
Deacon Wilkes...Mm-hmm
You see what our famous
preacher is up to now?
Shameful.
Stockings, pencils.
You need it, I got it.
Twenty-nine cents.
This at?Ten cents.
Now that'’s too much
for that apple.
Morning, Abernathy.
Good day, Reverend Johns.
Look at all this.
But wholesale and
sell retail.
Anybody can do it.
Eventually I plan to
set up a
store at the basement
of the church.
This is something my first
Baptist congregation
should be doing.
Reverend Abernathy,
between you and me,
these nylon stockings
are not big sellers
among my congregation.
It'’s a matter of modesty,
the size of the thighs.
Well, I'’m sure the question
of size
would be a difficult question
for the good women of Dexter.
But we ain'’t modest
in my church.
I'’ll sell of of these nylons
next Sunday.
We'’ll have the details
later.
It'’s a great idea.
Wish I had thought of it.
Watermelons.
Sweet, juicy watermelons.
Oh, Lord.
What'’s wrong with
selling watermelon?
Don'’t you be coy
with me.
You know how it looks
for their learned preacher
to be seen by
Montgomery'’s whites
selling watermelon.
Why do you tease them
like that?
It'’s their false pride.
Well...
Dee would never say it
to you, but,
she'’s being teased by few
of her friends at school.
Good. It builds character.
You are an irascible old man.
Looks like we may be
getting a visit from
some of the good people
of Montgomery.
I'’ll go say hello.
You sit still
or I'’ll break your arm.
This is no game.
Have you seen how
the whites are laughing at us?
It'’s embarrassing.
They'’re calling him
"The Watermelon Man".
That may be so,
but everything he sells
we put on our own tables.
And half the proceeds are
going back to Dexter'’s coffers.
We needn'’t debase ourselves
for a few pennies.
Every stereotype
we'’ve worked hard
to rise above
is being thrown in our faces.
Can you argue
with that, Deacon Hill?
No, it'’s embarrassing.
But I understand the point
he'’s trying to make.
Perhaps it'’s not
the best example.
Dr. Johns had forgotten
that Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church
is our church, not his.
Dr. Johns...
We request that you stop
selling produce
in front of the church.
It'’s undignified.
Was it undignified
that out savior Jesus Christ
was a carpenter?
Gentlemen, I have a duty
to provide you with the gospel.
But I have a right
to provide you with food.
As far as I'’m concerned,
I would sell anything,
except whiskey
and contraceptives.
Matter of fact I get
40 calls about
beets and turnips
for every one I get
about religion.
Good day, gentlemen.
Dr. Johns, there is
another matter.
We understand that you
have refused to do
the Macabee boy'’s funeral
service in the church.
You mean that no good drunk
who'’s always in and out of jail,
got killed in a juke joint
knife fight?
The boy never set foot
in the church.
He'’s not earned
a church funeral.
Nevertheless, we have voted
to extend to him
a church burial service,
because of
the good standing of his
family in this church.
Because of the good standing
of his daddy'’s money.
Well, as you preached,
Dr. Johns,
money answereth all things.
John Macabee lived
a trifling and worthless life.
He went around Montgomery
daring somebody
to cut his throat.
Last week,
somebody obliged him.
He lived like a dog,
he died like a dog.
Undertaker, take the body.
Choir, sing.
You know this always
happens when you drink
too much coffee.
Now think about
something else.
Gloria, I'’ve got to pee,
and we'’re not gonna make it.
Now pull over there.
Pull over.
Boy, where do you think
you'’re going?
Mister, I got to pee.
Well, you ain'’t gonna
do it in there.
Go around back.
Dr. Johns...
I just wanna say if there'’s
anything you'’d like me to do,
any way I can help,
I'’ll do it.
Come on in.
Daddy, I'’m gonna be
late for my debate.
I'’m the anchor this time.
Don'’t let me down.
Baby Dee'’s getting impatient.
Daddy, I can'’t be late!
Well, I don'’t see
any other way.
You'’re gonna have to
take the bus.
Vernon!
It'’s not going
to kill you.
Come on, boy,
I ain'’t got all day.
"Boy"?
I'’m old enough to
be your father.
Hey, round the back.
Go on.
Hey, boy.
Colored section
one row back.
The colored section
starts right here.
Don'’t give me no sass, boy.
I ain'’t moving.
Then this bus ain'’t moving
'’til you do.
Then this bus ain'’t moving.
Come on, let'’s go.
Daddy, please.
No, Baby Dee,
it'’s the principle.
Come on now, mister.
Move back.
How long will you all
accept this kind
of treatment?
You pay the same money
as they do.
Why should you be treated
any differently?
Most of the people on this
bus are Negros.
You have the power to
demand better treatment.
If you don'’t believe me,
just stop riding the bus.
Come on, Baby Dee.
We'’re getting off.
Daddy,
my debate'’s important.
Get off the bus.
I borrowed
Deacon Hill'’s car.
Where'’s Dee?
You know it'’s too late,
Vernon.
What would you have me do?
My understanding is
that it'’s the law,
not the bus company, right?
Then the law has
to be changed.
You gotta save this
for another day.
What day is that?
What would have happened
if every Negro on that bus
had followed me off?
And word got out,
and other Negros did
the same?
You'’re talking about boycotting
the entire bus system, right?
If all the Negros refused
to ride the buses,
how would they get downtown
to shop at the white stores?
The city would come crawling
to us, begging us to return.
Oh, Vernon.
I'’m not talking
about the buses.
I'’m talking about
our daughter.
I know she'’s hurt.
But we have to
make her understand.
Dee?
She'’s not here.
She was feeling so low,
I let her go
to the picture show
with some of her friends.
The picture show?
Yes.
Where the whites
sit downstairs,
and their seats are
soft and padded,
and they clean the aisles
after ever show.
Up in the crow'’s nest,
where they put the niggers,
the seats are hard and broken,
and it'’s never clean.
Well...
I couldn'’t say no to her
when she was feeling
like that.
Just this once,
leave her alone.
There'’s a doctor
lives right down
the street here.
Treated a man with the yellow jaundice for nine years,
and found out he was a Jap.
Well, I use gas.
Well, gas or electric light,
I'’d feel nervous to
have you fool around me
in the dark.
Oh, a dog bit me
the other day.
He bit me right here.
Dog bit you? Yes.
It was
a little dachshund.
It was a little
tiny dog.
He sneaked
right up behind me
and bit me right there.
I was standing with
my back to it...
Baby Dee...
You'’re rather fortunate it wasn'’t a Newfoundland dog that bit you.
Baby Dee...
Don'’t walk away from me.
Don'’t fall into the trap of
accepting the way
we'’re treated.
I'’m counting on you
to help set
a strong example.
Example?
Do you mean dressing up
like a share cropper
and selling vegetables?
-Do you want your children...
-Shh!
Do you want your children
to suffer
the same humiliations
you and I have suffered?
I want you to go to
the college of your choosing.
I want you to live
where you want to.
I want you to stand up
against separate but equal,
because it ain'’t equal.
Isn'’t equal.
I'’ve been riding the bus
to school.
And nothing'’s happened.
There'’s nothing wrong with it.
It doesn'’t matter where I sit,
as long as I get
where I'’m going.
I'’m old enough now that
I can do what I want.
I don'’t have to do
everything you tell me.
No, you don'’t.
And stop calling me
Baby Dee.
Hold up.
My God, child
What happened to you?
Two policemen raped me.
You and Dee take her
to the hospital.
I'’ll stay here with the kids.
This girl has been
beaten and raped.
Yeah, come with me.
Dr. Brewster...
We can'’t admit her.
What are you
talking about?
Thelma is our colored nurse,
and she'’d off for
the evening.
The law states
that she must be present
any time we can
treat a colored patient.
I don'’t care about the law.
This woman needs a doctor.
You'’ll lose your license,
and this hospital could lose
its certification,
and it'’d be all your fault.
If somebody reports it.
That'’s right.
If somebody reports it.
You'’ll have to take her
to Tuskegee.
I'’m sorry.
Yeah.
Well, Goddamn you.
Hey, boy...
You know how fast
you were driving?
There are no boys here.
Go ahead.
Write the ticket.
Where'’s the fire... boy?
I'’m on my way to Tuskegee.
This child needs a doctor.
She don'’t look sick.
The way she'’s laying there,
she just looks like
an old lazy coon to me.
Hey, boy...
Are you a lazy coon?
I asked you a question.
Yes.
Yes, what?
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir, what?
Yes, sir,
I am a lazy coon.
Say it like you mean it.
I'’m a lazy coon.
Forty-five, boy.
Slow it down.
Sergeant...
What is it, boy?
We'’re here to report a rape.
The victim, Janet Cooke,
1-11 Elm Street.
She was raped two nights ago.
All right, who did it?
Who did it?
Two City of
Montgomery policemen.
We'’re here to demand
a line up.
I am within my rights to
demand a police lineup.
But are you in
your right mind?
Why don'’t you talk to
her boyfriend?
That'’s the one who did it.
Didn'’t he, girl?
Huh? Wasn'’t it
your boyfriend?
Now, who did you say
got raped?
Are you gonna press
charges, boy?
You'’re probably wondering
why I called you down here.
Judge Blake, I find
that all things are
eventually explained.
Good. Then, perhaps
you can explain this.
Hmm.
This is my
next Sunday'’s sermon.
I'’m gonna recommend you not
preach that sermon,
Reverend Johns.
Is your recommendation
backed up by force of law?
Only if I so choose,
but for the moment,
I'’m merely curious.
Why would you wanna preach
such an inflammatory sermon?
The truth
is often inflammatory.
I'’m sure you wouldn't be happy
if your church
was found in flames?
I would me more than
very unhappy.
From all descriptions,
you'’re a brilliant man.
But you'’re being ruled by
anger rather than reason.
For the colored man,
the only alternative to rage
is insanity.
I'’d like to hear
some of that sermon.
if you would care
to make a small offering.
Judge Blake,
everywhere I go in the south,
I find that the negro is
forced to choose between
his hide and his soul.
Next Sunday I'’m
gonna tell, him
his hide ain'’t worth it.
I'’ll tell you
what I'’m gonna do.
I'’m gonna let you
preach that sermon.
Nobody'’s gonna pay it
any mind.
It'’ll raise more eyebrows
if it were stopped.
That'’s all.
You'’re free to go.
And when they are hungry,
we cook for them.
And when their
house is dirty,
we come running with
bucket and mop.
And when the fires
of their loins
begin to stir,
they take our daughters
and they rape them.
Because we stand by
and let them.
I couldn'’t have come up with this in a bad dream.
He preaches a sermon about
a black child raped
by white police officers,
then advertises it
in front of the church.
Even if they did it,
no one can prove it.
Why don'’t he leave it alone
for heaven'’s sake?
Maybe next time
it'’ll happen to your daughter.
Will you want us to
leave it alone then?
My daughter
doesn'’t walk around
on the streets of Montgomery
in the middle of the night.
Oh!
Now you'’re telling me
it was her fault she was raped?
Our priority has to be
for the safety
of this congregation.
Churches have been
burned down for less.
He is talking about change.
Who asked him to
change anything?
All we asked him to do
was carry on the traditions
of this church.
No, we also asked him
to lead us,
to make Dexter a better place.
Oh, excuse me.
Is that what he was doing
on Sunday?
I am so glad I have
you here to explain
things to me, Hill.
Seems to me he was asking us
to put our heads
on the chopping block.
That'’s not what he said at all.
I'’d like to make a motion
that we ask Dr. Johns
for his resignation.
And I second it.
That requires a unanimous vote
of this board.
And you don'’t have my vote.
Perhaps you'’d rather
wait for the service.
He'’ll look better then.
No.
I want to see him.
The police
say that they were trying
to subdue some disorderly
colored boy.
And when Deacon Hill
jumped in and tried to
stop the beating,
when he resisted,
they shot him.
He listened to you
and got himself killed.
You'’re responsible for this.
His blood is on your hands.
Is that what you wanted?
Well, I hope you'’re
the kind of man who learns
from his mistakes.
You'’ve got to preach
a conciliatory sermon
following a tragedy
such as this.
I hope that'’s understood,
because the members
of our church
won'’t be receptive to
any further provocation.
Hill was your friend.
He saw an injustice and...
he tried to make it right.
I know he would thank you
for helping him
find that courage.
It should'’ve been me.
Oh!
I do not wish that.
I love you, Vernon Johns.
Send him in.
You don'’t really believe
it'’s safe to murder Negros
in Montgomery, do you?
Of course not.
Then do something about it.
Judge Blake...
One of our deacons was
killed Saturday night.
I know about your deacon
and I'’m truly sorry.
But if this sermon
is preached Sunday,
no predicting
what could happen.
Your minister has
finally got the attention
of the white community.
They will be difficult
to control.
You could assign more police.
I'’m not gonna do that.
The Church'’s fate
is in your hands, Henry.
That'’s all.
You can go.
Hello.
We'’re gonna lynch
that nigger dad of yours
and string him up
like a hog.
Dee, who was that?
Nobody.
Hello, Mr. Nigger.
I know you'’re listening.
Come on down to your church.
Stay here, lock the door.
Open for no one.
Daddy, don'’t go.Stay here.
Which one of you believe
in Jesus so strongly
that you burn a cross
in front of my church?
Why don'’t you call
the fire department,
nigger?
You wanna call my house
and talk to my wife
and daughter about lynching me?
Well, here I am.
Deal with me.
Don'’t tell somebody else
you'’re gonna string me up.
Tell me.
Any one of you.
You better go home
and look after your
wife and children.
Tony! Dee!
Daddy!
Daddy...
I don'’t care if you start
a war with your sermon.
Make it as bad
as you know how.
As you all know,
Deacon Hill, Coach Hill,
whom we all knew and loved,
was killed this past week
by the Montgomery Police
when he suggested to them
that they had beaten
another man sufficiently.
Brother Hill was my friend.
He was your friend.
He was these
three boys'’ father.
He was this woman'’s
loving husband.
Brother Hill was a good man.
A courageous man.
You know, my grandfather,
who was a slave,
was hanged for cutting his
master in two with the scythe.
When they asked him
on the gallows
if he had anything to say,
he said, "Yes.
"I'’m just sorry
"that I didn'’t do it
30 years earlier."
Then they dropped
the trap door.
Last week brother Hill
found a cause worth dying for.
I envy him.
Like Moses, he was
a peaceful man
who saw something that
so horrified him
that he was compelled to act.
They say he was interfering
with the policemen
in the execution of
his duties.
Well, I say...
he was carrying out
God'’s program.
I don'’t have to remind you
about the Ten Commandments.
Brother Hill knew that
the simplest and the clearest
of those ten
great commandments
was "Thou shalt not kill."
God never said,
"Thou shall not kill,
unless you are
a police officer."
He most certainly did not say,
"Thou shall not kill
unless you are white."
Last week, a white man
was fined
for shooting a rabbit
out of season.
But it'’s safe to
murder Negros.
A rabbit is better off
than a Negro,
because in Alabama,
niggers are always
in season.
I'’ll tell you why
it'’s safe to murder Negros.
Because Negros stand by
and let it happen.
When the Klan burns a cross,
it is a message.
The next step will
be a lynching.
As I watched the cross
burning outside the church
last night,
it occurred to me that
the crucifixion
was just that.
A lynching.
And isn'’t it ironic
that everything we worship
was made possible
by a lynching?
Because at the ultimate
moment of death,
Jesus spoke the words
that transformed
a lynching into
a crucifixion
that made Jesus
not a condemner,
but a redeemer.
He said...
"Father, forgive them
"for they know not
what they do."
But the white policemen
who are free day after day
to murder Negros
know what they do.
And you know what you do
when you stand by
and watch your brothers
and sisters being lynched.
It is as if you stood by
while Christ was
being crucified.
Woe onto you,
scribes, Pharisees,
hypocrites.
That'’s what you are.
Because you sit here
every Sunday morning,
praising Jesus,
while you know that
every Saturday night
your brothers and sisters
are being murdered,
and you say nothing,
you do nothing.
Is it fear?
Are you afraid that
if you speak too loudly
or protest too strongly
you'’ll be killed
like Brother Hill?
You well may be.
He who takes not
this cross and follows me,
is not worthy of me.
Are you worthy
of Jesus Christ?
Or are you only worthy of
the State of Alabama?
♪ When Israel was in
Egypt'’s land
♪ Let my people go
♪ Oppressed so hard
They could not stand
♪ Let my people go
♪ Go down, Moses
♪ Way down in Egypt land
♪ Tell old pharaoh
♪ To let my people go
♪ Thus spake the Lord
Moses said
♪ Let my people go
♪ If not I'’ll smite
Your firstborns dead
♪ Let my people go
♪ Go down, Moses
♪ Way down in Egypt land
♪ Tell old pharaoh
♪ To let my people go
Deacon Henderson,
regarding the motion for
the removal
of Dr. Vernon Johns
as pastor of Dexter
Avenue Baptist Church,
how do you vote?
In favor.
Deacon Jamesbury?
In favor.
Smith?
In favor.
Carl?CARL: In favor.
Our paths cross again.
You want me to make
you a martyr.
That won'’t be necessary.
I'’ve spoken to Deacon Wilkes
and he'’s assured me
you will no longer be
a problem here.
He'’s free to go.
Dr. Johns?
"A unanimous votes
of the Board of Deacons
"of Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church.
"According to Article 9,
"regarding suitable conduct
befitting our pastor,
"you are hereby relieved
of your pastorship."
You should have enough food
so we won'’t have to stop
till you get to Virginia.
I'’ll stay on
and finish up here.
It'’ll take me a while.
After that I'’ll...
get on the road.
Meanwhile,
I'’ll send you money as always.
Vernon, another pulpit
will come.
When I see you next,
I wanna hear you'’ve
been reading books,
and not those cheap
dime store romances.
Okay, Daddy.Okay, Daddy.
Baby Dee...
Dee.
You take care of yourself.
What we need is a more
traditional pastor.
Someone who'’s brilliant
as Dr. Johns, to be sure.
But someone who'’s
more conventional...
in dress.
And behavior.
And I think I know
just the man.
He'’s only 26.
But we can raise him up,
we can train him up
in the way he should go.
And later on,
he won'’t depart from it.
Vernon, come on in.
I'’m glad you could come.
I have somebody here
that I'’d like you to meet.
Abernathy, when invitation
to your house include dinner,
there'’s no distance
I won'’t travel.
I smell Juanita'’s chicken.
Juanita?JUANITA: Uh-huh.
To describe your feats in
the kitchen as cooking,
would be to sadly
diminish your artistry.
Come on, Vernon!
Come with me. Remember,
I told you there'’s someone
I want you to meet.
Vernon, this is the young man
who'’s taken over the pastorship
in Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Johns.
Are you old enough
to have a pulpit?
I certainly hope so.
I thought you might be
able to give Dr. King
some tips
on how to handle those
Dexter deacons.
Purchase a sledgehammer.
When I say to you,
"Don'’t be afraid,"
you know what I really mean.
Don'’t even be afraid to die.
For I submit to you tonight,
that no man is free
if he fears death.
But the minute you
conquer the fear of death,
at that moment,
you are free.
You must say somehow,
"I don'’t have much money.
"I don'’t have the
correct education.
"I may not be able
to read and write.
"But I have the capacity
to die."
And I'’ll say
to all the members of
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church,
the man that will not
die for something,
is not fit to live.
Soon after
my father left Montgomery,
Martin Lither King led
a boycott against
the bus system.
And the Dexter congregation
played a major role
in that historic protest.
The Civil Rights Movement
was born.
My father was never again
offered a full time pulpit.
He continues to travel
from church to church
as a guest preacher,
until his death in 1965.
On my desk is a plaque that I inscribed with something
I must have heard my father
say a thousand times.
"If you see a good fight,
"get in it."
When Vernon Johns
saw a good fight,
he followed
his father'’s advice...
and got in it.
Portraying him on the screen
is both challenging
and rewarding.
And I invite you
to join me
forThe Vernon Johns Story.
In a time of
intimidation, fear,
and silence,
Vernon Johns fought back.
Last week,
a white man was fined
for shooting a rabbit
out of season.
But it'’s safe to
murder Negros.
A rabbit is better off
than a Negro,
because in Alabama,
niggers are always
in season.
All that
Vernon Johns wanted
was something better
for his children.
You must have
the courage.
Daddy, I'’m not like you.
I'’m afraid of dying.
A world premier
movie for television.
James Earl Jones, Mary Alice, Cissy Houston,
Nicolle Rochelle,
and Joe Seneca.
In the true story of
a forgotten American hero.
The Vernon Johns Story.
Coming up next.
My father never stayed
in one place for long.
He was a restless man,
and one of God'’s most angry and brilliant preachers.
He was the kind of man
who said exactly what
was on his mind,
no matter what
the consequences.
And there was never a day that I didn'’t fear would bring news of his death.
In the summer of 1948,
it was the possibility of
a good job,
so my father came south
to join the family in
Montgomery, Alabama.
Back then, Montgomery
was a sleepy little
Confederate town.
Mean in spirit.
He had arranged to meet the deacons of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church,
at the Montgomery Courthouse.
The deacons only knew
of my father'’s reputation
as one of the great colored
preachers at the time.
Other aspects of
his reputation, however,
had not yet reached
the good deacons of Dexter.
Deacon Wilkes?
Reverend Johns?
Well, I was expecting a...
older man.
I'’m Deacon Wilkes.
Deacon Wilkes, you are
exactly as I expected.
Um...
The whole congregation
is excited.
And I'’m expecting
a full house tomorrow.
This is Deacon Henderson.
Dr. Johns, I just wanna say
that it'’s an honor to
be in your presence.
Deacon Henderson,
you flatter me.
Stop doing that.
I don'’t like it.
How are you doing?I'’m Deacon Hill.
Deacon Hill.
You look like you just
stepped off from
behind the plough.
I'’m the football coach
of Alabama State.
I'’m the token roughneck
on the Deacon Board.
Can I take your luggage,
Dr. Johns?
You ever been in
Montgomery before?
No, but my wife
has told me stories about it.
What'’s your line of work,
Deacon Wilkes?
I'’m a mortician.
Business must be booming.
We pride ourselves on
the great number of doctors,
lawyers, and educators that we got among our congregation.
Negro class in Montgomery
is making big strides.
You couldn'’t have come at
a more advantageous time.
These here are not
Dexter folk.
We are only as great
as the least of us.
Amen!
My father called
me Baby Dee,
which was his way of
saying "Baby dearest."
Mom!
Daddy'’s home.
My beautiful babies.
Jeanne.
Enid.
Baby Dee.
I thought you were
never coming home.
Can you believe I kept myself
away from this woman
for six whole months?
Mm.
I smell Virginia hams,
collared greens
and bakes yams.
Something that good must
be coming from
the neighbor'’s house.
Dr. Johns, if you don'’t
mind my asking,
what will the text of your
sermon be this Sunday?
You know what
Jesus would say
if he were here...
right now...
in Montgomery, Alabama?
No, sir.
He'’d say...
"I'’m hungry. Let's eat."
I see you got
moved in okay without me.
Yes, Vernon, we'’ve become
quite expert in that.
Is your teaching job
at the Alabama State
satisfactory?
Yes, Vernon.
You should have
seen the look on their faces
at church
when they learned
Mama was married
to the Vernon Johns.
They practically begged Mama
to get you here for
a guest sermon.
I guess they
must be interested.
We want you to stay, Daddy.
Jeanne...
How many times
have I told you not to
lick your ice cream?
With your tongue sticking
out like that,
you look like a dog.
Bite your ice cream.
Go on. Bite it.
Don'’t lick your ice cream.
Bite it.
He said I looked
like a dog.
But you do look
like a dog!
Bite it!
Go on, bite it!
Girls, quiet.
Shh.
And if they like you,
they'’ll ask for
a second sermon.
And after that,
they'’ll offer you
the pulpit.
It'’s a good church, Vernon.
The people mean well.
They'’ve been over a year
without a pastor,
and they'’re looking for
someone to lead them.
Vernon?Yes.
Now, you mustn'’t
lose your temper.
You'’ve got to give
them a chance.
I know.
Charleston was a good pulpit
and you walked away from them.
Bunch of blowhards
and.
Vernon, please.
The girls need you here.
I need you here.
Why, Enid and Jeanne
barely know you.
Dee'’s found a place where
she fits in,
but it'’s that time of her life
when she needs her father.
She'’s 14 years old.
Who'’s 14?
Dee'’s 14?Yes.
It'’s time to stop moving
from church to church,
from town to town.
How many pulpits
have you lost?
I found it!
I found your hat!
Hold still, Daddy.
I didn'’t think you
could look this good.
Oh, Vernon,
you'’re not really gonna
wear that nasty thing!
My, my, my!
Have you ever seen
anything so beautiful?
I can'’t remember
a crowd like this.
No!
Vernon, go easy with them.
Unless you'’re regular
members of this church,
you must remain outside.
You can hear the sermon
out here.
I said, you must
remain outside.
A young man
of little distinction
forced his way into
the Dean'’s office
at Oberlin College.
He was angry...
because his application
for admittance
had been rejected.
The Dean said
to the young man
who wore overalls
with mud caked
on his shoes,
"You have no credits."
The young man replied,
"Do you want a man
with credits or brains?
The Dean gave the young man
a book
of Greek scriptures
and ordered him
to translate it,
thinking it was
an impossible task.
The young man not only
translated it right
on the spot,
but was admitted
and went on to graduate
valedictorian of his class.
A doctor of theology.
The first colored preacher...
Deacon Hill...
what does a white man call
a colored man with a doctorate?
I don'’t know, Dr. Johns.
Nigger.
Brothers and sisters...
that man is here today.
The Reverend Dr. Vernon Johns.
You all know
Christ parable about
Lazarus and Dives.
Dives was a rich man.
Lazarus was a beggar.
The rich man was clothed in
purple Raymonds and fine linen.
Lazarus was clothed in rags.
The rich man dined
sumptuously every day.
Lazarus was forced to live
off the crumbs that fell
from the rich man'’s table.
When Dives took a walk
in the cool of the evening,
Lazarus was compelled
to remove himself from
the rich man'’s sight,
so as not to offend
the man'’s delicate
sensibilities.
The two men met
a common fate.
Both of them died.
Dives was surprised
to find himself
in one of the upper
circles of Hell.
His shock was
further compounded
when he looked up to Heaven
and there,
seated at Abraham'’s side
was the beggar Lazarus.
Lazarus not being
a spiteful man,
looked down and smiled
and said, "Hello, Boss."
And the fires of Hell
tormented Dives.
It was agony.
He lifted his head
toward Heaven and implored,
"Abraham, send Lazarus
with drink to cool
my parched tongue."
Abraham said,
"No!
"You shall live in death
as you did in life, apart,
"because you have conditioned
yourself to human inequality."
So it was not Dives'’ riches
that condemned him to Hell.
What condemned Dives
was his acceptance
and insistence
on human inequality.
The nastiest and deadliest
sin in the world today
is the innate hatred
between the races.
Here we have men
hating other men
to the point of murder.
Legislating against children
even before they are born.
Denying them any chance
of a fulfilled life,
because of one thing,
the color of their skin.
And this inane and
foolish hatred
threatens to
devour civilization
like a moth caught in
a Hell fire.
Proceed.
Rose...
Let'’s change things here.
How about Go Down Moses?
I can only play
what'’s on the printed
order of service.
But I'’m asking you
to play Go Down Moses.
I'’m sorry, Dr. Johns,
but spirituals are not
played at Dexter.
We don'’t play sorrow songs.
Are you telling me that
Go Down Mosesis
a sorrowful song?
It'’s undignified.
Proceed.
♪ I sing because I'’m happy
♪ I sing because I'’m free
♪ His eye is on the sparrow
So there is something
he can'’t do.
"Send Lazarus
with drink to cool
my parched tongue."
Daddy, I'’ve never seen
so many people in that church.
And when Rose
wouldn'’t play that spiritual,
I was so proud of you
for not arguing.
Daddy,
can we go to the circus?
Or can we go on
a picnic?
Yes, Vernon.
The girls have been dying
to have a picnic.
And I promise you...
Daddy?
Daddy?
This family will use
nothing Jim Crow.
Nothing segregated,
unless our lives
depend on it.
No movie theaters,
no drinking fountains,
and no buses.
How am I supposed
to get to school?
You will walk.
Dr. Johns is known to be
demanding on his congregation.
So, why shouldn'’t
he be demanding?
It'’s his job.
They say he'’s a man
who likes trouble.
Has anyone bothered to ask
why Johns left his last pulpit
in Charleston,
West Virginia?
I know that
Charleston congregation.
They'’re not open to new,
challenging ideas.
They couldn'’t understand
a man like Dr. Johns.
And we can?
Let'’s put it to a vote.
Dr. Johns, will you
come in, please?
Dr. Johns...
Normally, we would require
a second ceremony.
But in this case,
we'’ve decided it was
quite unnecessary.
I... That is, we,
the deacons here
of Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church,
would like to
offer you pastorship.
What about you, Coach Hill?
To be candid,
I wonder if this congregation
is ready for you, Dr. Johns.
How much does it pay?
One fourth?
Eat.
If I eat one more
piece of apple,
I think I'’m going
to burst.
Burst. Now, eat.
It'’s how I learned
fractions, Jeanie.
One time I ate too many
apples I got sick.
But you learned.
One half?
Daddy!
Good morning.
Mrs. Rawlins, I...
have, I now realize,
neglected to dress.
Reverend Johns, it'’s my boy.
He'’s dead.
I came to ask a special prayer
for my boy, Reverend.
His name was Isaiah.
They stopped him for speeding.
And they killed him.
No, you stay.
I want you to hear this.
They say he tried
to resist arrest.
That boy is no fool.
He would never back talk
a Montgomery Police officer.
I can give you a hundred
special prayers, sister.
But special prayers
aren'’t what you need.
What you need is justice.
No, no. No, Reverend,
I don'’t wanna cause
any more trouble.
All we want right now
is to know that Isaiah'’s soul
has gone to heaven.
Were there any witnesses?
Yes, sir.
Who were they?
I can'’t say.
Where are the wounds?
There were three.
He was shot in the back.
This wasn'’t
resisting arrest.
This was a lynching.
Dr. Johns, we don'’t know that.
And please limit
that kind of comment
to the confines
of this room.
Charges must be brought
against the police
who did this.
Will bringing charges bring
this boy back to life?
Or ease the grief
of his loved ones?
What greater grief can there
be than to know that your
son has been murdered
for no reason but that
his skin is black?
And the killers
walk away scot-free.
Dr. Johns!
Nobody denies Isaiah'’s death
was tragic.
But we are working closely
with the city to improve
the lot of the colored.
Montgomery is finally
improving the colored
public facilities.
There'’s even talk of
a Negro representative
in the City Council
to tell our side
of things.
Don'’t rock the boat on this
and jeopardize our good work.
Allow the family
their quiet dignity.
It'’s best at a time like this.
You all know the story of Moses once he got his hands
on those stone slabs.
But, Rose, did you know
that Moses
was a Prince in
the pharaoh'’s court?
Oh, yes.
A prince in the enemy'’s court.
So one beautiful day,
Moses went for a stroll.
And he came upon an Egyptian
whipping his slave.
It was common practice
to whip your slaves.
It was socially acceptable.
The slaves didn'’t like it,
but they accepted it.
But in a sudden and
uncontrollable fury,
Moses grabbed his sword
and killed the cruel Egyptian.
And then, feeling a pang
of guilt and remorse,
buried his body in the sand.
And God, looking down on him
on high said,
"Who is that man?
"I can use him
"in my program."
Moses felt remorse,
because no matter how cruel
the Egyptian,
he had no justification
in killing him.
Besides, he threw away
his entire future
with the royal court.
So why did he act as he did?
Moses realized
that slavery
is a horror
even greater than murder.
That slavery
is an abomination!
I tell you this story
because a boy was killed.
A member of our congregation,
Isaiah Rawlins.
Shot in the back
for allegedly
resisting arrest.
Were any of you there?
Who among us here today
witnessed this killing
and refrained from
coming forward?
Were you there?
No one?
And I don'’t suppose
any of you were there
when the police shot
Robert James three times,
killing him, because
he was running away
after stealing a whole
case of soda pop.
That was four days
before Christmas.
No one.
Were you there on Spruce Row,
when the police beat
poor Patrick?
They handcuffed him
to a tree first.
No one.
Well, the papers reported
that a large crowd
of colored was there.
One of you said to me recently,
that we shouldn'’t
rock the boat.
Lynching like this,
we should let the family
have their quiet grief.
It is best at a time like this.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
I want to tell you,
that I... am...
a boat rocker!
What do these murders
have in common
besides their brutality?
They have in common
that the perpetrators
acted with impunity,
knowing that not one
of you would dare
come forward and say,
"This will not stand."
And I say to you,
in your silence
you have become accessories
to murder.
Be ashamed to die
until you have won
some victory
for mankind.
Dr. Johns!
I think you misunderstood me.
I wish that was so.
Dr. Johns,
wait a minute.
Weren'’t you
a little hard on us?
What did you expect
the witnesses to do?
Tell the truth.
Coach Hill, my daddy
always said to me,
"If you see a good fight,
get in it."
But did your daddy
have a fine piece of mind?
Hill, come with me.
Are you hungry, Deacon Hill?
How about a ham sandwich?
I don'’t wanna go in there.Why not?
I'’m not hungry.
Don'’t lie to me, Hill.
Dr. Johns, we can'’t
go in there.
It'’s whites only.
Do you know why
they don'’t wanna sit
next to us?
Do you accept that?
Doesn'’t it bother you
that whatever their reasons,
they pass a law against it?
The truth is I'’m no more
comfortable eating with them
than they are with me.
Dr. Johns, I don'’t like being
disrespectful to you.
But I truly believe you
wanna join that Rawlins boy.
I truly wanna eat.
Now, this kind of behavior
didn'’t go over to well
in Charleston, West Virginia,
did it, Dr. Johns?
No, it didn'’t.
Smells good, Coach.
I want a ham sandwich
and a lemonade.
Boy, you better get your
black ass out of here.
After I get my
ham sandwich
and my lemonade.
Another.
Here you go, Mr. Nigger.
Depending on my thirst,
that could get expensive.
Imagine...
serving up a pistol
with a ham sandwich.
As I left that
fine establishment,
I gave the shortest
blessing of my life
over that ham sandwich.
I said...
God damn it!
Huh.
All right, Rose.
I haven'’t asked you
in a long time.
Go Down Moses.
I know you know
the song, Rose.
Is that the way you all
feel about it?
Nobody out there wants
to hear Go Down Moses?
What'’s wrong with it?
These spirituals were sung
by our slave ancestors.
They belong in the church.
You act as if they will
diminish your dignity.
You mistake dignity
for vanity.
If I didn'’t know
any better,
I'’d say you were ashamed
you came from slaves.
You'’re ashamed of
what you are.
Well, I'’m ashamed of
what you'’ve become.
They'’re a bunch of idiots!
Just because
they'’re professionals,
they think that puts them
above the rest of the people.
It only puts them in
a position to leave.
And they'’re shirking
their responsibilities.
Of all the congregations
I'’ve preached to,
this is the most placid
and cowardly.
Do you have a mistress,
Vernon?
What?
Do you have a mistress?
No!
Then why are you looking for
a reason to leave us again?
I'’m not looking for
a reason to leave.
Well, from your actions today,
I would think that you hate
the people at Dexter.
They'’re a bunch
of educated fools.
It'’s not a church.
It'’s a fashion show.
if I hated them,
why would I waste my
time on them?
Tell me. Tell me!
Daddy!
Look at this.
Have you seen
sweeter Kansas City steaks
in all your life?
Not an ounce of fat on them.
I couldn'’t believe it when
I passed the butcher'’s store.
They called me my name.
Vernon! Tony and the girls
would love
some steaks tonight.
Where'’s Dee?
Baby Dee!
Baby Dee.
Thank you for visiting me
in my office.
What are you doing up?
I had a bad dream.
I dreamt that I heard
all this laughing,
and ran towards the sound.
There was a crowd of people
in a circle around something
I couldn'’t see.
I was afraid,
so I stood back.
But when a few men
moved out of the way,
I saw what they were
laughing at.
It was you, Daddy.
And you were lying in
a pool of blood.
And the people around you
were laughing,
'’cause they were glad
you were dead.
I was too frightened
to run to you.
Why are you so angry at us?
Sometimes I think
you wanna die.
That all you care about
is proving to every colored
person in that church
that you aren'’t afraid.
It'’s all that matters to you.
And you don'’t care what will
happen to us when you are gone.
It'’s because I care about you
that I do what I do.
You must have the courage.
Daddy, I'’m not like you.
I'’m afraid of dying.
Sometimes I dream
that I'’m dead,
and I'’m just
lying in this casket.
It is dark.
There'’s nothing to do,
no one to talk to.
That'’s the way
it will be forever.
Sometimes I wake up
so frightened...
I'’ll never leave you.
I'’m not a child.
Don'’t make any promises
you can'’t keep.
Come on, Enid,
we'’ll be late for school.
My feet hurt.
I'’m the only girl
that'’s always late.
All the other girls
take the bus.
Quit your complaining.
If you walked fast
you'’d never be late.
I told you,
my feet hurt.
I think I'’m getting
a blister.
All right. Come on.
What are we doing?
Come on,
we'’re taking the bus.
But Daddy said...I know what Daddy said.
Now shut up.
If we don'’t take the bus now,
we'’ll never get to school.
Good.
I don'’t recognize anybody.
If Daddy finds out...
Daddy'’s not
going to find out.
Unless you tell him,
you little rat.
♪ Go down, Moses
♪ Way down in Egypt land
♪ Tell old Pharaoh to
♪ Let my people go
♪ Thus spoke the Lord
Bold Moses said
♪ Let my people go
♪ If not I'’ll smite
Your firstborns dead
♪ Let my people go
♪ Go down, Moses
♪ Way down in Egypt land
♪ Tell old Pharaoh
♪ To let my people go
Will you sing it that way
on Sunday morning?
I'’ll sing it if
Rose will play it.
That'’ll be a cold day in Hell,
wouldn'’t it?
What are you doing
here, Hill?
You'’ve met my wife
and three sons, have'’t you?
Yes, I have.
You have
a beautiful family, Hill.
Dr. Johns, everything I do
or don'’t do,
I have their welfare and
concern to my mind.
I know what you'’re thinking
right now is that I was
afraid to go into
that coffee shop.
What I'’m thinking right now
is if I plant these seeds
too deep,
they never break earth.
Plant them too shallow,
the birds will eat them.
Aren'’t you worried
about your family?
Aren'’t you scared that one day
somebody'’s gonna kill you?
Hill...
Segregation will continue
until we decide in our minds
we'’ll no longer accept it,
no matter
what the consequences.
If you haven'’t found
a reason to die, you haven'’t
found a reason to live.
I'’m not asking you
to die, Hill.
There are other things
just as important.
Such as?
I wanna
show you something.
We'’re not going back
to that restaurant, are we?
No.
Brother Hill, what do you see?
I see a grocery store.
What do you see?
I see a whole mess
of negro dollars
going into white pockets.
Look at that.
They'’ll take our money,
but they despise us so much,
they will not touch our hands
in the exchange.
Money is power,
Brother Hill.
You ain'’t lying.
Why are we
turning over our power
to people who despise us?
But Dr. Johns, the members
of our congregation
are professional people.
They'’re not
business oriented.
Yeah, and that'’s our
biggest mistake.
Right now we are
only consumers.
If we'’re only consumers,
we'’re parasites.
Do you want a definition
of perpetual motion?
Give the average negro
a Cadillac,
and tell him to park it
on some land that he owns.
If gold
was discovered in
the hottest regions of Hell,
the whites would be there
within a fortnight.
Mining it for
all its wealth.
The colored will show up
three weeks later,
offering their services
as maids and butlers.
Thing to do is
to get there first.
We don'’t think that way.
Just to show you
what can be done on
a small parcel of land,
I grew these at
the parsonage.
Left the roots and
the tops on
to prove they are not
store bought.
The Bible tells us
that a feast is made
for laughter,
and wine maketh merry,
but money answereth
all things.
Now what does that mean?
It means that whoever controls
the money has all the answers.
You get control of the money
by producing.
Negros need to own
more businesses,
and Negros need to
patronize those businesses.
By the way...
I noticed that
some of you
were staring at my feet
this morning,
because I had neglected
to wear shoe strings.
I'’ll start wearing them
when Negro folks
start producing them.
Deacon Wilkes...Mm-hmm
You see what our famous
preacher is up to now?
Shameful.
Stockings, pencils.
You need it, I got it.
Twenty-nine cents.
This at?Ten cents.
Now that'’s too much
for that apple.
Morning, Abernathy.
Good day, Reverend Johns.
Look at all this.
But wholesale and
sell retail.
Anybody can do it.
Eventually I plan to
set up a
store at the basement
of the church.
This is something my first
Baptist congregation
should be doing.
Reverend Abernathy,
between you and me,
these nylon stockings
are not big sellers
among my congregation.
It'’s a matter of modesty,
the size of the thighs.
Well, I'’m sure the question
of size
would be a difficult question
for the good women of Dexter.
But we ain'’t modest
in my church.
I'’ll sell of of these nylons
next Sunday.
We'’ll have the details
later.
It'’s a great idea.
Wish I had thought of it.
Watermelons.
Sweet, juicy watermelons.
Oh, Lord.
What'’s wrong with
selling watermelon?
Don'’t you be coy
with me.
You know how it looks
for their learned preacher
to be seen by
Montgomery'’s whites
selling watermelon.
Why do you tease them
like that?
It'’s their false pride.
Well...
Dee would never say it
to you, but,
she'’s being teased by few
of her friends at school.
Good. It builds character.
You are an irascible old man.
Looks like we may be
getting a visit from
some of the good people
of Montgomery.
I'’ll go say hello.
You sit still
or I'’ll break your arm.
This is no game.
Have you seen how
the whites are laughing at us?
It'’s embarrassing.
They'’re calling him
"The Watermelon Man".
That may be so,
but everything he sells
we put on our own tables.
And half the proceeds are
going back to Dexter'’s coffers.
We needn'’t debase ourselves
for a few pennies.
Every stereotype
we'’ve worked hard
to rise above
is being thrown in our faces.
Can you argue
with that, Deacon Hill?
No, it'’s embarrassing.
But I understand the point
he'’s trying to make.
Perhaps it'’s not
the best example.
Dr. Johns had forgotten
that Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church
is our church, not his.
Dr. Johns...
We request that you stop
selling produce
in front of the church.
It'’s undignified.
Was it undignified
that out savior Jesus Christ
was a carpenter?
Gentlemen, I have a duty
to provide you with the gospel.
But I have a right
to provide you with food.
As far as I'’m concerned,
I would sell anything,
except whiskey
and contraceptives.
Matter of fact I get
40 calls about
beets and turnips
for every one I get
about religion.
Good day, gentlemen.
Dr. Johns, there is
another matter.
We understand that you
have refused to do
the Macabee boy'’s funeral
service in the church.
You mean that no good drunk
who'’s always in and out of jail,
got killed in a juke joint
knife fight?
The boy never set foot
in the church.
He'’s not earned
a church funeral.
Nevertheless, we have voted
to extend to him
a church burial service,
because of
the good standing of his
family in this church.
Because of the good standing
of his daddy'’s money.
Well, as you preached,
Dr. Johns,
money answereth all things.
John Macabee lived
a trifling and worthless life.
He went around Montgomery
daring somebody
to cut his throat.
Last week,
somebody obliged him.
He lived like a dog,
he died like a dog.
Undertaker, take the body.
Choir, sing.
You know this always
happens when you drink
too much coffee.
Now think about
something else.
Gloria, I'’ve got to pee,
and we'’re not gonna make it.
Now pull over there.
Pull over.
Boy, where do you think
you'’re going?
Mister, I got to pee.
Well, you ain'’t gonna
do it in there.
Go around back.
Dr. Johns...
I just wanna say if there'’s
anything you'’d like me to do,
any way I can help,
I'’ll do it.
Come on in.
Daddy, I'’m gonna be
late for my debate.
I'’m the anchor this time.
Don'’t let me down.
Baby Dee'’s getting impatient.
Daddy, I can'’t be late!
Well, I don'’t see
any other way.
You'’re gonna have to
take the bus.
Vernon!
It'’s not going
to kill you.
Come on, boy,
I ain'’t got all day.
"Boy"?
I'’m old enough to
be your father.
Hey, round the back.
Go on.
Hey, boy.
Colored section
one row back.
The colored section
starts right here.
Don'’t give me no sass, boy.
I ain'’t moving.
Then this bus ain'’t moving
'’til you do.
Then this bus ain'’t moving.
Come on, let'’s go.
Daddy, please.
No, Baby Dee,
it'’s the principle.
Come on now, mister.
Move back.
How long will you all
accept this kind
of treatment?
You pay the same money
as they do.
Why should you be treated
any differently?
Most of the people on this
bus are Negros.
You have the power to
demand better treatment.
If you don'’t believe me,
just stop riding the bus.
Come on, Baby Dee.
We'’re getting off.
Daddy,
my debate'’s important.
Get off the bus.
I borrowed
Deacon Hill'’s car.
Where'’s Dee?
You know it'’s too late,
Vernon.
What would you have me do?
My understanding is
that it'’s the law,
not the bus company, right?
Then the law has
to be changed.
You gotta save this
for another day.
What day is that?
What would have happened
if every Negro on that bus
had followed me off?
And word got out,
and other Negros did
the same?
You'’re talking about boycotting
the entire bus system, right?
If all the Negros refused
to ride the buses,
how would they get downtown
to shop at the white stores?
The city would come crawling
to us, begging us to return.
Oh, Vernon.
I'’m not talking
about the buses.
I'’m talking about
our daughter.
I know she'’s hurt.
But we have to
make her understand.
Dee?
She'’s not here.
She was feeling so low,
I let her go
to the picture show
with some of her friends.
The picture show?
Yes.
Where the whites
sit downstairs,
and their seats are
soft and padded,
and they clean the aisles
after ever show.
Up in the crow'’s nest,
where they put the niggers,
the seats are hard and broken,
and it'’s never clean.
Well...
I couldn'’t say no to her
when she was feeling
like that.
Just this once,
leave her alone.
There'’s a doctor
lives right down
the street here.
Treated a man with the yellow jaundice for nine years,
and found out he was a Jap.
Well, I use gas.
Well, gas or electric light,
I'’d feel nervous to
have you fool around me
in the dark.
Oh, a dog bit me
the other day.
He bit me right here.
Dog bit you? Yes.
It was
a little dachshund.
It was a little
tiny dog.
He sneaked
right up behind me
and bit me right there.
I was standing with
my back to it...
Baby Dee...
You'’re rather fortunate it wasn'’t a Newfoundland dog that bit you.
Baby Dee...
Don'’t walk away from me.
Don'’t fall into the trap of
accepting the way
we'’re treated.
I'’m counting on you
to help set
a strong example.
Example?
Do you mean dressing up
like a share cropper
and selling vegetables?
-Do you want your children...
-Shh!
Do you want your children
to suffer
the same humiliations
you and I have suffered?
I want you to go to
the college of your choosing.
I want you to live
where you want to.
I want you to stand up
against separate but equal,
because it ain'’t equal.
Isn'’t equal.
I'’ve been riding the bus
to school.
And nothing'’s happened.
There'’s nothing wrong with it.
It doesn'’t matter where I sit,
as long as I get
where I'’m going.
I'’m old enough now that
I can do what I want.
I don'’t have to do
everything you tell me.
No, you don'’t.
And stop calling me
Baby Dee.
Hold up.
My God, child
What happened to you?
Two policemen raped me.
You and Dee take her
to the hospital.
I'’ll stay here with the kids.
This girl has been
beaten and raped.
Yeah, come with me.
Dr. Brewster...
We can'’t admit her.
What are you
talking about?
Thelma is our colored nurse,
and she'’d off for
the evening.
The law states
that she must be present
any time we can
treat a colored patient.
I don'’t care about the law.
This woman needs a doctor.
You'’ll lose your license,
and this hospital could lose
its certification,
and it'’d be all your fault.
If somebody reports it.
That'’s right.
If somebody reports it.
You'’ll have to take her
to Tuskegee.
I'’m sorry.
Yeah.
Well, Goddamn you.
Hey, boy...
You know how fast
you were driving?
There are no boys here.
Go ahead.
Write the ticket.
Where'’s the fire... boy?
I'’m on my way to Tuskegee.
This child needs a doctor.
She don'’t look sick.
The way she'’s laying there,
she just looks like
an old lazy coon to me.
Hey, boy...
Are you a lazy coon?
I asked you a question.
Yes.
Yes, what?
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir, what?
Yes, sir,
I am a lazy coon.
Say it like you mean it.
I'’m a lazy coon.
Forty-five, boy.
Slow it down.
Sergeant...
What is it, boy?
We'’re here to report a rape.
The victim, Janet Cooke,
1-11 Elm Street.
She was raped two nights ago.
All right, who did it?
Who did it?
Two City of
Montgomery policemen.
We'’re here to demand
a line up.
I am within my rights to
demand a police lineup.
But are you in
your right mind?
Why don'’t you talk to
her boyfriend?
That'’s the one who did it.
Didn'’t he, girl?
Huh? Wasn'’t it
your boyfriend?
Now, who did you say
got raped?
Are you gonna press
charges, boy?
You'’re probably wondering
why I called you down here.
Judge Blake, I find
that all things are
eventually explained.
Good. Then, perhaps
you can explain this.
Hmm.
This is my
next Sunday'’s sermon.
I'’m gonna recommend you not
preach that sermon,
Reverend Johns.
Is your recommendation
backed up by force of law?
Only if I so choose,
but for the moment,
I'’m merely curious.
Why would you wanna preach
such an inflammatory sermon?
The truth
is often inflammatory.
I'’m sure you wouldn't be happy
if your church
was found in flames?
I would me more than
very unhappy.
From all descriptions,
you'’re a brilliant man.
But you'’re being ruled by
anger rather than reason.
For the colored man,
the only alternative to rage
is insanity.
I'’d like to hear
some of that sermon.
if you would care
to make a small offering.
Judge Blake,
everywhere I go in the south,
I find that the negro is
forced to choose between
his hide and his soul.
Next Sunday I'’m
gonna tell, him
his hide ain'’t worth it.
I'’ll tell you
what I'’m gonna do.
I'’m gonna let you
preach that sermon.
Nobody'’s gonna pay it
any mind.
It'’ll raise more eyebrows
if it were stopped.
That'’s all.
You'’re free to go.
And when they are hungry,
we cook for them.
And when their
house is dirty,
we come running with
bucket and mop.
And when the fires
of their loins
begin to stir,
they take our daughters
and they rape them.
Because we stand by
and let them.
I couldn'’t have come up with this in a bad dream.
He preaches a sermon about
a black child raped
by white police officers,
then advertises it
in front of the church.
Even if they did it,
no one can prove it.
Why don'’t he leave it alone
for heaven'’s sake?
Maybe next time
it'’ll happen to your daughter.
Will you want us to
leave it alone then?
My daughter
doesn'’t walk around
on the streets of Montgomery
in the middle of the night.
Oh!
Now you'’re telling me
it was her fault she was raped?
Our priority has to be
for the safety
of this congregation.
Churches have been
burned down for less.
He is talking about change.
Who asked him to
change anything?
All we asked him to do
was carry on the traditions
of this church.
No, we also asked him
to lead us,
to make Dexter a better place.
Oh, excuse me.
Is that what he was doing
on Sunday?
I am so glad I have
you here to explain
things to me, Hill.
Seems to me he was asking us
to put our heads
on the chopping block.
That'’s not what he said at all.
I'’d like to make a motion
that we ask Dr. Johns
for his resignation.
And I second it.
That requires a unanimous vote
of this board.
And you don'’t have my vote.
Perhaps you'’d rather
wait for the service.
He'’ll look better then.
No.
I want to see him.
The police
say that they were trying
to subdue some disorderly
colored boy.
And when Deacon Hill
jumped in and tried to
stop the beating,
when he resisted,
they shot him.
He listened to you
and got himself killed.
You'’re responsible for this.
His blood is on your hands.
Is that what you wanted?
Well, I hope you'’re
the kind of man who learns
from his mistakes.
You'’ve got to preach
a conciliatory sermon
following a tragedy
such as this.
I hope that'’s understood,
because the members
of our church
won'’t be receptive to
any further provocation.
Hill was your friend.
He saw an injustice and...
he tried to make it right.
I know he would thank you
for helping him
find that courage.
It should'’ve been me.
Oh!
I do not wish that.
I love you, Vernon Johns.
Send him in.
You don'’t really believe
it'’s safe to murder Negros
in Montgomery, do you?
Of course not.
Then do something about it.
Judge Blake...
One of our deacons was
killed Saturday night.
I know about your deacon
and I'’m truly sorry.
But if this sermon
is preached Sunday,
no predicting
what could happen.
Your minister has
finally got the attention
of the white community.
They will be difficult
to control.
You could assign more police.
I'’m not gonna do that.
The Church'’s fate
is in your hands, Henry.
That'’s all.
You can go.
Hello.
We'’re gonna lynch
that nigger dad of yours
and string him up
like a hog.
Dee, who was that?
Nobody.
Hello, Mr. Nigger.
I know you'’re listening.
Come on down to your church.
Stay here, lock the door.
Open for no one.
Daddy, don'’t go.Stay here.
Which one of you believe
in Jesus so strongly
that you burn a cross
in front of my church?
Why don'’t you call
the fire department,
nigger?
You wanna call my house
and talk to my wife
and daughter about lynching me?
Well, here I am.
Deal with me.
Don'’t tell somebody else
you'’re gonna string me up.
Tell me.
Any one of you.
You better go home
and look after your
wife and children.
Tony! Dee!
Daddy!
Daddy...
I don'’t care if you start
a war with your sermon.
Make it as bad
as you know how.
As you all know,
Deacon Hill, Coach Hill,
whom we all knew and loved,
was killed this past week
by the Montgomery Police
when he suggested to them
that they had beaten
another man sufficiently.
Brother Hill was my friend.
He was your friend.
He was these
three boys'’ father.
He was this woman'’s
loving husband.
Brother Hill was a good man.
A courageous man.
You know, my grandfather,
who was a slave,
was hanged for cutting his
master in two with the scythe.
When they asked him
on the gallows
if he had anything to say,
he said, "Yes.
"I'’m just sorry
"that I didn'’t do it
30 years earlier."
Then they dropped
the trap door.
Last week brother Hill
found a cause worth dying for.
I envy him.
Like Moses, he was
a peaceful man
who saw something that
so horrified him
that he was compelled to act.
They say he was interfering
with the policemen
in the execution of
his duties.
Well, I say...
he was carrying out
God'’s program.
I don'’t have to remind you
about the Ten Commandments.
Brother Hill knew that
the simplest and the clearest
of those ten
great commandments
was "Thou shalt not kill."
God never said,
"Thou shall not kill,
unless you are
a police officer."
He most certainly did not say,
"Thou shall not kill
unless you are white."
Last week, a white man
was fined
for shooting a rabbit
out of season.
But it'’s safe to
murder Negros.
A rabbit is better off
than a Negro,
because in Alabama,
niggers are always
in season.
I'’ll tell you why
it'’s safe to murder Negros.
Because Negros stand by
and let it happen.
When the Klan burns a cross,
it is a message.
The next step will
be a lynching.
As I watched the cross
burning outside the church
last night,
it occurred to me that
the crucifixion
was just that.
A lynching.
And isn'’t it ironic
that everything we worship
was made possible
by a lynching?
Because at the ultimate
moment of death,
Jesus spoke the words
that transformed
a lynching into
a crucifixion
that made Jesus
not a condemner,
but a redeemer.
He said...
"Father, forgive them
"for they know not
what they do."
But the white policemen
who are free day after day
to murder Negros
know what they do.
And you know what you do
when you stand by
and watch your brothers
and sisters being lynched.
It is as if you stood by
while Christ was
being crucified.
Woe onto you,
scribes, Pharisees,
hypocrites.
That'’s what you are.
Because you sit here
every Sunday morning,
praising Jesus,
while you know that
every Saturday night
your brothers and sisters
are being murdered,
and you say nothing,
you do nothing.
Is it fear?
Are you afraid that
if you speak too loudly
or protest too strongly
you'’ll be killed
like Brother Hill?
You well may be.
He who takes not
this cross and follows me,
is not worthy of me.
Are you worthy
of Jesus Christ?
Or are you only worthy of
the State of Alabama?
♪ When Israel was in
Egypt'’s land
♪ Let my people go
♪ Oppressed so hard
They could not stand
♪ Let my people go
♪ Go down, Moses
♪ Way down in Egypt land
♪ Tell old pharaoh
♪ To let my people go
♪ Thus spake the Lord
Moses said
♪ Let my people go
♪ If not I'’ll smite
Your firstborns dead
♪ Let my people go
♪ Go down, Moses
♪ Way down in Egypt land
♪ Tell old pharaoh
♪ To let my people go
Deacon Henderson,
regarding the motion for
the removal
of Dr. Vernon Johns
as pastor of Dexter
Avenue Baptist Church,
how do you vote?
In favor.
Deacon Jamesbury?
In favor.
Smith?
In favor.
Carl?CARL: In favor.
Our paths cross again.
You want me to make
you a martyr.
That won'’t be necessary.
I'’ve spoken to Deacon Wilkes
and he'’s assured me
you will no longer be
a problem here.
He'’s free to go.
Dr. Johns?
"A unanimous votes
of the Board of Deacons
"of Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church.
"According to Article 9,
"regarding suitable conduct
befitting our pastor,
"you are hereby relieved
of your pastorship."
You should have enough food
so we won'’t have to stop
till you get to Virginia.
I'’ll stay on
and finish up here.
It'’ll take me a while.
After that I'’ll...
get on the road.
Meanwhile,
I'’ll send you money as always.
Vernon, another pulpit
will come.
When I see you next,
I wanna hear you'’ve
been reading books,
and not those cheap
dime store romances.
Okay, Daddy.Okay, Daddy.
Baby Dee...
Dee.
You take care of yourself.
What we need is a more
traditional pastor.
Someone who'’s brilliant
as Dr. Johns, to be sure.
But someone who'’s
more conventional...
in dress.
And behavior.
And I think I know
just the man.
He'’s only 26.
But we can raise him up,
we can train him up
in the way he should go.
And later on,
he won'’t depart from it.
Vernon, come on in.
I'’m glad you could come.
I have somebody here
that I'’d like you to meet.
Abernathy, when invitation
to your house include dinner,
there'’s no distance
I won'’t travel.
I smell Juanita'’s chicken.
Juanita?JUANITA: Uh-huh.
To describe your feats in
the kitchen as cooking,
would be to sadly
diminish your artistry.
Come on, Vernon!
Come with me. Remember,
I told you there'’s someone
I want you to meet.
Vernon, this is the young man
who'’s taken over the pastorship
in Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Johns.
Are you old enough
to have a pulpit?
I certainly hope so.
I thought you might be
able to give Dr. King
some tips
on how to handle those
Dexter deacons.
Purchase a sledgehammer.
When I say to you,
"Don'’t be afraid,"
you know what I really mean.
Don'’t even be afraid to die.
For I submit to you tonight,
that no man is free
if he fears death.
But the minute you
conquer the fear of death,
at that moment,
you are free.
You must say somehow,
"I don'’t have much money.
"I don'’t have the
correct education.
"I may not be able
to read and write.
"But I have the capacity
to die."
And I'’ll say
to all the members of
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church,
the man that will not
die for something,
is not fit to live.
Soon after
my father left Montgomery,
Martin Lither King led
a boycott against
the bus system.
And the Dexter congregation
played a major role
in that historic protest.
The Civil Rights Movement
was born.
My father was never again
offered a full time pulpit.
He continues to travel
from church to church
as a guest preacher,
until his death in 1965.
On my desk is a plaque that I inscribed with something
I must have heard my father
say a thousand times.
"If you see a good fight,
"get in it."