Higher Learning (1995) - full transcript

[♪♪♪]

[GONG SOUNDlNG]

[♪♪♪]

Fight! Fight! Fight!

[ORCHESTRAL MUSlC PLAYlNG]

[CHANTlNG]

[CHEERlNG]

MAN:
Before we begin--

Settle down. I got a question
I want to ask you all.

How many people came here
to change the world?

How many people came here
to learn how to make a lot of money?



Hey, we got an outreach program here
where we really tap into the community.

KRlSTEN:
What's the point?

Hey, listen, my friends. You are
the few, the proud, the next...

...incoming freshman class
to Columbus University.

NARRATOR: --unyielding pursuit
of academic excellence...

...one university stands
out amongst the rest:

Columbus University.

[♪♪♪]

[OUTKAST'S "PHOBlA" PLAYlNG]

♪ When it really get down to the nitty grit
who gon' fight? ♪

♪ Pipe down ♪

♪ Ain't no better time to crank it up
Than right now ♪

♪ We gots the Seagram crunk
Down here ♪

♪ And I don't hear nobody disagreeing ♪



♪ Orga-no-i-z-e, Mr. D.J. and me
And Big Boi ♪

♪ Don't spend your whole life
Living it for the white ♪

♪ You got a 9-to-5
Now you choose to live it right ♪

♪ You taking your ass to the Army
'Cause you scared of revolution ♪

♪ l'm writing every day
To stop that brain pollution ♪♪

[LIZ PHAIR'S
"DON'T HAVE TlME" PLAYlNG]

♪ Take a look around
This is what it's now ♪

♪ It's a little bridge now, baby
It's a little bridge now ♪

♪ Just a photograph
Kinda makes me laugh ♪

♪ It's a little kid now, baby
Some little kid ♪♪

[RAGE AGAINST THE MACHlNE'S
"YEAR OF THA BOOMERANG" PLAYlNG]

♪ Sorta like Mount Tai ♪

♪ Wit the five centuries of penitentiary
So let the guilty hang ♪

♪ In the year of the boomerang ♪♪

-What's up, Malik?
-What's up, dog?

-Your mama got you some school gear.
-Your mama let me use her credit card.

-Ha-ha-ha. Yeah, all right.
-We'll see you.

Malik, what's wrong with you?

What?

This.

Why you always trying to showboat?
How come you're not dressed?

My stomach was giving me trouble.

You think because you're a superstar
rookie you don't have to work?

I got guys on this field who'll clean
your clock in five seconds.

Who?

Get off my field.

It's like that?

That's how you made it.

COACH:
Dig. Dig.

Dig.

Little off today, baby, huh?

[MELLOW R& B PLAYlNG SOFTLY]

[SlGHS]

[DOOR OPENS]

-Hi.
-Hi.

-I'm Kristen.
-Monet.

We're roommates, huh?

Yep. l like this side of the room,
but l guess you got here first.

Yeah, l guess l did.

So, where are you from?

-Orange County.
-Orange County, huh?

-Is that near Compton?
-No. Heh.

-You're not from around here, are you?
-No.

It's near Disneyland.

-You live near Disneyland?
-Mm-hm.

-Must be nice.
-It has its moments.

Yeah!

Go!

[CHEERlNG]

WOMAN 1 :
This is crazy.

WOMAN 2:
Come on, girls, let's go.

I am getting my own
apartment next semester.

These dorms are for children.
I hate them. God.

-Do you want to room with me?
-Hell, yeah. My room's like this big.

What about you?
Want to get an apartment together?

-I can't afford it.
-No sweat. Get your parents to pay.

-They can't.
BOTH: Why not?

My dad got laid off
from McDonnell Douglas last year.

The lRS audited him. My parents
could barely afford to send me here.

-But you are here.
-I'm here and l'm happy.

My roommate's a Mexican,
I bet she got a scholarship. Ugh.

Shut up. Well, here we are.

[SCREAMlNG AND LAUGHlNG]

All right, come here, darling.

CROWD:
Drink! Drink! Drink!

-Theta Kappa! Whoo!
MAN: Hey, Chad.

Well, well, what do we got here?
New recruits for our Little Sister rush?

No, no. Actually, l don't
know about that.

-Ladies, this is Chad.
NlCOLE: Hi, Chad.

-Hey.
-And this is Nicole, okay?

And this is Claudia, right?

-And this is, uh--
-Kristen. Ha-ha-ha!

Kristen. l'm sorry. They're freshmen.

How do we become Little Sisters?

They probably make you drink beer
out of condoms and wet your T-shirt.

Beer out of a condom....
That's a new one. Write that down.

-I will.
-No, we don't do that here.

But l'll tell you this. There's nobody
on this campus who parties like we do!

Yo!

[CHEERlNG AND WHOOPlNG]

[MlSTA GRlMM'S "SITUATlON: GRIMM"
PLAYlNG]

♪ It's kind of chilly in my brain ♪

♪ Rappers get nightmares
Like Dana Dane man ♪

♪ This type scares optometrist
Plain and simple it's all mind and wrist ♪

♪ On a tempt
Oh, my goodness could this ♪

♪ Be the format where l'm at
In the abyss ♪♪

Man, governments
ain't running things no more.

Financial institutions,
they controlling the whole thing.

You ever hear of the World Bank
or the lMF? No, huh?

Y'all probably don't even have
checking accounts.

But y'all got them
credit cards, huh?

Buy stuff out your means
and wonder why you still a slave.

Y'all better recognize,
I'm telling you.

Dude, when are you gonna clear
everyone out? Classes start tomorrow.

-It's over when it's over, dude.
MAN 1 : Ha, ha. "Dude."

[MUSIC CONTlNUES]

I can't take this no more.

-Yo, man, watch my shoes.
-You got a problem, man?

Security.

OFFICER:
Look at this.

-What's up, kid?
-They're playing their music, man.

Who?

These guys. l'm not trying to narc,
but tomorrow's the first day of class.

I got physics in the morning.
It's like frigging Soul Train up there.

You're here to study, not to party.
Head home and hit those books.

Glad you had a good time.
Come again on the weekend.

Good night. Okay.

People are trying to sleep.
Give them a little respect, huh?

[MUSIC PLAYING FAlNTLY]

You don't hear that down the hall?

You ain't sweating them because
they're playing that hillbilly shit, right?

No, no. Because l dig rock 'n' roll.

Then roll your fat ass
down the hall then.

That's that old bullshit.

[♪♪♪]

WOMAN:
Hey!

-Why are you walking alone?
-I don't know.

It's not safe to walk around
campus by yourself at night.

I just left the Row because my friends
were drinking and acting crazy.

I just went my own way.

-Some friends.
-Heh.

Yeah.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

KRlSTEN:
Look at all these pretty blue lights.

You don't know what
they're for, do you?

No. Heh. Decoration?

No, it's the blue-light system.

See, there's a phone
at the end of every block.

That way you can call security
in case someone tries to grab you.

Whoa.

You're gonna have
to be careful out here.

Come on.

KRlSTEN: l just got here.
Have you met anybody yet?

Yeah, l just met somebody.

My name's Taryn.

-Junior.
-Kristen. Freshman.

Fresh-woman?

-Yeah, l could tell.
-Heh.

Well, my first class is at 8.

-So--
-Where's your dorm?

It's right here. Holland Hall.
Real close.

-Okay. Sure. Oh, wait.
-Thanks.

Here.

Students for a Non-Sexist Society.

We have meetings Wednesdays
if you want to come by.

Okay. Thanks.

Oh, man.

[POP MUSlC PLAYING ON RADlO]

♪ Do l go it alone ♪

♪ Do l make you the key ♪

♪ But you have to wait and see ♪♪

[MUSIC STOPS]

Oh, man, l'm sorry.
I didn't know you were here.

-It's time for us to talk.
-About what?

About your side of the room.

What's wrong with it?

Look at it, man. lt's filthy,
it's funky, it's stinking, man.

-What you do on that side affects me.
-All right, I'll try.

FUDGE:
Let's take a trip around the world.

Look there, under the statue.
You see them people?

That's Disneyland.

And there's Chinatown.

And over there,
that's south of the border.

And this right here is the black hole
because we're black folks.

So, you Fudge, huh?
I heard about you.

-What'd you hear about me?
-I heard you were a super-duper senior.

Been here six years
and still haven't graduated.

-She trying to play you out.
-Why is that?

Because l done already
learned the game, fresh fish.

Is that right, old trout?

[BELL CHlMES]

Yo. Yo.

Y'all some trained Negroes.

Soon as you hear a bell,
y'all go running.

Welcome to the real world.

Or, as it states in your schedule
of courses, Political Science 1 01 .

I am your instructor.
My name is Professor Maurice Phipps.

Today l am going to give you your first
lesson in politics. Are you ready?

Now, l shall need one volunteer.

Anyone?

No wonder this nation is falling
behind the rest of the world.

No one in this class
seems to have any initiative.

Ah. You, brave soul, come forward.

[♪♪♪]

-What is your name, my good man?
-Malik Williams, Professor Phipps, sir.

Malik Williams. Mr. Williams,
would you be kind enough...

...to read the names
with the asterisks beside them?

Those persons whose names
are called, please stand.

All right. "Marvin Anthony,
Wendy Arrington, Tanya Arroyo...

...Chris Barlow, Skye Blue,
Jennifer Bryant...

...Pamela Burris, Eric Cannon,
Kristen Connor, Judith Dantzig...

...Patsy Ewing, Mark Katz...

...Malik Williams." What?

Thank you, Mr. Williams.
You have served your purpose.

What's that list for, dog?

Those persons whose names were
called and whom are standing...

...the university instructed me that
your financial bill hasn't been paid.

Leave and settle your debts. You
may not return until you have done so.

There are no handouts
in the free world...

...and, appropriately, none in
my course. Thank you and good day.

[STUDENTS CHATTERING]

Shit.

Professor Phipps, I need this class
for my major. You know?

Young lady, calm yourself and go
to the financial aid office.

Go.

What about me?

Don't you have
some business to attend to?

Yeah, but l thought
I just showed initiative.

That don't count for nothing, brother?

Mr. Williams, I do not appreciate,
nor will l tolerate...

...people who try to brownnose
in my course.

Now go to the financial aid office
or appeal to the athletic department.

I ain't no dumb athlete.

That remains to be seen.

Right. I hope that all of you....

MALlK: Yo, dog, take good notes.
I'm gonna need to borrow them.

Now that the bureaucratic nonsense
is out of the way, we'll get to...

...the business of real politics.

Are you sure? I mean,
I don't understand this.

Never leave home without it.

[KEYBOARD CLACKlNG]

Looks like we got a problem
with your fee bill.

Like what?

It says you got a partial athletic
scholarship. Better talk to your coach.

Partial? That's a mistake.
I'm a full-scholarship student.

I can't help that.
That's what it shows.

-You sure your computer ain't broke?
-I'm sorry, honey. l can't help you.

-Go get it cleared in that department.
-Thank you.

Next.

Baby, you're just gonna have
to get a job.

Here's your card.

Come on, guys, pick it up!

You look like a bunch of girls!
Come on, pick it up!

Come on, give me some juice.
There you go.

[ARETHA FRANKLlN'S "YOUNG,
GlFTED AND BLACK" PLAYlNG]

♪ Young ♪

♪ Yeah
Thank you, Jesus ♪

♪ Gifted and black ♪

COACH DAVlS:
Yeah, looking sweet.

♪ Open your heart ♪

♪ Is all l need... ♪

♪ In this whole world, you know,
There's a millions of boys and girls ♪

Twenty-three!

COACH DAVlS:
You want a what? A full scholarship?

Heh. Man, you got some nerve.

All right, l'll see what I can do.

I don't wanna hear you're lax in your
studies or fucking up on the field.

You got that?
Do l make myself clear?

MALlK:
Yeah, man, I understand.

[DOOR OPENS]

DREADS: Word to the mother, kid.
Have you seen that ass? Whoo!

[AL GREEN'S "LET'S STAY TOGETHER"
PLAYlNG OVER SPEAKERS]

♪ Since we been together ♪

DREADS: Hey, yo, what kind
of munchies y'all got?

Where are the vittles at? The eats?

Hey, y'all ain't got no Kool-Aid
up in this piece, man? Guess not.

I see y'all got some Evian
up in here, though, huh?

How would you feel if you had to study
and l came in and blasted my music?

-That wouldn't happen.
-Why not?

Because l'd whup your ass,
that's why.

[DREADS CHUCKLlNG]

♪ Loving you whether
Whether ♪

♪ Times are good or bad
Happy or sad ♪♪

REMY:
Excuse me.

FUDGE:
Boy, l'm the master of Monopoly.

[CURTlS MAYFlELD'S
"GIVE ME YOUR LOVE" PLAYlNG]

That's right.

You bankrupt, G.

Should've bought them
apartments, man. I told you.

Hey, why you going to this school?

Well, because that's what they say you
need to do to make it in the country.

-What's "making it"?
-Fudge, your printer's out of paper.

Well, then go buy some more.
What's "making it"?

You know, getting a degree.
You know, making that long dough.

Is that right? So you in it
for the money or the knowledge?

Check out this situation.

You at a football game.
There's thousands of people there.

All of them white.

The American flag
is right above your head.

They're about to play
the national anthem.

All these people turn around
and look you dead in your eye.

What do you do?

I stand up. Heh.
I'd probably be so embarrassed....

You know, I'd stand up.
You know what l'm saying?

They got you running
for the school, huh?

-Yeah. Partial scholarship.
-You don't run, you don't get tuition.

That's the way the system goes.

Run, nigger, run.

[THE BRAND NEW HEAVlES'
"TIME FOR CHANGE" PLAYlNG]

♪ Heaven help us
Find out what you really mean ♪♪

Oh, my God. Look at her hair.

-Be nice, Nicole. lt's not that bad.
-She looks like a tramp.

-Hi.
-Hi. What'd you do to your hair?

-I just bleached it.
-I love it. Yes.

Watch me bring it up.
Watch me bring it.

Bam. Of all times.

Want to play again, man?
Come on, let's play again.

[SKY CRIES MARY'S "CORNERMAN"
PLAYlNG]

WAYNE: Three in a row.
DAVlD: You're a bastard.

-Want to play?
-Huh?

-Want to play a game of pool?
-I don't know how to play.

♪ I'll get off the floor ♪

♪ Give me a roof
Over my head ♪♪

Bye.

Ahem. Okay, who's the genius
who matches roommates up?

They moved me in
with a psycho dickhead.

It's like the Bates Hotel
over at my place.

My days are numbered, Wayne.

-He's probably just quiet.
DAVlD: Okay.

Hey.

-Hey, man. Say, where's the party?
-Up here, man.

Is that right? Cool.

[UPBEAT MUSlC PLAYlNG]

NlCOLE:
Here she goes.

Nice job. Hello! Good night.

Down the hatch.

Talented, I see.

-I never usually swallow.
-You're a dirty girl.

-Hey, let's get one for her, huh?
-Give her a shot.

Kristen!

Kristen! Kristen! Kristen!

Drink! Drink! Drink!

[ALL CHEERING]

[lNAUDlBLE]

All right!
What a big girl you are, huh?

KRlSTEN: l can't walk.
BILLY: Please, come on.

KRlSTEN: All right. Where are we going?
-We're going to my house.

To the house.

When you say that you look really
bad, like, you're perfect, you know?

Hey, do you think we should've
let Kristen go with Billy?

-Because she doesn't even drink.
-Billy who?

-I love you!
-I love you!

[GlGGLES]

[TORl AMOS' "LOSING MY RELlGlON"
PLAYlNG]

[GlGGLlNG]

♪ Me in the corner ♪

Billy, you've gotta get a rubber.

♪ Me in the spotlight ♪

Billy, we should be using a condom.

Just a second.

♪ Losin' my religion ♪

[BlLLY MOANlNG]

Billy, come on.

-One second.
-No. Get a condom.

Just wait a second.
Shut up!

Billy, no! Stop it! Get a condom!

No! Stop it!

Billy, get off of me! Get off of me!

-Fuck, man!
-No! Stop!

Stop! No!

♪ Losin' my religion ♪

You fucker!

Kris, what the--? Wait!

Wait a second! Goddamn it!

Kristen.

Fuck!

[ALL WHOOPING AND CHEERING]

♪ Me
Me in the corner ♪

[WHlMPERlNG]

[SOBBlNG]

[♪♪♪]

Say, man.

-Did you give it to her?
-What?

You fucked her, right?
Did she like it?

What the fuck are you talking about?
How the fuck do you know?

-Go get a beer.
BILLY: Who the fuck are you, man?

You just got laid, right?
You should be cool.

-Motherfucker!
-What's up with you?

-What's your problem?
BILLY: You're my problem, bitch.

[SOBBlNG]

[♪♪♪]

[SOBBlNG]

Whew. Oh....

I finished my paper
and l don't have anything to do.

Kris, what's the matter?
Why are you crying?

Oh, God,
what have you been drinking?

Kris, what's wrong?

[PHONE RINGlNG]

[SOBBlNG]

MONET: Hello.
-Can l speak to Kristen, please?

-Who's this?
-Billy.

-Billy who? l don't know no Billys.
-Uh, yeah, l just, um....

I just need to talk to Kristen.

-You want to speak to Kristen.
-No. No.

Uh.... She's not here.

Even if she was here, l don't think
she'd wanna talk to you.

I know she's there. I can hear her.

-Can you put her on the phone?
-Didn't l just tell you she's not here?

Put her on the phone,
you black bitch!

-What did you say?
-You heard me.

[♪♪♪]

[SLAMS PHONE DOWN]

[SCOFFS]

[TlCKlNG]

Why are y'all so quiet?

-Let's go.
DREADS: To kick some ass, nigga?

[lMlTATING GUNSHOTS]

[CHATTERING]

Just get away from him
and come home with me.

What do you think they make
you do to get into this frat?

You know?

You don't?

I bet you they make you do something,
right?

Like things.

Crazy stuff.

I'd do it.

Which one?

FUDGE: Yo! Get the fuck up!
DREADS: Piece of crap. Get his ass.

BILLY:
What's up, bro? What did I do?

-Come on!
BILLY: Man, let me go!

-Chad, what's up with these guys?
-Call security now!

What'd l do?

DREADS:
I'll just put my boot in your mouth.

I heard you been disrespecting
black women.

No, man, l haven't either--

You called me a black bitch,
and you gonna get your ass kicked.

Come on, man, listen. l'm sorry.

-I'm sorry, okay?
-Apologize to her!

Sorry! l'm sorry! Look, I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.

Fuck that!
We need to just bust his shit!

-No, listen. Please, man.
-Here's what l want you to say.

I want you to say,
"l apologize, beautiful black woman...

...mother of the Earth,
queen of the universe."

I'm sorry.
I apologize, black mother--

-Get it right!
-I can't remember all that.

I'm sorry.

[SlRENS BLARE]

[STUDENTS SHOUTlNG]

What's going on?

These gang members
dragged him out for no reason.

What the fuck you talking about,
white boy?

Gang members?
We go to school here too!

-Enough of this stuff.
-I'll rip your ass off them stairs!

Don't I know you? Everybody else,
come out with the lD's.

You don't need to see nobody lD.
Don't show them.

Wait. Everything's okay now.
It was just a misunderstanding.

We're cool now, right?

We're cool, right?

Hope you gonna break up their party
like you did ours.

-Is everything cool here now?
CHAD: Very fucking cool!

What's up? What's up?

DREADS:
Pussy.

[LAUGHlNG]

Punk-ass motherfucker.

I don't understand why they always
have to start all this trouble.

-You okay, Billy?
-Yeah.

[♪♪♪]

Come on.

TARYN: We need to get past just
complaining about university security.

You know?

I'm tired of hearing women cry
for someone else to save them.

Think what that means.

Why do you need someone else
to save you?

Think about saving yourself.

-Hi.
-Hi.

Hi, everybody.

-Join us.
-Okay.

Hi.

We were talking about security on
campus, in light of a recent survey...

...that showed one out of four women
has been raped...

...or survived an attempted rape,
since the age of 14.

Do you have any ideas or thoughts
you want to share?

Um....

No.

[COMPUTER BEEPS]

Fudge, you got some e-mail
coming through.

FUDGE:
Is that right?

Need to start charging y'all fools,
like the university.

Twenty-five cent a page.

Y'all could pay for my laundry.

[WATTS PROPHETS "WHAT lS A MAN"
PLAYlNG]

♪ A man can walk proudly
Down in the streets ♪

♪ A man's not ashamed
Of what he believes ♪

♪ He knows how to laugh
He knows how to cry ♪

♪ He knows how to live ♪

♪ He's not afraid to die ♪♪

Hey. You got the autobiography
of Frederick Douglass?

Yeah.

Biographies are up there.

-Damn. You read all these?
-Most of them.

Hey, how you get turned on
to Douglass?

Need it for a class.

For a class. That's the only
reason you're reading it?

-Heh. Yeah. Why else?
-To feed your brain, fool.

I thought you was a smart one,
but you ain't. So you got to go.

-Can l borrow this book, man?
-Yeah, go ahead.

Read it for yourself
and not for no damn class, though.

-Thanks for the book, dog.
-Run along.

-What's up, brother?
-What's up, man?

Reading in the dark
is bad for the eyes.

-I got good eyes.
-What book you reading?

-Iliad.
-That's a good book. Great battles.

Yeah, it's all right.

Me and a couple friends,
we were gonna go get a drink.

You wanna come along?

Huh?

I said, me and my buddies were gonna
go get a drink. You wanna come along?

What are you,
some queer or something? Huh?

-What? What are you talking about?
-I should kick your ass, man.

First off, don't ever touch me again.

I will beat you
to the fucking ground, boy.

Secondly, you know,
I ain't no faggot. Heh.

I just wanted to know
if you wanted to get a drink.

-Sorry, man. It's a new city.
-That's okay. l understand.

We'll forget about it,
have a drink...

...with good people.
We'll have a good time.

-What do you say?
-All right, man.

Pick up your stuff. Come on.

I mean, we're white, in America,
what more do you need?

We're white, in America, what more
do you need to have a good time?

Right?

All right, here we go.

-What's your name again?
-Remy.

-What's your name?
-I'm Scott.

-So, where you from, Remy?
-Idaho.

-Idaho, huh? Where in ldaho?
-Boise.

That's the Big Sky State, huh?

-I think that's Montana.
-That's right. lt is Montana.

These are my brothers here.

Fellas, hey.

This here, this is Erik.

ERlK: What's up, man?
-This is Knocko over here.

-This is James here.
REMY: Hi.

-Everybody, this is Remy.
-Hey, Remy.

What's up?

You should know that democratic
theory did not begin...

...with Rousseau's contract. No.

Its origins, in fact, lie in
the subject of landownership.

The common people became aware
that...

...the upper classes owned the land
upon which they lived and labored.

This incensed them...

[SNORING]

...inspired them to seek sovereignty
of their own homelands.

However,
the social order of the day...

...did not permit landownership
by the common man.

Therefore, these people...

...felt the need to leave
their homelands...

...to flee in an effort to escape
political and social persecution.

Hence, the creation that is America.

Therefore, the basic premise...

...of democratic theory...

...is that each and every citizen
living within that society...

...is entitled...

...to what? Hm?

We are entitled to life...

[BLOWS]

...liberty and the pursuit
of happiness.

[LOUD BANG]

[STUDENTS CHUCKLlNG]

What you people have to realize
is that despite having these rights...

...very few people exercise them.

It is that type of apathy that
corrodes our country from within.

Your assignment for the semester
is as follows:

To formulate
your own political ideology.

This will be dictated by your sex,
background...

...socioeconomic status...

...personal experience,
et cetera, et cetera.

This course will be like
anything in life.

It will be what you make of it.
I am not a babysitter.

Ladies and gentlemen,
do not waste my time.

Remember...

...no one is going to treat
you special...

...just because you are black. Hm?

Right. Or white.

Or Hispanic.

Or lndian.

Or Asian.

Or because you are a woman.

Or because you failed to get
sufficient rest last night.

[STUDENTS CHUCKLlNG]

Or because you are--

What are you?

-I don't know.
-Right.

[♪♪♪]

[CHATTER OVER RADIO]

Don't sweat it.

Come on.

Watch it.

-Watch out.
-Watch it. Watch it.

-Damn.
-Let's see your lD.

No, let us see your lD.

Forget these guys.

Thought so.

You know what that's all about?
They hate me because they ain't me.

[SNIFFLING]

Can you hand me another one
of those mayonnaise?

-Do you want to report it?
-It's not gonna do anything.

They're just gonna make me
feel like shit...

...and make me look like
I asked for it.

I didn't ask for this.
I just wanna go to school.

Come here.

This ain't cool, dog. A "B" on
content, and then l get a "C" for--

Punctuation mistakes,
misspellings...

...grammatical error,
et cetera, et cetera.

You probably didn't even read it.
TA graded all of these, right?

If you could spell as well as you run,
it would be better, Mr. Williams. Hm?

-Sellout.
-Mr. Williams.

So Mr. Williams
thinks I am an Uncle Tom. Heh.

Well, well, well.

What does that have to do with your
ability to place a comma properly...

...or put a period
at the end of a sentence?

-Look--
-Would you care for a peppermint?

No, thank you.

You're using
that reverse treatment...

...because l'm one of the only
black faces in your class.

Mr. Williams, I treat everyone
in my course exactly the same...

...and I will continue to give you
a difficult time...

...until you have proven
that you deserve otherwise.

-Those are the rules of the game.
-It's a fucked-up game.

Please watch your language.

Rid yourself of this attitude
that the world owes you something.

You must strip yourself of that
mentality. lt breeds laziness.

It is laziness that has kept
black people down in this country.

I don't think like that.
All right, man, it's just....

Look, l don't need one of my own
trying to treat me like I'm the enemy.

The enemy? Who is the enemy?
One man with a white beard...

...who sits behind his desk...

...pushing buttons that control
the fate of the entire world?

No, that is not reality.
That is The Wizard of Oz.

No, man, l mean anybody.

White, black, anybody
who gets in the way of my progress.

I am not in your way.

I did not ask you
to come to this university...

...nor am l here to motivate you.

Your own presence
should be motivation enough.

I have nothing to prove,
unlike you.

I don't have anything to prove.

Who do l have something to prove to?

Yourself.

PHlPPS:
Good afternoon, Mr. Williams.

[♪♪♪]

[CROWD CHEERING]

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,
the next race on the track...

...will be the 4x1 00-meter relay.

In lane three, the non-scoring B-team
from John Paul College.

Lane number four, the scoring team
from Columbus University.

Lane number five, the scoring team
from John Paul College.

And in lane six, the non-scoring
B-team from Columbus University.

On your marks!

May we have quiet for the start.

Set!

[CHEERlNG]

[GUNSHOT]

We have a fair start.

Adam Bailey out very well
in lane four for Columbus University.

Getting ready now for
the first exchange.

Stick!

Down the backstretch they go.
Columbus in four, John Paul in five.

A tremendous effort
by John Paul College...

...moves them into the lead as we
get ready for the second exchange.

ln the far turn, John Paul in five,
Columbus in four, neck and neck.

Getting ready
for the anchor leg.

Stick! Stick!

Tyrene Jay for John Paul...

...and Robert "The Rocket" Simmons
for Columbus.

-It is John Paul followed by Columbus.
-First place, 39.58.

Second place, 39.60.

-Second place, 39.60.
-Correct.

The next race on the track
will be the 1 500 meters.

That event is scheduled in 1 0
minutes. Visit the concession stand....

ROBERT: Ain't no next time.
All l'm saying is this.

I got a lot riding on this. l'm not
about to let my stats get blown.

You the only weak link on this team.

You listening to me?

Fool, all you is, all you ever gonna
be, is a runner. Like a horse.

You're a slave,
too ignorant to know it.

-Who you calling ignorant, bitch?
-Hey!

-We're a team, man!
-Fuck that shit!

We gotta stick together, black men!

Get your shit together, bitch!
Stupid bitch!

I like that.

I like your beautiful hair,
your eyes, your lips.

Look at this fool with his cave bitch.
It's a damn shame, man.

Don't that make you upset
as a black woman?

I don't want him.

Yeah, l can dig that.
He's weak anyway.

Miss Deja.
Where you from? Texas, right?

-I see you did your research.
-Not enough.

-God.
-I could always know more.

[♪♪♪]

[GlGGLES]

What, you shy?

-No. Are you?
-I stepped to you, didn't l?

I've been seeing you on the track,
having a little attitude.

I seen you too,
acting like you all that.

-I'm not acting like--
-Mr. Big Stuff. Yes, you do.

You be like:

-Running for your life.
-So you be looking at me?

-I don't look at you.
-You just imitated my form.

You be looking at me, right?

A little bit,
but we're on the same team.

-I been looking at you too.
-God.

-What dorm you staying in?
-Why you wanna know where l live?

-I wanted to get you home safe.
-I'll be okay.

-There's a lot of crazies here.
-Goodness.

I'll guard your body.
Be your bodyguard.

How do you feel knowing this country
doesn't belong to you any longer?

I mean,
what do you think of that?

How do you feel knowing that
when you graduate from college...

...you might not get a job because
of your skin color?

ERlK:
Because of some quota.

SCOTT: People don't realize how far
down the drain America has gone.

What do you think about that, Remy?

[♪♪♪]

I guess l never thought
about that, man.

It's different here than l thought
it was gonna be.

Seems like everybody's
sticking to their own...

...taking up for their own.

I don't know anybody down here.

It's different, man. You know.

-All l got is me.
ERlK: No, man.

And me. We're brothers by blood.

Yeah, you got me too, Remy.

[GRUNTS]

I think l'm gonna cry.

Shut the fuck up, Knocko.
Show the man some respect.

That's cool, Scott.

That's pure Aryan blood
you're talking to.

No, no, no, you're right.

This is brotherhood, Remy.
Welcome home.

-Thanks.
SCOTT: Remy, this is your family now.

And if there should be anything at all
that you wanna talk about...

...then l want you to come to me
or to us.

If there's one thing I want you
to leave thinking about tonight...

...it's that we take care of our own.

Thanks, man.

Thanks, Scott.

Run-on. Run-on.
Fragment. Fragment. Fragment.

-Is this a period or a comma?
-That's a lot of red ink.

-Do you want help?
-I'm here.

Malik, you gotta get this to flow,
and right now it's not flowing.

Right here,
that's a really good point...

...but you gotta follow it up
with a concise explanation.

What do you mean?

[SlGHS]

Malik, when you write an essay,
you gotta follow a certain format.

You start with your thesis statement...

...and you have to always use
transitional phrases.

And don't use the same word
every single time.

Change it up.
Professors hate that.

You should use a thesaurus.
And where's your outline?

MALlK:
Hm?

[SCOFFS]

We got a lot of work to do.

[LIZ PHAIR'S "DON'T HAVE TlME"
PLAYlNG OVER HEADPHONES]

♪ What do you think I would see? ♪

♪ All of my beautiful banquet receipts ♪

♪ Have been laid out for me ♪

♪ It's been played out for me ♪♪

-Is something wrong?
-Hm? No.

-Are you sure?
-Yeah.

I'm fine.

I am afraid it is unclear.

But-- l don't understand.

Miss Connor, you don't appear to take
any kind of position in this paper.

I thought, when you write...

...you're supposed to
be as objective as possible.

That is a rule ofjournalism.

It is often taught
and very rarely practiced.

This, however,
is a political science course.

If you wish to write
about objectivity...

...write about its use in modern
politics in your view. Hm?

That'd make a good paper.
I'll write that down.

Oh, Christ Jesus.

What?

In future, Miss Connor,
please find your own thesis.

I am looking for evidence
of original thought.

You are not here to simply recycle
dates and facts from the past.

One's primary purpose
at university level...

...should be to learn how to think.

[♪♪♪]

Now, question:

Did you write this paper?

You really feel like insulting
my intelligence, don't you?

I worked my ass off on that paper.
I rewrote it three times.

-Shouldn't be one misspelled word.
-All right, Mr. Williams, I believe you.

Are you having problems
here at Columbus?

It's all right.

I got a problem with the way fools be
tripping when they see a black face.

Someone spit in your face
when you first came to campus?

Was there a cross burned
outside your dormitory?

No. I know what you're
trying to get at.

Just because it ain't up in my face,
that don't mean it's not happening.

It's less physical now.
It's more mental.

I gotta run and study, man.

I don't see these white folks worrying
about nothing but going to class...

...talking about skiing.
They don't have the same worries.

Then your problem is financial.
Not racial, but economic.

These type of problems
can be worked out.

For example,
you are a runner, are you not?

-One of the best.
-A big-time track star, huh?

All right.

Let us say you are running a race...

...and you suspect the opposing team
has a member who is...

...faster, stronger,
more big-time than yourself.

What do you do then?
Do you leave the track?

Hell, no.

-What do you do?
-Run faster.

[♪♪♪]

[CHUCKLES]

[WATCH BEEPS]

[♪♪♪]

[KEYBOARDS CLACKlNG]

KRlSTEN: We're having a rally.
-Out here?

Yeah, and we also have
these meetings as well...

...where a group of women get together
and discuss all sorts of issues...

-...about sexuality...
-Oh, wow.

...student security,
all sorts of things.

-I think it'd be great if you'd come.
-Thank you.

[SPEAKlNG SPANlSH]

-What?
-I said, can l have a flyer?

It's for Students
for a Non-Sexist Society.

-Wayne, right?
-Yeah.

-It's a women's group.
-That's kind of a contradiction.

You want a non-sexist society...

...but you won't give me a flyer
because l'm a man? That's not cool.

Why do you really want to come?

-Your hair looks better that way.
-Thanks.

-You're welcome.
-God.

[ME'SHELL NDEGEOCELLO'S
"SOUL SEARCHlN"' PLAYlNG]

♪ Don't nobody hold me
Don't nobody kiss me ♪

♪ Nobody ♪

♪ Come caress my saddened heart ♪

♪ My sunrise and my darkest dreams ♪

♪ All my hostility's tamed
When you kiss me ♪

♪ Don't nobody hold me
Don't nobody kiss me ♪

♪ The way you do ♪♪

Warrior representation. Yes.

WOMEN [CHANTlNG]: No means
no! No means no! No means no!

[CHANTlNG CONTlNUES]

[SOFTLY]
Hello.

[MlC FEEDBACK SQUEALS]

[CHANTlNG CONTlNUES]

Hello.

[CROWD CHEERING]

[CHEERlNG STOPS]

[lN LOUDER VOlCE]
I'm a freshman.

And....

I was raped.

No, we didn't.

We'll have to think about
what we're doing next week.

-You look cute.
-Do l?

[MEN WHOOPING]

[WOMAN SCREAMS]

[GRUNTING]

Happy Halloween, brother!

Be sure and stay away from the white
girls from now on. I know you will.

[SCOTT LAUGHS]

What are you doing?
Let's go get some fucking candy!

KRlSTEN: That was awesome.
TARYN: lt was good.

There are things
we could've done better...

...but l was proud of you.

-Thank you.
-Yeah.

-I feel so much better now.
-Good.

Look, um, you know, l could just--

Why don't l just stay
with you tonight?

[♪♪♪]

We could stay up and talk or....

What do you think?

Are you sure you're ready for that?

Don't do it just because
you're fascinated.

I want you to be sure.

Good night.

[DOOR CLOSES]

So...

...what's up with your friend?

-She's weird.
-She's not weird. She's just different.

Yeah, and I bet she wants to show you
just how different she can be, huh?

I'm tired of running and studying.

It's too hard to do both.
I feel like a slave.

They wouldn't give a fuck about me
if l wasn't running for this school.

I'm tired of feeling like a thoroughbred.
I ain't nobody's horse.

Why you always gotta
take stuff so far?

People would die to be where you are,
and you tripping.

You have the opportunity to go
to school, and it's here. So take it.

I don't see security stopping you
on campus to see your lD.

You're all hunky-dory
with your scholarship.

They'll let that harmless black woman
through easier than a man.

-So you think I got it easy?
-Hell, yeah.

-Easier than me.
-You know them girls l stay with?

Every time something comes up
missing, who you think they look at?

-And?
-I feel like fighting.

-I feel like beating people up.
-Why don't you?

It's a waste of time.
Instead, l fight with this:

And I'm getting mine.

You gotta stop doing this all the time:
And start doing this:

Quit worrying about
what people are thinking.

Yeah, but it still ain't the same.

Listen.

You a woman. I'm a black man.

You're safe.

I'm a threat, educated or not.

You ain't educated yet.

Crazy!

[RAPHAEL SAADlQ'S
"ALL l ASK" PLAYlNG]

♪ Girl, l'll do all the rubbin' ♪

♪ That's all l ask of you ♪

♪ -l'll kiss you anywhere
-I'll kiss you anywhere, baby ♪

♪ -Yes, love, even there
-Even there ♪

♪ That's all l ask of you ♪

♪ Kissin' you is not enough for me ♪

♪ You know l'm a big boy
And big boys have desires ♪

♪ Makin' love is what l wanna do ♪

♪ But I need a true friend
To make me come together ♪

-♪ Just give me all your lovin'
-♪ All your love ♪

-♪ Girl, l'll do all the rubbin' ♪
-♪ l wanna kiss you right there ♪

-♪ That's all l ask of you
-♪ Just stand right there, little girl ♪

-♪ l'll kiss you anywhere ♪
-♪ Anywhere ♪

-♪ Yes, love, even there ♪
-♪ Especially there and there ♪

♪ l love you, Deja ♪

-♪ Just give me all your lovin' ♪
-♪ All your love ♪

-♪ Girl, l'll do all the rubbin' ♪
-♪ Give me everything l want ♪

-♪ That's all l ask of you ♪
-♪ l'm sure l can please you ♪

-♪ l'll kiss you anywhere ♪
-♪ Anywhere ♪

♪ Yes, love, even there ♪

♪ l wanna kiss you right there ♪

Hey. Kristen.

Hmm?

Oh. Heh.

-Hi.
-Hi.

-Can we talk?
-Uh, sure. Here?

[♪♪♪]

-Mm-mm. Don't put too much lipstick on.
-Why not?

You don't want to look like a tramp.
You'll look desperate.

Here, blot it some.

-Is that better?
-Yeah, yeah. Yeah, like that.

MONET: Is that him?
Well, all right, Kristen.

I was getting worried about you.

-Where'd you get these, man?
-A buddy of mine in law enforcement.

Fucking gun-control department. Ha, ha.

These guns all suck.

It don't matter as long as
they do the job.

-Do you want a beer?
-Yeah.

Check this out, man.

This is a gun, man.

-Glock 9 mm.
-Shut up.

Pumped gas two years
to buy this. Laser sighting.

Fucking Rambo, man!
No way l can miss.

-This is power.
-Don't point that fucking shit at me!

I know how to handle guns, man.
I been shooting since l was 9.

Don't ever point a gun at me
ever again. You'll be sorry.

Who taught you how to shoot?

-My pa.
-Your pa?

My pa's a survivalist.
Used to kick my ass every day.

He's always talking about
the world coming to an end.

TARYN:
Do you like to hike?

KRlSTEN:
Yeah. l've never really tried it.

Yeah? You should go.
Around here there's beautiful hills.

I try and go every day. l was there
this morning. The light was beautiful.

What if there's snakes?
Hey, Monet.

Hey.

-How's it going?
-Cool. You all right?

Yeah, l'm fine.

-Hi, Taryn.
-Hi, Monet. How you doing?

-Well, see you later.
-Yeah, see you guys later. Bye.

Girl!

[♪♪♪]

I like it that you understand me.

There are things that...

...I don't have to say because...

...you just know how l feel.

That was nice.

I think you're nice.

You're trembling.

Are you afraid?

Yes.

Why?

I won't hurt you.

I don't want you to do anything
that you don't wanna do.

I know.

I want to.

Are you ready?

Just a second.

As a black man in America,
my stress comes from everywhere.

Recognize.
Take a look around you.

Look at this.
Columbus disgusts me.

Fool wasn't nothing but a thief,
mass murderer.

Slaughtered Native Americans.

We got a holiday
and a university named for him?

We're supposed to be learning their
westernized thoughts...

...only to learn that in their eyes,
we're lower class. Always.

Class is a state of mind.

History's proven you can be
the smartest, run the fastest...

...they still think we inferior.

What's that shirt, man?

You support the Black Panthers?

-Yeah. And?
-That's reverse racism, man.

1 995, coon.

-What?
-Malik, come on--

-What?
-Stop.

I'm gonna kick your ass,
whatever ass you got left, fool!

Yeah, all right.
You can run, but you can't hide!

REMY: "The sharp separating wall
between master and slave fell.

The Aryan gave up the purity of his
blood and, therefore, he also lost...

...the place in the paradise
he had created for himself.

He became submerged in the
race mixture. He gradually lost--"

[BANGlNG ON DOOR]

What's up, man?

Man, l gotta admit, you've been real
polite about staying out of my way.

But you ain't been honest.

See, l figure, it ain't what a person
say, it's what they think.

So in my mind...

...you been walking around calling me
a nigger in your head.

Am l right?

-I don't have nothing to say to you.
-I think you do.

Say what you feel.
You think I'm a nigger?

Then be a man and call me one
to my face.

[LAUGHlNG]

You're just a punk-ass white boy
with a fucked-up haircut.

Bitch.

[♪♪♪]

Fuck!

Fuck you!
You don't fucking scare me!

[CRYlNG]

[GUN COCKS]

[♪♪♪]

Uh....

Oh....

This is fucked-up.
This is really fucked-up.

What's wrong with you?

I don't give a shit
what you do with your stuff...

...but this is my stuff, man!

-Know how selfish that is?
-What are you gonna do?

Jeez, l don't know. l'm gonna
kick your ass. What does that mean?

Why don't you get your shit
and move out, man?

Excuse me?
Why don't l get my shit and move out?

-You moved in here.
REMY: What are you gonna do?

Look, why don't we just sit down?

Why don't we just fucking
stop this and talk about it?

I don't wanna talk to you.
I don't need to talk.

Don't you know l'm superior to you?

Don't you know l came
from the master race?

-You're nothing. Don't tell me what--
-Get off, crazy motherfucker!

All right, motherfucker?
Go to sleep.

Calm your ass down. Calm down.
What is wrong with you, man?

-What's going on?
-I gotta get out of here.

REMY: Fuck you!
-What the fuck?

You damn Jews and niggers
stick together.

You all work against me,
the pure, white, Christian man.

Don't you know he controls you,
nigger? You ain't nothing without them.

You're nothing! You're a slave.

I'll take my fucking belt off, man.
I'll make you my fucking monkey.

-Get on the floor.
-Relax.

Get on the floor!

You're not white.
You're Jewish. You're nothing.

You're not me!
What are you gonna do? Huh?

Dirty nigger.
Got something to say now?

I'm not fooling.
You got something to say now?

DAVlD: Jesus Christ! Fucking relax!
-Who's the man now, big man?

Fucking hotshot ape.
You're nothing, Malik! You're nothing!

You're dead. You're dead.

[RAGE AGAINST THE MACHlNE'S
"TIRE ME" PLAYING]

♪ You tryin' to tire me ♪

♪ Yeah, you tryin' to tire me
So get the fuck from in front of me ♪♪

REMY:
Don't move, fucker.

You're all gonna die.
You're gonna die, monkey!

He had a fucking gun!
A fucking gun!

I'm gonna call secur-- He broke the
phone. We gotta call security.

-I'm gonna get this fool!
-Where are you going?

-Stop. Not so fast.
-Get out of my way.

I'm trying to catch this dude
who just pulled a gun on me!

-Let's see lD.
-You don't need no lD! Out of my way!

[lNAUDlBLE DlALOGUE]

No! That's the wrong guy!
That's the wrong guy!

-Who are you?
-Get the fuck out of here!

[SlREN WAlLlNG]

Charlie, look what l found
in the kid's room.

You believe this?
Do me a favor, will you?

See if you can find a name or a picture
or an lD in his room.

CHARLlE:
You bet.

[SlGHS]

All right, let's break it up.
Everything is fine now.

What do you mean, "break it up"?
Look at those white folks there.

You ain't telling them to go.

White boy pull a gun out in his face
and you ask us to break it up?

Y'all got some nerves.
Fuck you! We ain't going nowhere.

If they can stand over there together,
we can stand here together.

Now you go find the asshole
that pulled a gun on this man's face.

[♪♪♪]

Get those kids to move out
so we can clear this area.

Okay, let's go.
Break it up. Come on.

Show's over. Back to your rooms.
Nothing to see here.

What do you think
happened here?

-What's going on?
-I don't know.

It's Malik.

Malik. Malik. What happened?

-He doesn't feel like talking now.
-Can l help?

What's that all about?

I don't know.

Malik. Hey, man. Malik, wait up.

What's up, man?
Why'd you move all your stuff out?

I'm staying with some homies now.

I thought you and David
might want to live together.

David doesn't even know
if he's going to school next semester.

He's all depressed. His parents
have him going to a shrink.

-I think he's lost it, myself.
-Listen, Wayne.

I think you're cool, man.

We ain't never had no beef,
outside of your dirty clothes...

...and opposite taste in music.

But l'm just--
I'm at the point where...

...l feel safer and more comfortable
with my own people.

I ain't come here to have
no white boy pull a gun in my face.

I could have got that in the ghetto.

Seems like this system is set up
towards maintaining white supremacy.

I didn't come here to learn that--

I understand you're pissed.
But l'm not like that, Malik.

You treat me like l'm Remy.

I'm not like that.
I'm no fucking white supremacist!

Is that what you see?

I'm different.

So are you. You know?

No, I'm not. Neither are you.
That's the problem.

Peace.

What are you two doing
sitting there? Plotting?

Yeah, we're plotting. Plotting to steal.

To steal what?

-To steal the information. All of it.
-Yeah, but whose information is it?

The more you learn about this system,
the more upset you get.

Oh, my dear Mr. Williams. Heh.

Peppermint? Hmm?

Information is power.

If you don't have the information,
one cannot seize power.

You need to think about
becoming mentally competitive.

Being black does not free you
from being a responsible individual.

But being a responsible individual
don't free you from being black.

-Heh. That's right.
PHlPPS: Poor, misguided soul.

You have yet to learn
the rules of this game.

-He will.
-I don't want to.

See, l'm smart enough to know
it's not my game to play.

I'm just a pawn like everybody else.

Used intelligently, a pawn can create
a checkmate, Mr. Williams.

Or become a very
powerful player himself.

Don't you understand?
This is all a game. All of this.

Like basketball, football,
Mr. Big-Time Track Star, a game.

You play it to win.

Because in the real world...

...no one wants to
hear excuses or empty rhetoric.

They want to know
if you have a plan.

[♪♪♪]

Right.

Mr. Williams, Mr. White,
good afternoon.

All right.

Mr. White?

-You had his class before?
-Yeah, l had his class once.

Maybe twice.

Let's roll.

"Mr. Williams, do you have a plan?
Nobody wants to hear that bullshit."

Somebody's got to do something
about how tense it is.

We can't let the campus go crazy...

...because of the actions
of some psycho.

What do you mean, "we"?
"We" don't have to do anything.

Just because you and l get along
doesn't mean everybody else has to.

Get that "We Are the World"
stuff out of your head...

...because it is not gonna happen,
not on this campus.

[LIZ PHAIR'S "DON'T HAVE TlME"
PLAYlNG]

♪ This is what it's now ♪

♪ lt's a little bridge now, baby ♪

♪ It's a little bridge now ♪

♪ Just a photograph ♪

♪ Kinda makes me laugh ♪

Hi, here's a flyer for the Peace Fest.
Take a flyer.

Come to the Peace Fest.

♪ If l could solve your problems ♪

Here you go.

♪ What do you think I would be ♪

♪ One stupid seagull ♪

♪ Picking styrofoam up out of the sea? ♪

♪ Don't have time ♪

♪ Don't have time for all your problems
Why don't you solve them? ♪♪

KNOCKO: Faggot.
-Suck my ass.

-Fuck.
-Fuck you.

-Fuck me? Why don't you shut up?
-Don't start that.

Why did you drop out of school?

I never really wanted
to go anyway, man.

All's it was was an excuse
to get out of Idaho.

You know?

What's the point? The gooks and
towelheads get the engineering jobs.

Leave the white man out in the cold.

Goddamn affirmative action shit.
Right?

You really should not have dropped
out of school. You hear me?

We need more people like you to
become doctors, lawyers, engineers.

You listen, you get it together and
you do something for your own people.

Your own country.

If you don't, you ain't nothing
but a race traitor yourself, you hear?

KNOCKO:
Fuck you, you big-eared little faggot!

No, you know what?
You are worse than a fucking nigger!

[♪♪♪]

[YELLING]

[WOMEN SCREAM]

[MlSTA GRlMM'S "SITUATlON GRlMM"
PLAYlNG]

-What's up?
-Is Malik here?

Yeah. You didn't bring no homies?
Got any sisters?

-What's up?
-You got crazy friends.

[MEN CHATTERING]

What happened?

♪ All mind and wrist, on a tempt
Oh, my goodness could this ♪

Skinhead fool who
pulled a gun on me....

I beat him.
I'm the man. l'm God!

DEJA:
Put something cold on it.

-I don't need no ice.
-Put the ice on it!

I had his ass like this:
Pow! Pow! Pow!

Why you fighting like some thug?
This is college.

I don't know about that no more.

About to take a semester off,
let the shit cool.

It's about this, nigger! See this?
Yo, it's about this black fist, nigger!

We gonna pound
their motherfucking ass...

...until they give in, motherfucker!

You're gonna drop out.

-Did l say that?
-I see it in your eyes.

I said l'm gonna take me a break.
Look at me!

Look what they did
to my fucking face!

What's wrong with you?
What's wrong with you?

[lNDISTlNCT CHATTER]

It's a war, man.
This is the first battle in the war.

I'm telling you, man. Remy's right,
man. lt's their gang against our gang.

Fucking Malik.
I'm gonna get him. Fuck him!

ERlK: Fuck all those fucking niggers.
They're all gonna fucking die.

REMY: Fucking Malik's a piece of shit.
It's all right. We're coming back, man.

We're coming back. Niggers, spics,
the fucking mud people, they'll get it.

-Fucking idiots.
REMY: Fuck all those niggers, man!

[MlNNIE RlPERTON'S
"MEMORY LANE" PLAYING]

DREADS: Hey, yo, trouper.
What's up, man?

What's up with your girl?
She out there looking kind of bugged.

It ain't nothing.
She's just tripping, l guess.

It's all good, though.

Them fools.
They so lucky they called security.

I was fit to kill one of them white
boys. You know what I'm saying?

Whoa, shit! Fucking white boy.

See how he swole my shit up?
Knuckles all fat and shit.

It's all right, though.
Whipped his ass so bad...

...his stepmom's gonna feel me
for the next three birthdays.

Look what his homeboy did
to your head.

What you talking about? This shit?
He ain't fading nothing over here.

-One ass-whooping, but they still won.
-How you figure that?

Look around you, man.

They own this shit.

They own this couch you sitting on,
them shoes on your feet...

...this building, this school,
this country, you!

We're behind enemy lines, dog.

One beat-down will never compare
to 439 years of captivity. Never.

You don't know shit, freshman.

[♪♪♪]

This is a war. This is the opening
stages of World War Ill.

I said, shut the fuck up!

I'm tired of hearing your bullshit. l'm
tired of you trying to rev everybody up.

What are you gonna do, college boy?
And you don't even got your GED.

-Two fucking dumb-asses together.
-I'm gonna make war.

That's right, man. A race war.

-On who?
KNOCKO: On the fucking niggers.

On the fucking race traitors.
On the fucking everybody.

Why you testing me? Huh?

Remy,
you ever shot somebody before?

Actually, better yet,
you ever shoot a piece of meat?

Seen what bullets do to flesh?

Them fucking niggers out there,
them fucking little monkeys...

...those gangbangers...

...are training every fucking day
and every night shooting each other.

[♪♪♪]

They're ready for war.

But are you?

If it all went down today...

...which one of you would have
the balls to shoot a nigger?

-I would.
-You would?

Would you?

I have.

-I'd do it.
-Yeah?

That's right. l'd do it.

All right, then.

-What's his problem?
-My fucking head's killing me.

Everybody says things one way,
and you talk to me that way?

This is my blood, man.
It's white blood.

ERlK:
What you got there, Scott?

Go on and kill one of them, man.
Big shot.

KNOCKO: Are you really gonna do it?
ERlK: Yeah, he's gonna!

I'll do it.

You do it.
You do this shit, Remy!

Right between the nigger's
fucking eyes!

-I'll do it, man.
ERlK: All right, Remy!

Come here. Hey! Hey!

There are many ways to fight a battle.
Different fronts for different people.

Some people use their mind,
some use words...

-...some use fists.
-This is my front.

-For real?
-That's right. This is my front.

-You're full of shit.
-I'm for real.

[♪♪♪]

Okay. Go ahead, then.

What is high?

What is higher?

What is learn?

What is learning?

What is higher learning?

What it is? l mean, what is it?

What is higher learning?

Promise me you won't drop out.

I ain't going nowhere without you.

ERlK [OVER RADlO]:
Viking Two to Viking One.

-Yeah, Viking One.
-Let's do it, man.

I'm gonna kill communication.
This looks suspicious. All right?

For Eurocentric indoctrination...

...is learning in an environment
that is mostly white.

MALIK: lf the Dred Scott decision
was retried in a contemporary court...

...the decision would be the same...

...meaning that a black man
would still have no rights...

...that a white man, by law,
would be bound to respect.

The result would be the same
no matter what the law states...

...because it was not written by and
for the benefit of African-Americans.

The credo
"And liberty and justice for all"...

...is a falsehood that has been widely
ignored and needs to be addressed.

[EVE'S PLUM'S "EYE" PLAYING]

♪ l'm dizzy from the twist of fate
No, it can't be ♪

♪ l want you here with me
And I, l, l, l.... ♪

♪ l'm shaking ♪

♪ l'd never leave you standing there
And I, l, l, l.... ♪

♪ l've been waiting ♪♪

Thank you. Thank you.

KRlSTEN:
That was great.

Let's give a big round of applause
for Eve's Plum.

[FEEDBACK SQUEALS]

Um....

The purpose of this gathering
is to bring together everyone...

...so we can have fun
despite our differences...

...whether they be racial,
cultural or sexual.

This is a celebration of the
commonality of these differences.

There are people in this country who
have profited from keeping us apart.

[♪♪♪]

[PLANE APPROACHlNG]

[lNDISTlNCT POLlCE RADIO
CHATTER]

Do you feel better?

I'll feel better tonight.

Shoot, Remy, shoot!

SCOTT: Remy, brother,
you gotta do it now!

Come on, Remy!
Do it for the Aryan Nation!

White power, Remy!
White power!

White power!

[FAlNT GUNSHOT]

-I know what that was. Come on.
-It was probably a car.

Shit!

WOMAN:
Somebody's got a gun!

KRlSTEN: Everybody, stay calm.
Don't panic.

[PEOPLE SCREAMING]

[GUNSHOTS]

Come on!

[GUNSHOTS CONTlNUE]

[♪♪♪]

Why?!

We have to get her to the hospital.

Go get some help, boy!

PHlPPS:
Mr. Williams?

Mr. Williams, please....

Malik, what are you
standing there for?

You must go now!

Do you hear me, Mr. Williams?

Do you hear me? Malik!

[ALL SCREAMlNG]

White motherfucker!

You're dead!

[GRUNTING]

It's my world. It's my country.

It's my world.

You're nothing but a monkey.
Look at me.

I'm a man. l'm the man.

I'm a man! You're nothing!

-You're nothing! You can't beat me.
-Fuck you.

I fucking hate you!

You gonna die!

She's dead!

I'm gonna kill you!
I'm gonna kill you!

You're gonna die now!

[GRUNTING]

-You all right?
-Get off me!

[GRUNTING]

Hey, kid. What are you doing, kid?

Take it easy. Come on.

[GRUNTS]

It's gonna be all right. Settle down.

Everything's gonna be fine.
Take it easy. Just relax.

What are you doing? No!

-Don't shoot.
-Get away!

-We can't get back, kid, we can't.
-You wanna shoot me.

No, we don't. Put the gun down.

-Get away from me.
BRADLEY: We're not coming any closer.

-You're lying.
-I'm not. Nobody's hurt yet.

-You're lying.
-I'm not lying. Look at my eyes.

Phony.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. Sorry.

It's okay. We know. Put it down.

-It's over.
-No.

Don't do this. Put it down.

I wanted to build things.
I wanted to be an engineer.

-You still can.
REMY: Stop lying!

Please, put the gun down. It's okay.

It hurts.

I know.

-It hurts.
-I know, kid. It's okay.

-It's okay.
-It's not.

It is.

[GUN FlRES,
THEN GLASS SHATTERS]

No!

[♪♪♪]

[SlREN WAlLlNG]

Deja!

This is Columbus University,
a great center of higher learning.

But the lesson taught here today...

...was one in how good things
can go tragically wrong.

A multicultural peace fest organized
in the interest of campus unity...

...has ended with three people dead.

One of them was a gunman who took
his own life after killing two students.

The mayor...

...is on his way to the campus
as we speak.

University administration
has had nothing whatsoever to say.

You know what that is?

Remy's fucking dead.

No, man. That's white power.

Yeah, you're right.

White power. White fucking power!

JAMES, ERlK & KNOCKO [CHANTlNG]:
White power!

[♪♪♪]

What do you think l should do?

What do l think?

You're right.

That's my job.

Man....

Man, l don't know, you know?

Maybe if l hadn't....

It's just....

Man, l don't know what to do.

Mr. Williams...

...in spite of the recent tragedy here,
you have persevered.

You have overcome many obstacles
this semester.

For those reasons,
you have my utmost respect...

...and every confidence...

...that you will make a wise decision
concerning your future.

Got to think.

Got to get my head straight.

I'm gonna go now.

Malik.

Without struggle,
there is no progress.

Frederick Douglass.

Right.

[TORl AMOS' "BUTTERFLY" PLAYING]

♪ Sticky soul
Get a little lost in my own ♪

♪ Hey, general ♪

♪ Need a little love
In that hot hole of yours ♪

♪ One way's now ♪

♪ And Saturdays are now kittens
All wrapped in cement ♪

MALlK:
I lost my girl here.

♪ From cradle to gumdrops got me ♪

♪ Running, girl, as fast as l can ♪♪

I feel like this is all my fault.

I helped put this whole thing together.

I'm responsible for all of this.

Oh, God.

Hey.

You can't blame yourself, you know?

♪ Well, nurses smile ♪

♪ When you got iron veins
You can't stain their pretty shoes ♪

My name's Kristen.

Malik.

Nice to meet you.

I seen you around.

Phipps' class, huh?

It's funny we never spoke before.

Yeah.

It's funny.

Well...

...I gotta get going.

-Take care.
-You too.

♪ Got a pretty pretty garden
Pretty garden, yes ♪

♪ You'll be a pretty pretty garden
Pretty garden ♪♪

[PLAYING
"STAR-SPANGLED BANNER"]

MAN:
All right. Give us a big smile now.

[lCE CUBE'S "HlGHER" PLAYlNG]

♪ Yo ♪

♪ I wanna get high
I wanna get high ♪

♪ Walking through campus
With my backpack ♪

♪ Bailin' to orientation
So l can change the nation ♪

♪ See many faces
But none of 'em mirror me ♪

♪ Show my lD to the punk ass security ♪

♪ Step on the quad
Lookin' for the track squad ♪

♪ Walked by a bitch
Who think she's God ♪

♪ Passing me a flyer
Talkin' 'bout the Messiah ♪

♪ She wanna take me higher ♪

♪ Keep your rhetoric in the heavens ♪

♪ Look and see a bro'
With a fro like Michael Evans ♪

♪ Done spent six years
In the college ♪

♪ Always telling me
To question the knowledge ♪

♪ Sittin' in the black hole
With the black stroll ♪

♪ And not even one cave bitch
In our click ♪

♪ Sayin' fuck Professor Phipps ♪

♪ I come from the land
Of the Bloods and the Crips ♪

♪ Don't like scholarships
Because they hurt me ♪

♪ Nothin' but a slave to the university ♪

♪ That's why ya see me on the track field
Run by ya ♪

♪ Caught by a liar
Who wanna take me higher ♪

♪ Shit
He wanna take me higher ♪

♪ Wait until they get a load of me ♪

♪ Shit ♪

♪ I wanna get high so high ♪

♪ Chocolate Thai ♪

♪ I wanna take flight
Ya goddamn right ♪

♪ It's a party every fucking night ♪

♪ Been there for about six weeks ♪

♪ Walked by the freaks
Look, black Greeks ♪

♪ How the fuck ya figure
I dig ya me bein' from niggafied nigga ♪

♪ White boy in the room with me
Who never saw BET? What the fuck ♪

♪ He's about to erupt and turn red ♪

♪ Start hangin' with
The muthafuckin' skinheads ♪

♪ 'Cause he can't deal with the overkill
College ain't nothin' but niggerville ♪

♪ And he regret that his school is filled
With niggers, jews and wetbacks ♪

♪ Plus chinks, now he drinks
Hour after hour screaming white power ♪

♪ Motherfucker want me to call him sire ♪

♪ He wanna take me higher ♪

♪ Shit
Wait until they get a load of me ♪

♪ Shit ♪

♪ A girl gets date-raped just like that
At a frat now she chase the cat ♪

♪ Feminist saying women is God's gift
Do you need a lift, can l take a sniff ♪

♪ Do l sound sexist cause l'm chasin'
After Deja she from Texas? ♪

♪ Down to kick the asses of the fascists ♪

♪ Who wanna put me in the oven
And burn me to ashes ♪

♪ But l'm not burnin'
The world keeps turnin' ♪

♪ And nobody learnin' ♪

♪ 'Cause college is full of shit ♪

♪ Teachin' me to memorize
Nothin' but the lies ♪

♪ Chillin' at a rally for peace ♪

♪ The beast from white power
Up in the tower ♪

♪ With the M-1 gun
And a scope on dope ♪

♪ Thinkin' he's the great white hope ♪

♪ Motherfucker levels off ♪

♪ He wanna see me 6 feet deep
Shoveled off ♪

♪ 'Cause Columbus University
Is nothing but a empire ♪

♪ Who wanna take me higher ♪♪