Son of the South (2020) - full transcript

That's me, Bob Zellner,

the one in between.

You've got to keep the white
and the Black separate.

The South was in an uproar
over the Civil Rights Movement

In my town,
Montgomery, Alabama,

five years ago,
there was a bus boycott

which began with the arrest
of Mrs. Rosa Parks

for not giving up her seat
to a white man.

We walk with God.

If we have to walk for a year,

we'll walk until those buses
are no longer segregated.



That's what happened.

They walked for a year
and they won.

Some of my people got
pretty ticked off about that.

Have no fear. The Right and
the white will win.

And last year
was the sit-ins

to desegregate lunch counters

all across the South.

As you can see,

a lot of white folks
had a short fuse

when it came to
the Civil Rights Movement.

Here he is.

This group,
the spark that lit their fuse

was a college paper
I got assigned to do

with four of my friends,



a paper on race relations.

That's what could
get you killed.

A senior paper.

Five months ago,
life was simpler.

Come on, baby. Let's twist.

Wait a minute. Are you even
old enough to drink?

What is this
you got growing right here?

Got dirt on your face?
What is it?

You know, boys, I happen to
think that it looks pretty good.

You know, I got a cat
back in Mississippi.

I could lick that off for you.

Whoa, whoa, look out,
ladies and gentlemen,

we've got a genuine
bona fide scholar.

How does a dumb country boy like
you end up at top of the class?

Hey, school has her favorites.

You should be
ashamed of yourself.

To Bob.

Free, white, 21.

I'm not 21 anymore.

Come on, Bob. Let's dance.

- Carol Ann.
- Come on.

Not exactly free, neither.

Boys, look, at his dancing.

He's definitely white.

Okay.

Okay, that's far enough.

- What?
- We have to stop.

Okay. You're right.

You promised.

It won't be long
till we're married.

We just have to be strong.

How do you think she did it?

- Who?
- Joan of Arc.

She wasn't normal.

She didn't think about sex.

No, not, not that. She was
up against everybody

and they burned her
at the stake.

She was a little crazy.
She heard voices.

They told her what to do.

What do your voices
tell you, Bob?

Do they say, "Get your skinny little
white butt to that Black church?

Or do they say,
"Get back in line there, boy?

"The hell do you think
you're doing?"

I already told you.
There's no way.

But all we wanna do is audit
one of their meetings.

Bob, you can't go to
one of their meetings.

The Montgomery Improvement
Association is one of

the most active
civic groups here.

And Miss Rosa Parks is in town
for one of their celebrations.

I forbid this.

You cannot meet with Rosa Parks
or any of them.

Really?

No Black people for
a paper on race relations?

I just didn't see
how we could eliminate

one of the races
the relations were about.

Excuse me, Dr. Abernathy.

My name is Bob Zellner.

This is Townsend Ellis,

John Hill, Joe Thomas
and William Head.

And we are college seniors
working on

our thesis on race relations.

Do you all know Mrs. Parks?

Of course. Yes.

You all attend
the Methodist College?

Yes, ma'am.

They sent you over
to talk to us?

Not exactly.

Not exactly. I see.

We were wondering if we could
ask you a few questions

about the Montgomery
Improvement Association.

Yeah. Well, that is
a laudable endeavor.

We can only hope
that more students

would be willing to tackle
such an important subject.

We were actually wondering if,
with your permission, of course,

we could come to
the celebration at your church.

You do understand the police
might want to arrest you.

Are you all willing to
make that choice?

It ain't anything like that.

We're not trying to
stir up trouble.

Now, now, son.

I'm starting to wonder
if you are aware

of the poison in the apple
that you have bitten into.

You met with him. Talked to him.

Now you got what you want.

Get the paper done.
Hand it in.

You know I'm German.

I've seen the Brownshirts
and the Hitler Youth.

I've seen what people
are capable of.

You've got to
protect yourself.

I'm glad to see today
that we are once again,

blessed with the company of

State Investigator
Willy B. Painter

and Officer Fuller.

Today we have come together in the
Brick-a-Day First Baptist Church.

And I don't think
the assembled would mind

if I lend a welcoming hand

and thank you for so lovingly
recording our messages

for Governor Patterson.

- Amen. Mm-hmm.
- Oh, yes. Oh, yes.

And as long as the governor
is now listening,

I'd like to ask the governor
if he is aware

of the great economic strides
made here in Montgomery

since the success of the boycott
five years ago.

It appears that freedom is not
only good for the Negro

- in Montgomery...
- That's right.

...but the white population
benefits from it as well.

And I'd like to
tell the governor

that we are glad to help.

But please don't be alarmed.

Yes, sir.

The bus boycott was
only the beginning.

We intend to benefit Montgomery
much more from now on.

It appears the police have
surrounded the church.

What do they want?

They've come to arrest you
and your friends.

For what?

If I recollect,
we had this conversation.

They can't arrest us.

The Montgomery Police Department
might not do many things well,

but arresting white boys for
attending Black churches,

they do extremely well.

We're just doing
research for a paper.

Yeah. I mean, we haven't
chosen any sides here.

I'm not so sure
the powers that be

will so readily agree.

Please. We gotta get out of this
some way.

There's a back door
to the church.

I'll go out front

and draw everybody's attention
around there.

Y'all, come on. John. Eugene.

Y'all get up here
a little closer.

As you all are aware...

Today we have come together
to honor

what became known as
the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Come on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You know, there's gonna
come a time when...

something really bad happens
right in front of you,

and you're gonna have to decide
which side you're on.

Not choosing is a choice.

Good. Good, Doc.

Keep that guard up.
Good job, buddy.

- Yeah.
- Good job.

- Good work, Doc. Well done.
- Thank you. Thanks.

Hey, Bob, get in here.

Don't worry about it.

You're not gonna need that.
Come on.

I hear the school's gonna
get you for leading some kind of

Martin Luther Coon rally.

What are you talking about,
Coach?

It's Reverend.
I ain't your coach.

Now, what Bob and I here
are gonna demonstrate for you

is the importance of
keeping your guard up.

- Oh!
- You see?

He let his guard down.

Put your hands up, boy.

What's that about?
You can't take it?

What, you don't know
how to hit back?

I can hit back.

Hey!

The niggers are making you soft.

You can't at least
try to fight back?

I'll try anything three times.

Hey!

How's that, Reverend?

- Is that soft enough for you?
- Hey, hey!

Back off.

Jesus! What the hell you doing?
He's an old man.

You could kill him.

Okay. Come on. Come on.

As the duly elected
Attorney General

of the great State of Alabama,

I look at you and I ask myself

what makes five young, upstanding
Southern scholars like yourselves

go march and sit in

and demonstrate
and generally disrupt the peace?

Excuse me, son.
You have to speak up.

We never did any of that.

March, sit in, demonstrate.

You have fallen under
the influence of the communists.

There's communists in Alabama?

Well, no.

But they come through here.

I'm gonna read you a list of
names and I want you to tell me

which ones you've met with.

Virginia and Clifford Durr,

Anne and Carl Braden,

Aubrey Williams.

Do you know these individuals?

- No.
- No, sir, I don't.

None of them are in Alabama?

Well, the Durrs are here.

Now you boys
are being expelled.

- What?
- Asked to leave.

All right. Asked to leave.

For the sake of the college,
we have negotiated a resolution.

You will not be charged
with any crimes

if you resign from school

and leave the city of Montgomery
immediately.

School has agreed to this.
I think it's more than fair.

I have no idea
what crimes we've committed.

So I see no crime for which
we could be charged.

There are two members
of this group who have achieved

the highest scholastic honors
given by this institution.

Now, this close to graduation,
I will not voluntarily leave.

I think you're making
a mistake there, son.

Look at there.

This is what this was all about,
wasn't it?

You're a big man now.
You're on the front page.

You think I put us in the paper?

You don't care who you ruined.

Townsend, I never called
the paper. I swear.

I just can't imagine why

everybody's drawers
are in an uproar.

We're in Alabama.

But don't you think
this is its own shade of crazy?

I mean, what the hell do we do?

You did what you did

and drug me and John
in it with you.

And what did I do, Townsend?
Exactly what did I do?

You know, for a big boy,
you sure are shit scared

of your own shadow sometimes.

Hey, Zellner. Ku Klux Klan's
about to march on campus

because of what you did.

Professor Kleiner's got a whole
bunch of boys down yonder.

Come on, man, we gotta go.
Shit's about to hit the fan.

Those rowdies
have been telling us

to send
the "nigger lovers" over.

That's outta line, Bob,
calling you a "nigger lover."

That's all that happened?

No, no, no. They tried to
come on campus.

They wanted to get
all five of us.

They called you sons of
you know what.

We told them you're definitely
sons of you-know-what,

but you're our sons of
you-know-what.

And no one's coming on campus
to do anything to anybody.

This ain't right. I'm gonna go
straighten these boys out.

Bobby!

Grandaddy?

Bobby, you're looking thin.

Grandaddy, what are you doing
out here?

They figured out who was who

and they called me down
from Birmingham.

They tell me you went to some,
uh, nigger convention

- or demonstration or something.
- Wasn't anything like that.

We're just doing a paper
for our professor over there.

So this is all about
school work?

- Is that what you're telling me?
- Yeah.

Did you burn that cross
under our dorm room?

Bob, you should know
better than that.

But I'm gonna
tell you something.

Some of these old boys
around here,

they really mean to
do you some harm.

It's good they didn't
catch me alone.

Do you think that professor
saved you?

Have enough of those boys that,

they killed their share of Nazis
back in the big one.

I don't think one more
dead Kraut

would bother them very much.

I stopped them, Bob.

Daddy, Daddy,
just hold it right there.

It's all your fault.
You know that, don't you?

- That's my fault?
- You're goddamn right, it is.

Taught this boy right from wrong
right from the get-go,

he wouldn't have gotten himself
into any trouble.

I wouldn't have to be down here
trying to get him out of it.

So when did it become a capital
offense to go to church?

White or colored?

I'm heading back up to
Birmingham a little while.

All right.

Look around you, Townsend,
we've got support.

Nobody has to leave school.

No,
you got support, Bob.

If the Klan or school touches
a hair on your head,

your daddy will show up
with 20 liberal preachers

to protect
your skinny little ass.

No offense, Mr. Zellner.

I'm here for you too, son.

It's a nice thought, sir,
but it's not altogether true.

The rest of us, we're leaving.

We're going back to Mobile
and Union Springs and Dothan.

What do you think our families
are gonna do when we get there?

Gonna help pick out the limb
the Klan's gonna hang us from.

I know it looks scary from
where you're standing right now.

You got options, Bob.

That's why in your head,
this is just some big game.

You do not have the commitment
of someone like Rosa Parks.

You're going off to some
impressive school in the fall.

- Full scholarship.
- Yeah, and I worked hard for that.

Yeah, so did I. Bob.

Which one do you think
you're gonna pick?

- Yale? Princeton?
- Harvard?

You'll have a hell of a story
to tell 'em when you get there.

Excuse me.

Virginia and Clifford Durr.

This is where they live?

Wow.

Hello.
You've reached the Durrs.

Mrs. Durr,
my name is Bob Zellner,

and I'm a student
over at Huntingdon College.

Everybody, everybody,
here he is!

Mr. Bob Zellner

of the illustrious
Huntingdon farm.

Bob, I am so glad you called.

I'm Virginia. This is my...
my husband, Clifford.

- And you are?
- I'm Carol Ann Dunlap,

Bob's fiance.

- Hello, Bob.
- Mrs. Parks.

Uh, and this is Aubrey Williams

and his Yankee assistant
for the summer,

Mr. Derek Ang.

- The Communist.
- I know.

- Where you from, Carol Ann?
- Union Springs.

Any relationship to
Martin Dunlap?

He's my grandaddy.

Looks like you're moving up
in the world, Mr. Zellner.

Well, y'all sure are stirring
up the Methodist wasp nest

pretty good over there
at the college.

Well, they're doing
all the stirring.

We're just trying to
stay out of the way.

A bunch of hypocrites.

They stripped his right to give
the commencement speech.

They'd like to kick him out
altogether.

You know,
Clifford is an attorney.

A lawyer?

That's what they keep
telling me.

Sir, over and over,
I get the feeling we broke the law.

Because you did.

- What law is that?
- Mm.

They broke the law that
people don't have the rights

to do anything the Ku Klux Klan
doesn't want them to do.

Bunch of cowards.

We have fought far tougher
enemies than them.

We're still having
so much trouble with

all these silly, scared
white men hiding under hoods.

I just don't understand it.

Well, if you understand
the Southern mind...

Clifford, I believe
I have a Southern mind,

and I believe I have
an understanding of it.

Everybody here, with
the exception of Derek Ang,

has a Southern mind.

Even Bob knows
he broke the law of the KKK.

Bob's more like you,
Mrs. Parks,

when you refused to get up
from your seat.

He didn't think all this was
gonna lead to anything.

Yeah, I was just
a poor little seamstress

tired from her day.

Am I missing something?

Are you saying...

you knew
what you were doing?

You think I am a child?

We had to change
the bus laws.

Therefore, somebody
had to refuse to get up.

You knew, getting on that bus,

that you were
gonna get arrested.

Well, not that
particular bus and...

I wasn't sure
I'd ever do it, but still...

pretty interested to see
what rights I had or not.

A lot of it was worked out
at Highlander.

I read that Tennessee is
trying to shut the school down.

- Oh, again?
- Highlander?

It's a center
where people, Black and white,

from all across the South

come to work and study
political action together.

And you've been up there?

Oh, we've all been.
That's right.

I really did know
what I was doing.

Maybe you'll be up there soon.

I'm sorry,
but I won't be going anywhere

but up north
for graduate school in the fall.

Is that so important
for you to do it right away?

Yes, ma'am, it is.

I mean, most of my family didn't
even make it through high school.

So getting to go off
on a full scholarship

to get a masters is
a pretty big deal.

He has already
jeopardized that once.

When we read about you
in the papers,

we thought
we'd found somebody.

Find somebody like who?

We have a need
for somebody like Bob,

somebody who could speak
to other white students

throughout the South.

I'm sure that's needed,
but we do have plans

and none of them include
Bob ending up in jail.

Things have got
to change, Bob.

Mm-hm.
- I know you know that.

I think we both know
that things have to change,

don't we, Carol Ann?

But maybe there's a better way.

Without risking too much?

Maybe. I mean,
we do live in a democracy.

It's a republic, actually,

which is what Germany was
when Hitler rose to power.

In 1939, in Nazi Germany,

they had a law that said all the Jews
were supposed to pack up their bags

and get down
to the train depot.

Now that seems like
a pretty good law to break,

wouldn't you say?

Where are you from?

I'm from New York.

But if you're looking
for somewhere more exotic,

my family came over
from California.

Well, what are you doing
all the way down here?

Trying to find out where
they buried freedom, brother.

What are you doing here?

Well, that woman
was a handful.

How arrogant to decide the fate
of people you never even met.

We had our lives
all planned out for us in there.

I did something
with somebody once.

What are you talking about?

I got in the wrong car
one day, and...

we went nigger knocking.

Ooh! You got her.

Yeah, but the sumbitches
just broke my stick.

Yeah, but what do you expect?

That ain't a real
nigger-knocking stick.

We got a bat in the back.
Boys, do you see it?

You can hardly
hit 'em with this.

Yeah, but when you do...

Lookie there.

Skeeter, get that bat.
Get that, boy.

Get him.

Ah! You missed him.

- But he fell.
- Yeah, well, you still missed him.

See that coon up there, Bob?

- Yeah, I see him.
- I want you to get him.

I don't know about this.

You don't know?
What's there to know?

About this sort of thing.

Hey, this is in your blood.

All right? This is where
you belong, boy.

You grab that bat
and you do what's right.

Bob, you gotta do this.

I don't think so.

Skeeter, you told me
he was the right kind of guy.

Is he? Is he the right
kind of guy?

Bob.

Take the goddamn bat.

Take it.

You don't get that nigger,
we're gonna use that bat on you.

How bad did you hurt
that kid?

Bad.

Hey! Hey!

Need some help?

You look like
you need some help.

What's your game?

No game.
Just being friendly.

I know you
from somewhere?

I-I don't think so.

I got a bike
with a basket on it though.

I see.

What happened to your arm?

I fell.

I should've told him
it was me.

I should have apologized,
but it's...

hard to explain
to a perfect stranger

why you do something
as senseless as that.

I don't even know
why I did it.

I was just...

scared, I guess, but...

looking at that boy...

I wish it was me
they had beaten with that bat.

We will continue
our Freedom Ride

from Birmingham
and onto Montgomery.

And from there,
we plan to travel

all the way to New Orleans with
a stop in Jackson, Mississippi.

And do you expect

the authorities in these cities
to allow that?

Uh, I'm not certain
about the local authorities.

We are testing the resolve
of the federal government

to enforce the Interstate
Commerce Commission ruling,

which gives each and every American citizen
the right to use the facilities equally.

Aren't you concerned
that they'll burn this bus

the same way they burned one
in Anniston just two days ago?

Acting like he's as good
as me.

Well, I didn't take care
of the yellow bastards in Korea

to be pushed around
by the Black ones back here.

Weren't you a medic, Doc?

Yes, I was.

And I even saved some of
those Black sons of guns

when they got
themselves shot up.

Drug one, must have been
200 pounds,

the length
of a football field.

Bullets whizzing all
around our heads.

Yeah, you do
crazy things in war.

But we are not
in the war now.

How do you feel generally

about Freedom Riders
and groups like that?

I think they're just
asking for trouble.

It's not gonna last too long

before the people down here get
a little antagonized with it,

and they're gonna take it
into their own hands.

I just think we ought to have
open season on all of 'em.

Freedom Riders are waiting
for a bus to take them

to their next stop,
Montgomery, Alabama.

Where are you going?

Are they crazy?

Montgomery's gonna make Anniston
look like a Sunday go-to meeting.

We already set up to create
as much protection as possible

for them when they arrive.

You got guns?

We're gonna meet the bus

and get everybody
into automobiles into safety

just as quick as possible.

I was hoping
that you might wanna volunteer.

You must think
I've lost my mind.

I'm going to go down and
meet 'em when they get here.

You think you're invisible?

All those folks down there are gonna
see is dark hair and dark skin,

and they're gonna think
that you're a Freedom Rider.

We could use you, Bob.

You see the TV?
What would give somebody the courage

to put their butts
in the frying pan like that?

I couldn't do it.

Derek...

Why are you really down here?

It's like you said.

Black hair, darker skin.

My family got brought over here
as labor too, you know.

Well, yeah,
but they weren't slaves.

Of course not.

I'm fourth-generation American.

Still, when I was a kid
during the war,

my parents got me
to wear this sign every day.

It said, "I am Chinese."

That's strange.

Not really.

They didn't want me
to get arrested

or get beaten up
for being Japanese.

The sign.

Scared the hell out of me.

Want to know what's really
messed up, though?

I was just so glad.

So glad I wasn't Japanese.

Them, not me.

Them, not me.

The Greyhound
bus company has finally agreed

to provide a driver
and a bus

to carry the Freedom Riders
from Birmingham to Montgomery.

They'll be escorted along the
way by Alabama State troopers,

led by Floyd Mann.

They should be arriving
in Montgomery soon.

- Shoot. It's your nickel.
- Bob,

the Freedom Riders have
already left from Birmingham.

I'm down at Clifford's office.

Can you pick up Derek
at my house?

You know,

I never said I was gonna go
down there to get anybody.

Why? Well, what's the matter?

Well, I got the habit
of breathing,

and I don't really
feel like giving it up too soon.

So you don't care
what happens to them?

This was their choosing.

Okay, I get it.
Give me your keys.

All right, simmer down.

- I'll get you close.
- All right.

- Are they here yet?
- They're here.

Where's that police car going?

God, this doesn't look right.

Maybe it's early.

- John Lewis!
- Excuse me, John Lewis!

Mr. Lewis, please.
We have some questions.

How can you possibly succeed
with so few of you?

Non-violence.

...be overcome by violence...

Freedom Riders have
landed on the shores of Montgomery.

And at this very moment,
they're at the bus depot

with their white cohorts
right there with them,

not white Americans
but Red Army commies

sent here directly
by the Kremlin.

- Get us outta here.
- I can't drive her.

- These people will tear me apart.
- You can't leave us here.

It'll look like I'm hitting her
with nothing but a purse.

They have arrived
with weapons, that I know.

They are armed to the teeth.

So take whatever you can grab,

bats, chains,
sticks and bricks,

get down there,
and stop these commies in their tracks.

Please! Please!
Stop it!

Hey! Don't!
Please! Please!

I bet you ain't happy you came
to Montgomery, now, boy.

- Sweet Jesus!
- Oh!

We don't know what happened,

but you're finally here.
Thank God.

Bob, you see that woman
in the pink dress?

Her name is Jessica Mitford.

Can you try and get her?

Okay.
Wait. Where are you going?

If you're going, I'm going.

What?

I'm only doing this once.

Hey, you all right?

Hey, are you...
Are you Jessica Mitford?

- Who wants to know?
- I don't think it's the best place to...

What do you think? That you and your
bullies here are gonna frighten me?

I have seen...

Let go of me this instant.

Hey, I'm the press.
Esquire magazine.

Virginia sent me.
She's right up there.

Can you just walk away
from me this instant?

Virginia Durr!

- Who are you?
- Someone trying to keep you

from getting your head busted.
Now come on!

Get in.

Let's go!

- Are you okay?
- I can't believe you sent that young man to rescue me.

I was completely fine.

Slightest danger at all. You know,
there are some young girls out there.

Ran into that building, the one with
the horribly reproduced Greek facade.

Courthouse?

They... They need some help.

Bob?

Well, hop to it. Go on.

This is a formal injunction.

I'm reading you the riot act.

Forbidding persons named
and unnamed...

This is a hearse.

There'll be no killing
here today.

This is over.

Floyd Mann, you ain't
supposed to be here.

We are not having
a discussion here.

The next shot I fire
will not be a warning.

...in the State of Alabama,
to engage

in the so-called
Freedom Ride

and other acts or conduct
calculated to promote

breaches of the peace.

Hey!

No, no, no, no, no, no.
I'm here to get you.

To get you out. But...

We gotta skedaddle.
Come on.

- I'm Bob.
- Very nice to meet you, Bob.

Joanne. And behind you, Susan.

- Hi.
- How you doing?

You can put me down now.

Oh, yup.

All right.

We're rolling.
Anytime you're ready, son.

That's Jim.

- Segregation must be...
- Oh, my Lord.

...stopped.
Must be broken down.

Those of us...

who were on the Freedom Ride...

will continue to Freedom Ride.

I'm not sure I'll be able to.

But we're going on to New
Orleans, no matter what happens.

We're dedicated to this.

We'll take hitting,
we'll take beating.

We're willing to accept death.

But we're going to keep coming
until we can ride from...

anywhere in the South

to any place else
in the South...

without anybody...

making any comments.

Just as American citizens.

- Where are you going?
- I need to borrow your car.

- But where are you going?
- To the hospital.

All right, well, I'm driving.

- We should go too.
- I don't think so.

So what's gonna happen next?

We continue on.

With the Freedom Ride?

All the way to New Orleans.

But yours is over at least.

What are you talking about?

Well, look at you.

Freedom Ride is over.

But we're still breathing.

They got Jim Zwerg
up in that white ward

and I don't think
he'll be coming,

but we are getting back
on that bus tomorrow.

That's crazy.

Yeah, you know
what Mississippi is like?

No. What's it like?

After getting criticized
for being backwards,

people from Georgia say,
"Thank God for Alabama."

And in Alabama, we say,
"Thank God for Mississippi."

So you think
it's gonna be rough?

Suicide.

Yeah. Yeah.

You're probably right.

But John and I
are getting back on that bus.

Is our cause just?

If so,
then you must ask yourself,

"If not now, when?

"If not me, then who?"

Thank you, fellas,
for coming down.

It means a lot.

♪ I'm taking a ride

♪ On the Greyhound bus line

♪ I'm riding the front seat

♪ To Jackson this time

♪ Hallelujah

♪ I'm traveling

♪ Hallelujah

♪ Ain't it fine?

♪ Hallelujah

♪ I'm traveling down
freedom's main line ♪

Gentlemen.

In Montgomery,
an angry white mob

is holding over a thousand people
inside the First Baptist Church,

where they've come
to listen to speakers

such as the Reverend Fred
Shuttlesworth of Birmingham.

The most guilty man
in this state tonight

is Governor John Patterson.

The people of Alabama
are law-abiding citizens.

Uh, these people that came
into Alabama,

uh, were law violators.

They created the breaches
of the peace

and provoked the local people
into disturbances.

US Attorney General
Robert Kennedy has engaged us

and assured us
that he has the National Guard

coming here
to the Brick-a-Day Church now.

We must remain where we are

until they get here to protect.

And despite what took place
at the bus depot earlier,

despite the angry crowd
that surrounds us,

we must remain nonviolent.

Now, I know some of y'all
think you wanna strike back,

that you might wanna
go blow-for-blow.

But we cannot,

- and we have to restrain others from doing so.
- Yes, yeah.

We hold the moral
high ground.

Yeah.

And we intend to keep
that high ground,

if ever we hope

to transform America
into a better place.

- Oh, yeah.
- Amen.

- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.

- It's beautiful down here.
- Yeah.

Montgomery's a pretty town.

With a pretty ugly side to it.

Yeah. Well. that's probably
true everywhere.

It's certainly true
in Nashville.

Virginia gave me this.

Found it inside.
Do you mind?

I was an Eagle Scout.
I got a merit badge in first aid.

Oh, all right then.

As long as you've got
a merit badge.

Before today, I'd never touched
a Southern white person before.

And none ever touched me.

How's that even possible?

My father's a professor
of advanced mathematics.

I grew up on campus,
all Black school.

I did study in Paris, though.
There were all sorts of white people there.

But they were different.

There were more French
than white.

Nobody's ever called
me a nigger

until I started sitting-in in the
lunch counters in Nashville last year.

Take your Black ass
off my stool!

You know what
I thought then?

"No, they must be joking.

"Don't they know who I am?

"I'm an associate professor.
I speak five languages."

- How many you speak?
- Five.

Wow.

Can I ask you something?

I've been told
that down here,

white folks' hair smells like
chicken feathers when it gets wet.

- Is that so?
- They told you what?

Can I smell your
chicken-feathered hair?

Just to see.

I guess you better
wet it first.

Okay.

Oh!

What is that?

You smell like my cousin Elroy.

Oh, yeah. He probably
uses Burma Shave.

Mm.

- Bob!
- Carol Ann!

Is this where
you've been all day?

No, I was...
I was downtown.

- In the riot?
- Yeah.

You cannot believe
what went down there.

And who is this?

Carol Ann, Joanne.
Joanne, this is...

Can you excuse us a moment?

What was she doing back there?

She just wanted
to smell my hair.

- For what reason?
- Just see if I smelled like a chicken.

Look, Carol Ann,
these are the craziest human beings

I think I've ever met.

They're actually planning
on getting back on the bus

to go on to Mississippi.

It's like they're running
a three-legged dog.

They think they're gonna beat the pack.
They are something.

So what is it
you're telling me?

You wanna go get on a
Greyhound with these people

so some old redneck
can beat the hell out of you?

No, I'm not saying that.

I'm... I'm just telling you,
I admire 'em.

Yeah, it's admirable.

Now, let's go
get back to campus.

Not tonight.

Oh, no, Carol Ann.
Don't go thinking that.

Do not get all caught up.

You will ruin our lives
if you get caught up in this.

I know.

You're scaring me, Bob.

It was incredible. Amazing.

One of the most exhilarating
experiences of my entire existence.

You really shouldn't
have missed it.

- You want a coffee?
- Marvelous idea. Black.

Get him one too.

Dear girl, how did you get back?

I didn't hear my car drive up.

I have a little Nash Rambler
back in California.

I can drive it here for you.

- Why would you do that?
- The brakes are good.

The real problem
is just getting it started.

What are you talking about?
Where is my car?

They burned it, all right?
We did everything.

Everything we could
to stop them, didn't we, Dickie?

You parked right
in front of the church.

I told you to park
three or four blocks away.

You did! You did, darling.
I know you did...

I'm glad you're in one piece.

It's just that Clifford
is gonna wanna kill you.

They're taking the bus down
to Jackson, Mississippi, later.

- They're leaving today?
- Who's leaving?

Those who aren't too badly hurt.

And a handful of volunteers
to take the place of the others.

Did somebody volunteer for me?

I think so, yeah.

Well, nobody needs
to take my place.

Were they from Montgomery?

Mostly. A reporter took
everybody's name down who's riding.

I gotta get some sleep.

Hold on to this for me.

Virginia, I think I found
a picture of your car.

- Derek Ang.
- He's one of the volunteers.

Sweet Lord Jesus.

Put everything back, Bob.
You're not going anywhere!

- Okay!
- I don't have to tell you

that this is crazy!

- This is crazy!
- Yep. You're right.

I forbid this.

Do not walk out that door!

You stop right now!

I am talking to you. Bob!

Put down that suitcase.

I'm warning you, Bob.

You go down to that bus depot
and you get on that bus,

and we are over! Done!

- We're done?
- Your decision.

Well, in that case,

I'll try and be back
in a few days.

Bob!

- I want to get on that bus.
- Mm-mm.

Uh-uh.

Jackson citizens
watched by the hundreds,

jostling each other
for a better view.

The Freedom Riders
stepped off the bus,

some still bearing the bandages
of their encounter with Alabama.

A policeman ordered
them to move on.

Then each was arrested and led
outside to a waiting paddy wagon.

The charges were breach of
the peace and inciting to riot.

The trial was short.
The sentence...

Leave it alone.

...which was suspended.

The Real McCoys is about to come on.
That's my favorite show.

And I'll break your arm
if you touch that TV.

Well, you really are something, Bob.
You know that?

Carol Ann.

That could have been you.

I'm glad you decided
to come to your senses.

I didn't.

Bus was leaving by the time I got
there, and they wouldn't let me through.

You really meant to go off
and get yourself arrested?

You know what I felt when I
saw I couldn't get on that bus?

Relieved.
My head was saying, "Thank God.

"Thank God. Thank you, Jesus."

That's right. Thank you, Jesus.

What do you think Jesus
would have done in my place?

You are not Jesus, Bob.

You got that right.

That's John Lewis.

That man right there.
You see him?

Virginia Durr told me
he's a minister.

He doesn't look old enough,
does he?

Well, he's the first real man
of God I think I've ever met.

Oh, so he's Jesus?

No, he's a man.

But me, I was afraid
to get on that bus.

- What does that make me?
- Reasonable.

I was in a riot two days ago,

and I walked
right through it unharmed.

And I know why.

It's 'cause I'm just like
everybody else.

You know what I think
most of the time?

"It ain't happening to me.
So it's okay."

It should be my motto,
just get it tattooed on my body someplace.

- "Not my problem."
- What is the point you're trying to make?

I'm gonna go call
these people up right now.

Find out what
they're really about.

And I know that
you're not gonna like that,

but that's what I'm gonna do.

Well, if that's all
you do, it's okay.

I'm not asking
your permission, Carol Ann.

And that's just it.

I'm capable of doing a lot of
things you're not gonna approve of.

I am trying to preserve the life
we've been planning together.

Is that at all
meaningful to you?

I think about it constantly.

There's a voice in my head saying, "Get
back in line, you dumb ass country boy."

So what is it
you want to do?

You wanna go off,
get yourself arrested,

jeopardize your whole life
for some grand principle?

Isn't that what they're doing?

I mean, they're my age!

Half of them are in college too.

So how is it that
they can do it?

And what about me?

You wanna give me up too?

No, I don't. I just,
I got to do something

and I don't see you
putting up with that.

You had me fooled
for a long time, Bob Zellner.

I really thought
you were gonna be somebody.

I thought you had ambition.

But you are nothing
but a dumb ass country boy.

And maybe it's all right for you to
end up living life in a shotgun shack,

trying to save the world.
But that has never been my dream.

Who do you think
you are, anyway?

We both know
you're not anybody's savior.

Well, the niggers aren't
on TV anymore, are they?

This is The Real McCoys.

Starring Walter Brennan,
created by Irving Pincus...

Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee.

- Yes, is this the SNCC office?
- Yes, it is.

We'd like to thank you, Father,
for this blessed meal you've set before us.

I'm calling from Alabama.

I was wondering if you needed
volunteers for the summer.

We'd like to ask that you keep
an eye on our second eldest, Bob,

who's leaving to take up arms

and to fight
for freedom and justice.

We could use you.
How soon can you get over here?

I can be there in a few days.

You know our son,
Lord, I'm sure that you know

that he is headstrong,
a fighter, and resolute.

First of all, Lord,
he is righteous.

Please walk with him
and keep him safe.

Amen.

Amen.

Bob, darling,
take care of yourself.

I mean, there's no reason for you to
go out of your way to get in trouble.

Going away to school in a few weeks.
Remember that.

- Okay?
- What's going on here?

You're acting like
I'm going off to war.

I'm sorry
I wasn't there at graduation.

I just couldn't go.

I couldn't face it.

Hey, Bob, you start applying
for work as a nigger-lover yet?

Now, what's that all about?
You still up to something?

Nah, they're just
fooling around.

Calling you a nigger-lover,
is just fooling around?

Don't listen to them, son.
They're white trash.

It means nothing, Daddy.

You know how people are.

Listen, I don't wanna
find out that my grandson

is trying to help
the niggers take over.

Not that you would
tell me about it.

It was supposed to mark
the beginning of our life together,

truly together.

And I can see now
it was really marking the end.

Mama wants me
back in Union Springs,

and I'm going back
for now.

Don't come to find me.
I don't want to see you.

I hope you find your way
when you get out there.

I'm leaving today.

I think.

I'll let you know
if I get on that bus.

Bye.

Bob Zellner.

You're the phone call
from Alabama?

Yes, sir.

The volunteer?

You expecting somebody else?

You know,
I gotta admit, I was.

You know what we do here?

You're a freedom organization.

And you're Southern?

Alabama born and raised.

All right, Alabama.

Well, listen.

I gotta catch a bus.

Here are the keys
to the office.

Notepad, pencil.

Most important thing.

Guard this briefcase.

Never let it out of your sight.

When you leave,
take it with you.

I'll guard it with my life.

You don't have to do all
that, but don't lose it.

Everything's in there.

You better be on
the up and up, Alabama.

Oh, uh...

sorry... what am I
supposed to do?

Well, you open up the office
around 8:00 a.m.,

stay until about 5:30,

and in between,
you answer the phones.

- Okay.
- You take all the phone messages.

Who's calling, who they're calling
for, and what they want.

Um, what about the briefcase?

Just keep it with you. When somebody
comes, they'll know what to do with it.

- Well, who's coming?
- I don't know.

- Well, when are you gonna be back?
- I won't be.

- McDew?
- Uh, I think McDew just left.

- Oh, who is this?
- Bob Zellner.

From where?

East Brewton, Alabama.

Uh, I don't wanna
insult you, but, uh...

- You sound white.
- I get that a lot.

All right, I... I got a message
for Bob Moses.

- Um, you think you could...
- Go ahead.

Um...

Uh, Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee.

Bob Zellner speaking.

Who is this?

Bob Zellner.

Did I call
the right number?

This is the SNCC office, right?

Yes, it is.

Don't move.

Burma Shave!

- Hey, Joanne.
- What in God's creation are you doing here?

America's
favorite family comedy,

The Adventures
of Ozzie and Harriet.

Hey, how do you like
your new room?

It's a lot better than the Y.

- You play?
- Do you?

Because I'm a Negro,
I shouldn't know how to play chess?

I didn't mean it like that.

Oh, because I'm a girl.

I get it. Sit down.

I'm gonna let you know,
I'm pretty good.

Uh-huh. We'll see.

♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪

You know, this movement
is about more than just

voting rights and being able
to eat at Woolworths.

Check. Don't go easy on me.

You don't have to worry
about that.

Check. Look, we're trying
to change the world, Bob.

Have you read
Jean-Paul Sartre?

No. Never heard of him.

Well, you've got
a lot of studying to do.

- Checkmate.
- Yeah.

Wanna go again?

Well, it is getting pretty late.

Chicken hair,
are you getting chicken?

Oh, don't be a sore loser.

- SNCC office.
- Bob!

- Grandaddy?
- I'm downstairs, god damn it!

- Grandaddy?
- Hey.

Is there a place where a white man
can go and sit down around here?

There's a park.

Park? Good idea.

But he told me
you've gone nigger crazy.

He saw you with a Negress
walking down the street.

I'm just helping some people out
for the summer.

Ah, let's call
a spade a spade.

They're called niggers.

With your delicate sensibilities
you want me to call them,

what, Negroes?

Whatever you choose.

Bob, I've known Negroes
all my life.

I got nothing against them.

Now, you might think because I'm
in the Klan, I'm against the Negro.

I'm not against the Negro.

I'm for the white race,
that's all.

As any decent white man
should be.

Hell, you know history.

History teaches us
the white race

pulled humanity out of the muck

and gave the world civilization.

Hell, they don't
understand civilization.

Not them. Not their fault.

Christ, they're barely
out of the jungle themselves.

A couple of hundred years.

That's why we just,
we can't mix in with them.

Hell, I don't want to, anyway.

I don't want to sit with them.
I don't want to eat with them.

I don't want to pray with them

or ride on the goddamn train.

I prefer not even to see them.

That's my cross to bear,
I guess.

It's a colored organization.
I work for 'em.

It's called the Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

But what the hell do you
hope to accomplish with that?

Eating, sitting, praying, riding trains
together. The whole kit and caboodle.

The Southern way of life,
you just throw that away and just

stomp that
into the ground, right?

It's gonna happen, Grandaddy.

I've met the people changing
everything, and they're...

you can't stop them.

They are tougher,

they are stronger, they're more
resilient, and they're right.

You trying to tell me
that the Klan can't

beat a few niggers
back into line?

Hey, hell. That's hardly even
gonna be a fight.

I wouldn't count on that.

They're gonna bury Jim Crow.

The only funerals
are gonna be for these...

these commie niggers.

And to tell you the truth, son,

you're on that
slippery slope yourself.

I'm really only here
to tell you something, Bob.

I need to tell you this
face-to-face, man-to-man.

You come to Birmingham
to march, protesting,

sit-in in a bus depot,

I'll put a bullet through
your head my own damn self.

You understand me? Huh?

You've fallen off the path, son.

We got eyes on you, Bob.

We got eyes on you,
god damn it. Got it?

- Hey.
- Hi.

Well, are you gonna
introduce us?

Joanne, this is my grandfather.
Grandaddy, this is Joanne.

Certainly nice to meet you.

What am I looking at here, Bob?

We better go.

I'll tell Daddy you said hi.

SNCC office. Bob Zellner here.

Well, yeah. All right.
Mr. Zellner,

this is Mr. Herbert Lee
from McComb, Mississippi.

Well, I know you're not calling for me.
Would you like to leave a message?

Well, yes, I would.
I'm trying to find Bob Moses.

Uh, he's helping us with
voting registration over here.

He's supposed to be
back last week

and I hadn't heard a thing from him.
Would you know where he is?

I wish I did.
Everybody's calling for him.

And that's about all
I can tell you.

You sound kind of troubled, son.
Everything all right?

No, sir, it's not.

Well, you know, this work
can get rough sometimes.

I've never done
anything like this

and I know that
we don't know each other,

but I just don't know
what I'm doing here.

I hear you, son.
I hear you. I hear you.

I'm bored to tears.

Bored?

It ain't anything like what it
looks like in the papers, Mr. Lee.

Oh. Mr. Lee, um, I gotta go.

I'm sure this is costing you
an arm and leg anyways,

but I'll get your message
to Bob Moses.

Thank you, son.
Um, I appreciate you.

- You are?
- Bob Zellner.

East Brewton, Alabama.

Okay. Bob Zellner, East Brewton,
Alabama. I'm Jim Forman.

Oh, shoot. Am I glad to see you.
I got nothing but messages here.

You've been taking messages?

Yeah, that's about all
I've been doing.

- Well, how did you get in here?
- He gave me the keys.

Who in God's name
gave you keys?

McDew. I think McDew.
He didn't tell me. I just gathered...

No, don't say another word.

This is June 22nd, 1961.
This is Jim Forman.

I'm here in the SNCC
headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia,

with Mr. Bob Zellner. From?

East Brewton, Alabama.

And East Brewton,
is a pretty small place?

Well, not so small
you could spit across it.

Can I assume that East Brewton,
like much of Alabama,

is segregated with
a healthy share of racism?

- Well, that and then some.
- Okay, but not you?

I don't think
I understand the question.

Okay, well, can you recall your
earliest memories of race?

- You know, I can.
- Well, what was it?

I was about
four years old,

shopping with my mother at a
downtown store where everybody went.

Mm-hmm.

My mother just bought me
a little water pistol.

I spotted a fountain
pretty close to my own height

to go fill it up.

And so I turn the lever
for that water,

get that little
water pistol open,

and just as I'm about
to fill that thing up,

a pair of hands grabs me
from behind,

turns me around.

It was a woman, never
seen her before in my life.

Perfect stranger.
She said to me...

That water fountain's
not for little white boys.

You see that sign over there?

That says "colored"

and that sign over there,
that says "white"

and that's what you are.

Don't let anybody catch you

drinking out of
the colored fountain.

If you want a drink of water,
just ask anybody to lift you up.

Indoctrination.

- Go along to get along.
- Mm.

So you really didn't have much
to do with Black folks?

Oh, yeah, I did. Yeah.

The South is a funny place.

You know, I worked
in a general store.

I waited on Black folks
as I did white folks.

There's not a whole lot of
separation between the races there.

There were definitely rules
to abide by, though.

What rules were those?

I couldn't carry anything
out to a Negro customer

even if they were
old and feeble,

no matter how heavy it was.

I could if there weren't
any white people around.

And, uh, I had to see
to the white folks

before seeing any
of the Black customers,

no matter how long they've been
standing there, that sort of thing.

So how is it that
you are here, Bob Zellner,

instead of out somewhere
kicking Negro ass?

That will be my daddy.

I think, yeah.

He's a minister,
and he was in the Klan.

Let me explain.

My daddy went on a cultural exchange
in the '30s to the Soviet Union.

And he was there
for a long time,

and he was starting
to get homesick,

and one day, he hears that there's
a Baptist gospel choir from Georgia

performing at
the same town that he was in.

I can tell you I was pretty excited
to see some folks from home.

But when I got there...

turns out that
it was this Black choir.

I was taken aback,

but, uh, they started singing.

It was one of the most
beautiful sounds I'd ever heard.

Afterwards, we started
traveling together.

We went all over that
whole part of Russia.

Bob, pretty soon
a terrible thing happened.

What was that?

I went color blind.

It hit me one evening that...

I was ruined

as a Klansman.

I had to go back and tell
my own daddy that.

He didn't want anything
to do with the Klan

and their robes
for the rest of his life.

He had a robe and all?

Several, for different
occasions and such, I guess.

And one day, my mother
cut 'em all up

and made shirts out of 'em
for me and my brothers.

Not... not this one.

Just when I was younger.

Yeah, this is from a catalog.

Okay. Well...

...that'll be enough for now.

Well, should we, uh, pack up,

clean up, close up shop?

- What's in the briefcase?
- I don't know. I thought you'd know.

Oh, really? How would I know?

- What is all that?
- Well, it's SNCC.

That's the whole organization
right here.

The whole organization
is in that briefcase?

- How big is SNCC?
- Counting you?

Good night!

So, what is it that you think
you can do for SNCC?

What I was thinking was, somehow I
could be a liaison to college students.

I know there's still a lot of people
on the fence about the whole issue.

And maybe I could go around

college campuses,
talking to students about the Negro cause.

The what?

The Negra cause.

Well, for one thing, you better
learn how to pronounce the word.

- It's Negro.
- Negra.

- Negro.
- Negra.

No.

Negro.

What am I saying?

What you're saying, "Ne-gruh."

Okay. I'm gonna
break it down for you.

What is that?

My knee.

Right. How does a child
get bigger?

They grow.

Now, put it together.

Okay. Take your time.

- Knee grow.
- Once again.

Negro.

Right. I got it.

Negro. Negro.

Negro.

Negro.

- What did you say?
- He's okay. He's with me.

He's with you?

He's trying to learn
how to say something.

And "Negro" is the word
he's trying to learn to say?

So what word was he using?

We're not looking
for any trouble.

We were just having some coffee.

Well, look at that.
Your monkey speaks.

- Did you just call me a monkey?
- Deepest apologies, to the monkeys.

Listen. I don't know you.
You don't know me.

Let's just keep it that way.

The only way to that...

is if you take this coffee...

to go.

Ah! What the hell?

Bob. Bob! Settle down.

You better put a leash on your
redneck before it gets hurt, Jim.

Reggie.

Bob is a volunteer.

We're recruiting
from the Klan now?

He's for real, Reggie.

Oh, yeah, I can see that.

Well, I was thinking of starting
him on his non-violent training.

Mm-hmm.

He could use that.

But you know what I see...

when I look
at Mr. Wonderbread here?

I see FBI.

Mm. Maybe some local fuzz.

You think they're trying
to infiltrate us

by sending us a good old boy?

That's about they speed.

Look at him, sitting there
just egging us on.

Monkey see, monkey do.

You know what monkeys are like?
I know what monkeys are like.

Oh, yeah.

- Leon! Leon!
- I can't do this!

- Cool down. Cool down, baby.
- I can't! No!

- Cool down, baby.
- I can't do this. No.

- Cool down.
- I can't do this.

Cool down. Sit down.

There you go.
Sit down. All right?

- I can't do this.
- I know, I can see that.

But, Leon, if you want
to participate,

this is what you're
gonna have to learn.

We ought to be
fighting back.

We ought to be killing
the white sons of bitches!

Listen, you can't
kill all of 'em.

And we'll be the ones
that are getting killed.

And then, we won't be able
to change anything.

I know it's hard.

And I know that
you want to strike back,

but you gotta try
this other thing.

It can work.

Gandhi defeated
the British Empire

and never...

fired a shot.

I just see red sometimes.

Me too, brother.

Me too.

Uh, yeah?

Come in.

- Buonanotte.
- What's that?

"Good night" in Italian.

Bonne nuit. French.

Gute Nacht. German.

Oyasuminasai. Japanese.

Wow.

- About today...
- That was pretty rough.

I guess I should probably go
through that training too, huh?

I bit a girl's hand
my first time.

- Dang.
- I did.

But the real deal is
much worse.

You should know that.

I know.

I was in a riot once,
right there with you.

But no one was throwing
punches at your head, Bob.

When they do, you think
you're gonna throw punches back?

Well, that's the whole point,
not to, right?

That is the point.
But can you do that?

What you drinking?

Mai Tai cocktail.
You wanna try?

Shoot. I'll try anything
three times.

Well,
you might not like it.

This looks pretty good.

I'm sorry. That's terrible.

Oh, shoot.

Did you really
just do that?

I'll get it.
I'm in my birthday suit.

- No, it's fine. I can...
- Oh.

- Sorry.
- It's all right.

Should we be doing this?

Probably not.

Oh. It all makes sense now.

Old Bobby has
just been sniffing around.

- Slumming
- Reggie.

Born for this, right,
Wonderbread?

Because you certainly living
the great Southern tradition.

So you're telling me you
didn't use the pool, not once?

No. They make you wear
trunks now to swim at the YMCA.

What do you mean?

Well, up until now,
they wouldn't let you wear anything.

You mean like butt naked?

That's the only way
you could swim in the Y.

Yeah. That's why I didn't swim.
I didn't have a trunk.

- They killed Herbert Lee.
- What?

How did it happen?

His white neighbor killed him.

State legislator named
E. H. Hurst...

gunned him down...

in the bright of day.

I loved that nigger.

And I hated I had to do
what I had to do.

He didn't leave me no choice.

I mean, you can't just stand by
and let 'em run all over you.

No reason to feel bad
for doing what you had to do.

You know, I loaned him
the money to buy his place.

That's the thanks I get?

Registering to vote.

Just a damn ingrate.

They didn't even
arrest him, did they?

Calling everyone to McComb.

Bob Moses is there.

So is McDew,

half a dozen SNCC staffers.

It'll be the first time
we all in one place...

to be able to have
that SNCC staff meeting.

- Bob?
- Yeah. I'm there.

We're gonna need your car.

Dang it.

It's so hot under here.

Couldn't we have just got
a sheet or something?

Leon, you hear
what this cracker just said?

- Hmm?
- He said he wants a sheet

instead of them filthy blankets.

Just like a white cat to feel
more comfortable in a sheet.

Oh, come on, Bobby.
That was funny.

We've got to watch this one.
That's for sure.

- For sure.
- I got to sit up.

- Oh, whoa, whoa!
- No, no, no, no.

We ain't gonna let no
cracker cop see us riding

with a white boy like you.

- I'm gonna melt.
- You gotta suffer for the cause, baby.

You gotta suffer
for the cause.

Since Herbert Lee's
murder,

there have been
a number of actions

by high school students
in McComb

organized by brother
Bob Moses here.

Three of these students
were arrested

sitting at a lunch counter

at the five and dime
on the square.

They're being released today,

but I've just been informed that
there will be an assembly held

at the high school at which the principal
will be addressing the student body

on these three students.

Now we're expecting a...

♪ We've done all you wanted

♪ We've done all you want, Lord

♪ We've done
All you wanted... ♪

Hey. What is it?

They wouldn't let Brenda Travis
back in.

They're trying to send her
to a reform school.

The principal just caved.

We're going to march
on Magnolia.

We wanna make some signs.

Okay. Uh, Leon,

Chuck, give them
some papers.

When they get up to go,
you just stay back.

It's crazy marching off
like this without a plan.

I shouldn't be
involved in this.

Everybody's gonna get
thrown in jail

and I can't get arrested.

I gotta leave tomorrow.

This is happening too quick.

If I get busted,
what's gonna happen to my mama and daddy?

Everybody will find out
back home,

and there'll be hell to pay.

Daddy will lose his church.
If I'm a part of this,

it will just cause more
violence down here than normal.

Really, Bob? What's
a normal level of violence?

You can lay back here
with me if you want.

You're not going?

Somebody always
has to stay back.

So it's been decided.
Reggie and I will hang here.

Get people out of jail,
that sort of thing?

I'll hang with the march
for a little bit,

but at some point,
I'll have to turn back.

This isn't make-believe
anymore, Bob.

Things are gonna get
real serious out there.

Nobody here expects you to
step out that door, lover boy.

Anyway, you already got
what you wanted.

♪ I woke up this morning
With my mind

♪ Stayed on freedom

♪ I woke up this morning
With my mind

♪ Stayed on freedom

♪ I woke up this morning
With my mind

♪ Stayed on freedom

♪ Hallelu

♪ Hallelu

♪ Hallelujah

♪ I'm walking and talking
With my mind

Get your Black asses
out of here!

♪ Stayed on freedom

♪ Keep it stayin'

♪ On freedom

♪ I'm walking and talking
With my mind

♪ Stayed on freedom

♪ Hallelu, hallelu

♪ Hallelujah ♪

Son of a bitch.

Hey, Zellner.

Zellner!

You low-down son of a bitch,

what the hell
do you think you're doing?

- Hey, Doc.
- You've really lost your mind, you know that?

Is this where you're from?

You're in way over your head
on this one.

You know what they're gonna
write on your tombstone?

"Traitor."

Yeah, I'm gonna piss on it
to seal the deal.

- Do you know him?
- Yeah, that was Doc.

I guess he's from McComb.

You're not just passing?
You're really white, aren't you?

Yeah.

Skin me alive.

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Seeing the light come on

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

Everybody now!

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom, freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom

♪ Freedom, freedom ♪

"Our Father,
which art in heaven,

- "hallowed be thy name...
- Lock 'em.

"Thy kingdom come...
Your will be done..."

"...on earth
as it is in heaven.

- "Give us this day, our daily bread...
- Arrest 'em.

"...and forgive us
our trespasses

"as we forgive those
who trespass against us...

Lock 'em all up!

"Lead us not into temptation

"but deliver us from evil."

Bob, keep your head down.

They're gonna kill him.

Oh, we gotta get out of here.

I want to make a phone call.

You want what?

Every prisoner has a right
to a phone call

and I want to make mine
right now.

But you're not under arrest.

- Then arrest me.
- For what?

What did you get
everybody else for?

- Breaching the peace.
- Okay, then.

Well, I can't do that.

- Why not?
- Because you didn't breach the peace.

I had a right to be down there
but everybody else didn't?

Well, put him
at the head of the class.

What if I slug
this fellow right here?

Is that enough
to get me arrested?

Jay-Jay, get him
the hell out of here.

Jay-Jay,
why don't you slow up?

Uh, I don't think
ain't nobody chasing us.

Yeah, Jay-Jay,
why don't you slow up?

You ain't in any real hurry,
are you?

Hey, why don't you shut up?

You New York
Jew bastard communist.

You really a communist?

Well, Jay-Jay says so.

I ain't never heard nobody
speak no communist.

Can you say something
communist for me?

Younger, shut up.

But I ain't never heard nobody
speak no communist before.

You ain't got the sense
God gave a billy goat.

He always talk to you like that?

Yeah, pretty much.

Younger, I told you
to button it.

And stop talking to that goddamn
New York Jew commie bastard.

What do you know about New York, Jay-Jay?
You ever been up there?

No. And I don't
plan to go neither.

But I guess we'll be sending your
remains back up there to somebody.

My remains will be sent back to
Alabama since that's where I'm from.

- You're lying.
- No.

Daddy's a Methodist minister

and I'm from East Brewton,
Alabama.

You're telling me
you're from Alabama?

We got cousins over
in Dothan.

That ain't far from Brewton.
Maybe you know 'em.

- Ethel...
- Younger!

We're not making friends here.

Your daddy's a minister.

Where did he go
to seminary school?

Bob Jones College.
You ever heard of it?

I heard of Bob Jones.

- He's got a school?
- Yeah, it's who I'm named after.

I'm telling, y'all.
I'm from Alabama.

He sure sound like it.

Does your mother know
that you're doing this?

She knows.

You should be ashamed
of yourself.

A minister's boy too...

named after Bob Jones
and everything.

Get him back in the car.

There he is. Come on, Younger.

- Where you going?
- I'm out.

- You... What's going on here?
- This boy's from Alabama.

Well, no shit.

You already knew that?

You gotta draw the line
somewhere, Jay-Jay.

And this boy here
is way over it.

Hey, Doc.

Back in town, how come you didn't
have the guts to step forward?

Why don't you shut up, Bob?

Bob? You know him?

Oh, yeah. We went to school together.
Go ahead.

I'm warning you, boy.
Tie him up.

We about to hang a buddy of yours.
That don't seem right.

We are in crap
right up to our necks.

I'm out
and I'm taking Younger with me.

There ain't no reason to be out.

Everybody has seen us take him.

That don't matter.

You sure about that?

Did you know who everybody was downtown?
I didn't.

There was what looked like
feds down there.

Well, murder is a state charge.

And you never saw the feds do anything
to anybody else any other time.

This ain't like any other time!

When they give you
all the chair for killing me,

I guess it'll be justice
for everybody else you killed.

Nobody is getting the chair.

He's from Alabama.
You went to school with him.

They're gonna give us
the chair for sure.

You knew
his daddy's a minister?

It... Nothing
is gonna happen to us.

Nothing's gonna happen to me
'cause I'm gone.

You do what you want.
Let's go.

Feds will still get you for
aiding and abetting, Jay-Jay.

Okay!

What the hell?
I didn't give no goddamn signal!

Cut the rope!

Cut the goddamn rope.

Holy Jesus and Mary.

There was a civil rights march in
McComb, Mississippi yesterday.

Oh... How many people were hurt?

And guess who they say led it?

Twenty-two-year-old
Robert Zellner.

- That can't be right.
- We better call somebody.

Operator. I want to make
a call to Alabama.

Hey, there,
Mr. Civil Rights leader.

- Good morning.
- How's your neck?

Oh. My neck already had
a tinge of red to it.

Well...

according to the New York paper,

you, Mr. Robert Zellner,
led the first civil rights march

in the great state
of Mississippi.

It's the great state of Alabama.

What did you say?

Why would they write that?
That's a lie.

They looked out
and saw a hundred Black folk

and thought
they couldn't possibly

have the guts
or brains to pull that off.

And then they saw you and thought,
"Oh, it all makes sense now."

Man, I didn't mean to.

No, well, you're famous now.

But, as my mother always says,

"Don't believe anything you
read, only half of what you see."

Yeah, right.

You still plan on
skipping town today?

Reggie told me
you have a bus to catch.

- A bus?
- Your friend from the bridge came by

and burned your car.

He did what?

So, you think about

coming down to visit for
Thanksgiving or Christmas break?

I have been considering it.

Okay.

Well, write me.

You know, you could think about
coming up for a visit as well.

- I could think about that.
- Don't think too long.

And it won't hurt to take
a language while you're up.

Somebody said they saw you
coming out here.

I see you still enjoy the
company of mongrels over men.

Let it go, Bob.
Your bus will be here in a minute.

What the Black bitch says
is true.

Nothing down here is any of
your business any which way.

I just came by to remind you that
if you do decide to come back,

I got something waiting...

- Bob...
- Don't you say another damn thing.

Hey! I just bought that.

Don't get in between white folks
arguing, you hear me?

Ain't you supposed to be
non-violent now?

I'm having a real big problem
with that right now

'cause what I want to do is
pull you clean out of this truck

and beat you
like there's no tomorrow.

I want to knock you
into next week.

I want the next face you see
to be the emergency room doctor.

But I don't think
I'm gonna do that.

You're a monster, Doc.
You deserve no pity shown to you.

But you know something else?

I'm a goddamn monster too and
I don't want to be one anymore.

I don't want to be like
every sucker I grew up with.

See that woman over there?

She's trying to teach me
what it means to be a man.

She says I should not beat you
till your mama won't know ya.

She says an eye for an eye
leaves everybody blind.

Well, I want to be
more like her.

I don't want to be the horror
in some little child's eyes.

Now, you drive off.

Don't you turn around,
don't you come back here with anybody

'cause if I ever see you again,

I'm gonna forgive myself
and I don't wanna do that.

And not just 'cause she wouldn't
like it but that would be enough.

Can we agree on that?

You missed your bus.

Ah, no, that wasn't my bus.

My nigger.

What?

My nigger! Yeah!
Look at you go!

I saw you. Oh, you were
gonna get him, yeah!

- Is that supposed to be a compliment?
- Mm-hmm. Little bit.

What are we, uh...
What are we supposed to do now?

We're gonna check on
McDew and the others

and see how they're doing
in county jail.

All right. Well, I guess
I better go too, then.

Oh! So you're gonna give this
whole civil rights thing a try?

Oh, you know me,
I'll try anything three times.

- Easy white boy, let's go.
- All right. Come on.

We think that
in order to facilitate change,

and in order
to create the type of society

that we think
that we all basically want,

that we have to take this sort of
peaceful, non-violent direct action.

How long will this group remain
outside this locked door, Mr. Zellner?

We'll stand here until we're able
to reach some sort of agreement

to open the restaurant.

Attempt to stand here
as long as we're able.

Do you feel that
your position is reasonable?

I think so. And I think that
it's the only way to do it.

My philosophy is very simple.

When you see something
that is not right,

not fair, not just,

you have a moral obligation to
say something, to do something,

stand up, speak up, speak out.