Whitewash (1994) - full transcript
A little black girl learns about racism.
(funk/hip hop music)
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
(laughter)
* Do you know what's up
(children laughing)
- Let me repeat.
This is a whole number.
(laughter)
If we move the decimal one
space it's called a tenth.
(laughter)
If we move it 2 spaces,
it's a hundredth.
Three spaces is a thousandth.
Now, every time we move
a decimal point 2 spaces,
what do we come up with?
- Nothing.
(laughter)
- Zero.
(laughter)
- We multiply or divide
the number by 100.
- [Teacher] Yes, Helene
Angel, that's correct.
(laughter)
- 100% of this class
will be at detention
if you don't behave.
(students giggling)
I repeat, this is
called a tenth.
This is a hundredth.
If we move the decimal two
spaces it's called a thousandth.
Now, all right you three,
please come up here and write
in words the equivalent
of these numbers.
(students giggling)
Sometime today, please, Helene.
(students giggling)
(bell rings)
- Oh, I'm sorry Ms. Steunberg,
I guess I'm going to
have to do it tomorrow.
(children laugh)
- You most certainly
shall, young lady.
Please do the exercise
on page 384 and 386
in your math books and don't
forget your history projects
are due in two days, no excuses!
(light synthesizer music)
- What's the matter,
your mom won't
let you cross the
street alone yet?
- Aw, hush up, you don't know
what you're talking about.
- I do.
- You do what?
- Know you can't go no place
'til Mauricio comes to get ya.
- Who's Mauricio?
- Helene's big
brother, that's who.
- Uh oh, I'm scared of you.
(laughter)
- You better be, cause
here he comes now!
(hip hop music)
(laughter)
- Y'all got something
to say to me?
- Don't nobody have
nothing to say to you.
- You think I like doing this?
Picking up a girl as big as you?
You my sister, you
think I get off on this?
- Well, I know I sure don't.
I've got to sit around
until you decide to think
"Oh, I forgot my sister."
(car horn honks)
- Only forgot you
twice, and you know it.
- Three times, three times
you forgot all about me!
- Well, maybe.
- Well, maybe nothing.
I just wish I could
go home on my own.
- You ain't the only one.
I told you, I was doing
everything I could...
- Where do you think
you're going, niggas?
- Any place you ain't, now
move out of our way man.
- Are you telling me what to do?
- Come on girl, move.
- Don't you hear what
a white man had to say?
- There ain't no
man around here,
just some simple-minded punks.
- Uh oh, I believe we
got some trouble here.
This boy don't
understand English.
- Hey, we know these people
don't speak English too good,
so how could they
understand you?
(boys laugh)
- I think I got an idea
of what you do understand.
Give me your money, all your
gold jewelry, and your rings.
(gasps)
- Hey!
(suspenseful music)
- Ow, stop, stop!
- She's got only 49 cents?
(grunts)
- Run, Helene!
- Yo, hold on, hold on.
- Mauricio, wait!
Mauricio!
- Looks like she doesn't
want to play with us, huh?
- Let's leave them alone,
these kids got nothing.
- We got something
for you, nigga,
and you're not going
anywhere until we say, right?
- What are you guys doing?
- Let's get out of here.
- Come on, let's go!
- We're going to do
you a good deed, girl.
- Come on, let's
get out of here.
- Hold her!
Today, you'll see what
it's like to be white.
(paint sprays)
- Come on, man,
what are you doing?
Let's go!
- Hey, what do you
think you're doing?
- Shut up, black
boy, you're next!
(paint sprays)
- Come on, Helene Angel,
it's okay, it's okay.
(piano music)
- Now, don't you
fret, sweetheart,
nanna's going to get all
this mess right off you.
They're going to see
your pretty little face
just like it always
was, you'll see.
Nobody will ever
know the difference.
- Nanna, I, I tried
to fight them off.
I was outnumbered, I told you!
- Mauricio, it
wasn't your fault.
You told me a million
times and I believe you.
Now, get me some of the baby oil
so I can finish your
sister's face here.
- But nanna, I thought when
you have injuries like mine,
from being beat half to
death, you're supposed to put
a piece of cold, raw steak
on it, like in the movies.
- I got no steak to put
anywhere except on my table,
and you got less than one
second to get me that baby oil.
- Yeah, like I ain't hurt too.
- Helene Angel, baby, it's going
to be all right,
don't you worry.
Nobody's going to be
hurting you anymore.
Now, I'll see to it, you hear.
It's going to be just fine.
(piano music)
(sirens)
(hip hop music)
(people talking)
- Please, no photographs.
- [Voiceover] Is this
off the record, officer?
- No, no, it's just
routine, just routine.
- How routine is it,
officer, for a child
to be painted
white in the Bronx?
- That's not what she
meant, and you know it.
- Does she have to
be in the hospital?
- Would you consider
this a hate crime?
- As opposed to
what, a nice crime?
- Do you have any leads?
- I have nothing more to say.
(people shouting)
- [Voiceover] There she is!
Can we get a statement?
- [Nanna] Well I
don't know what more
you want from the children.
- [Police Inspector] Just a
couple more questions, ma'am.
- [Nanna] I just want to
know how long you're going
to let them get away with this.
We came up from the south to
get away from this very thing.
- [Police Inspector]
Yes ma'am, we know.
It's a terrible thing that
happened to your granddaughter,
but random violence,
- What random you talking bout?
It was the Hawks
who had done it.
They painted Helene
Angel's face.
- Are you sure?
I mean, could you identify them?
- No way, I couldn't,
they were all over me.
I was doing everything I could,
but I couldn't get
to Helene Angel.
There were lots of them.
No, really, I thought
they'd kill me,
I mean, um, paint me too.
What could I do?
- That's all right
son, we understand.
(saxophone music)
- Don't son me, don't son me.
- Today, a fourth grade
student in the Bronx
was attacked by a group of thugs
- This afternoon, a
young girl who was simply
walking home from school
was brutually attacked.
- According to the
police commissioner,
the assailants have not
yet been identified.
- Although no motive
has been established,
police are not ruling out
drug-related disputes,
turf battles, or hate crimes.
After this short break,
we'll have Stone with sports.
- Did you see me Nanna?
I was on the TV!
- How could I miss you?
(eerie dream music)
- Looks like she doesn't
want to play with us, huh?
- Hey!
(grunts)
Stop!
Run Helene!
- We got something
for you, nigga.
Today you'll see what
it's like to be white.
(suspenseful music)
(gasps)
(cries)
- She lives down
the block from me.
I spoke to her
grandma yesterday.
She said that, um, she's
really afraid to come outside.
- Why would somebody want
to do something like that?
Was she in a gang or something?
- Helene Angel's not in
any gang, she was just
walking home from school and
got beat up from some kids.
I tried to get her to come out
but she won't talk to anyone.
Anyway, you can't get
close to the house.
There's all these
TV people and stuff.
- So, is she coming
back to school?
- I don't know,
Mrs. Calloway says
she won't even come
out of her room.
(bell rings)
(clears throat)
- Rafael Brown?
- Here.
- Suzanne Canady?
- Here.
- Helene Angel Calloway?
(silence)
(cries)
It's okay, Lori, it's okay.
It was a horrible thing,
but it'll be okay.
You all know that what
happened to Helene Angel
was a cruel and terrible thing.
I know how it made me feel.
I am hurt and angry
all at the same time.
I wonder how you feel?
Would anyone like to tell me?
- I'm terrified.
- Scared and terrified.
- I'm terrified.
- Dangerous and terrible.
- It was terrible.
- If someone did that
to me, I'd be afraid
to come back to school, too.
- I think that that
person might, you know,
might not be happy if
someone did that to them.
- I don't know why someone
would do something like that.
Helene Angel was just
minding her own business.
- Yeah.
- I think they need
more security guards.
- Yeah.
(students talking all at once)
- We should have security
guards to help kids
in the class cross the
street because then
it's as simple as if
something happens, they could
notify the police or anything,
or stop the person or something.
- I think I'll come
back to school with them
and then tell them
that there's nothing
to be scared about because
if it happened once,
it might not happen again.
- Maybe they should get
all the kids in the school
to walk with them
so maybe the person
wouldn't try to mug them
with all those people around.
- Yeah, maybe if we all
walk Helene Angel to school,
maybe she won't be so afraid.
(students agree)
- If you all feel so strongly,
maybe what we should do
is let Helene Angel know that.
Why don't we each
write her a letter,
so that Helene Angel will know
how much we care about her,
and how much we want
her to come back?
(steady piano music)
- No sir, I won't
let you talk to her,
and I want you to
leave us alone.
Things are tough
enough around here
without you bothering
us to death.
(steady piano music)
- Do you want any lunch, honey?
Now, you can't lock yourself
in there forever, child.
(sighs)
- Any problems?
- Nah, it's just hard
getting through the door
with all those
news guys outside.
- They'll go away soon.
- Were we on TV again today?
- I'm hungry, dinner ready?
- Knock on the
door and see if you
can get your sister to join us.
- Here I am, Chuck, two days
after the incident in the Bronx
where a young girl was a
victim of a brutal attack
by a gang of thugs
known as The Hawks.
The young girl was painted white
with a bottle of shoe polish.
Police have not come
up with any clues
as to who the Hawks are
nor whether there is proof
that any crime
actually occurred.
(knocks on door)
- Come on, Helene
Angel, you can't stay
in your room forever,
dinner's ready.
Nanna wants you to
come out, you hear?
Look, you gotta face up to it.
It ain't gonna get no
better until you do.
- Hello.
- Mail.
- Oh, thank you.
(light synthesizer music)
Helene Angel?
Look, child, look at all
this mail that came for you.
(upbeat piano music)
Helene Angel, darling, I know
this has been a truly rough
time for you, but now you got
to stand up and keep on living.
You have to remember that
you're the same Helene Angel
just as beautiful outside
as you are inside.
Let me tell you something,
when I was your age in Georgia,
children just like you stood
up to dogs and fire hoses
and the police themselves just
so we could do what everybody
else did, go to restaurants,
try on clothes in stores,
ride buses and trains,
worship without being bombed,
and believe you me,
I was plenty scared.
I kept asking myself,
how much could I stand?
People calling me
such terrible names
and beating on us,
young as we were.
- Let freedom ring from...
- [Nanna] But I heard Dr.
King speak in my church
and I knew I couldn't give up.
- [Dr. King] ...and singing
the words of the old negros...
- [Nanna] Because if I
gave up what I believed in,
I would end up with nothing.
(gospel music)
You are very
precious to me, now.
Those boys hurt you, but
they are the ugly ones.
You have to see that and
always remember that.
(upbeat gospel music)
Darling, I want you to go
back to school tomorrow.
- Yes ma'am.
(light synthesizer music)
- Where is that book?
I need it for my test!
- Well you should've
put it away.
Are you sure you had it here?
- Yes, I was doing my homework
right in front of the TV.
- You left it in the
bathroom, like usual.
(doorbell rings)
- Why won't they leave us alone?
Hello?
- Hello Mrs. Calloway,
is Helene Angel home?
- We really missed you
in class Helene Angel.
We don't like what
happened to you at all.
We know it's tough,
and we wanted
to show you that
you're not alone.
- We got up early so we could
all walk to school together.
- And we'll walk back together.
- We're all together.
- And no one's going
to beat on us no more.
(sniffles)
- [Nanna] See, you don't
have to worry anymore.
You've got company.
- Nanna, I'm going to school.
- Good, baby, that's good.
(children cheer)
(hip hop music)
* Friends of friends
we're on the same team
* We're helping each other
if you know what I mean
* Black, white, yellow or brown
* We're all together
and we're getting down
* In school or on the street
* If we help each
other we can't be beat
* Cause all alone
it's hard to survive
* But if we're in it
together we can stay alive
* You and me
* There ain't no
stopping what we can be
- Wait for me!
* You and me, hey,
just wait and see
* You and me there aint
no stopping what we can be
* You and me, hey,
just wait and see
* We've got to be friends
like sister and brother
* Working together and
helping one another
* If you know somebody
who's getting in trouble
* Give them a hand
and on the double
* In school or on the street
* If we help each
other we can't be beat
* Cause all alone
it's hard to be strong
* But working together
we can't go wrong
* You and me there ain't
no stopping what we can be
* You and me, hey,
just wait and see
* You and me there ain't
no stopping what we can be
* You and me, hey,
just wait and see
* You and me there ain't
no stopping what we can be
* You and me just wait and see
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
* whitewash
(laughter)
* Do you know what's up
(children laughing)
- Let me repeat.
This is a whole number.
(laughter)
If we move the decimal one
space it's called a tenth.
(laughter)
If we move it 2 spaces,
it's a hundredth.
Three spaces is a thousandth.
Now, every time we move
a decimal point 2 spaces,
what do we come up with?
- Nothing.
(laughter)
- Zero.
(laughter)
- We multiply or divide
the number by 100.
- [Teacher] Yes, Helene
Angel, that's correct.
(laughter)
- 100% of this class
will be at detention
if you don't behave.
(students giggling)
I repeat, this is
called a tenth.
This is a hundredth.
If we move the decimal two
spaces it's called a thousandth.
Now, all right you three,
please come up here and write
in words the equivalent
of these numbers.
(students giggling)
Sometime today, please, Helene.
(students giggling)
(bell rings)
- Oh, I'm sorry Ms. Steunberg,
I guess I'm going to
have to do it tomorrow.
(children laugh)
- You most certainly
shall, young lady.
Please do the exercise
on page 384 and 386
in your math books and don't
forget your history projects
are due in two days, no excuses!
(light synthesizer music)
- What's the matter,
your mom won't
let you cross the
street alone yet?
- Aw, hush up, you don't know
what you're talking about.
- I do.
- You do what?
- Know you can't go no place
'til Mauricio comes to get ya.
- Who's Mauricio?
- Helene's big
brother, that's who.
- Uh oh, I'm scared of you.
(laughter)
- You better be, cause
here he comes now!
(hip hop music)
(laughter)
- Y'all got something
to say to me?
- Don't nobody have
nothing to say to you.
- You think I like doing this?
Picking up a girl as big as you?
You my sister, you
think I get off on this?
- Well, I know I sure don't.
I've got to sit around
until you decide to think
"Oh, I forgot my sister."
(car horn honks)
- Only forgot you
twice, and you know it.
- Three times, three times
you forgot all about me!
- Well, maybe.
- Well, maybe nothing.
I just wish I could
go home on my own.
- You ain't the only one.
I told you, I was doing
everything I could...
- Where do you think
you're going, niggas?
- Any place you ain't, now
move out of our way man.
- Are you telling me what to do?
- Come on girl, move.
- Don't you hear what
a white man had to say?
- There ain't no
man around here,
just some simple-minded punks.
- Uh oh, I believe we
got some trouble here.
This boy don't
understand English.
- Hey, we know these people
don't speak English too good,
so how could they
understand you?
(boys laugh)
- I think I got an idea
of what you do understand.
Give me your money, all your
gold jewelry, and your rings.
(gasps)
- Hey!
(suspenseful music)
- Ow, stop, stop!
- She's got only 49 cents?
(grunts)
- Run, Helene!
- Yo, hold on, hold on.
- Mauricio, wait!
Mauricio!
- Looks like she doesn't
want to play with us, huh?
- Let's leave them alone,
these kids got nothing.
- We got something
for you, nigga,
and you're not going
anywhere until we say, right?
- What are you guys doing?
- Let's get out of here.
- Come on, let's go!
- We're going to do
you a good deed, girl.
- Come on, let's
get out of here.
- Hold her!
Today, you'll see what
it's like to be white.
(paint sprays)
- Come on, man,
what are you doing?
Let's go!
- Hey, what do you
think you're doing?
- Shut up, black
boy, you're next!
(paint sprays)
- Come on, Helene Angel,
it's okay, it's okay.
(piano music)
- Now, don't you
fret, sweetheart,
nanna's going to get all
this mess right off you.
They're going to see
your pretty little face
just like it always
was, you'll see.
Nobody will ever
know the difference.
- Nanna, I, I tried
to fight them off.
I was outnumbered, I told you!
- Mauricio, it
wasn't your fault.
You told me a million
times and I believe you.
Now, get me some of the baby oil
so I can finish your
sister's face here.
- But nanna, I thought when
you have injuries like mine,
from being beat half to
death, you're supposed to put
a piece of cold, raw steak
on it, like in the movies.
- I got no steak to put
anywhere except on my table,
and you got less than one
second to get me that baby oil.
- Yeah, like I ain't hurt too.
- Helene Angel, baby, it's going
to be all right,
don't you worry.
Nobody's going to be
hurting you anymore.
Now, I'll see to it, you hear.
It's going to be just fine.
(piano music)
(sirens)
(hip hop music)
(people talking)
- Please, no photographs.
- [Voiceover] Is this
off the record, officer?
- No, no, it's just
routine, just routine.
- How routine is it,
officer, for a child
to be painted
white in the Bronx?
- That's not what she
meant, and you know it.
- Does she have to
be in the hospital?
- Would you consider
this a hate crime?
- As opposed to
what, a nice crime?
- Do you have any leads?
- I have nothing more to say.
(people shouting)
- [Voiceover] There she is!
Can we get a statement?
- [Nanna] Well I
don't know what more
you want from the children.
- [Police Inspector] Just a
couple more questions, ma'am.
- [Nanna] I just want to
know how long you're going
to let them get away with this.
We came up from the south to
get away from this very thing.
- [Police Inspector]
Yes ma'am, we know.
It's a terrible thing that
happened to your granddaughter,
but random violence,
- What random you talking bout?
It was the Hawks
who had done it.
They painted Helene
Angel's face.
- Are you sure?
I mean, could you identify them?
- No way, I couldn't,
they were all over me.
I was doing everything I could,
but I couldn't get
to Helene Angel.
There were lots of them.
No, really, I thought
they'd kill me,
I mean, um, paint me too.
What could I do?
- That's all right
son, we understand.
(saxophone music)
- Don't son me, don't son me.
- Today, a fourth grade
student in the Bronx
was attacked by a group of thugs
- This afternoon, a
young girl who was simply
walking home from school
was brutually attacked.
- According to the
police commissioner,
the assailants have not
yet been identified.
- Although no motive
has been established,
police are not ruling out
drug-related disputes,
turf battles, or hate crimes.
After this short break,
we'll have Stone with sports.
- Did you see me Nanna?
I was on the TV!
- How could I miss you?
(eerie dream music)
- Looks like she doesn't
want to play with us, huh?
- Hey!
(grunts)
Stop!
Run Helene!
- We got something
for you, nigga.
Today you'll see what
it's like to be white.
(suspenseful music)
(gasps)
(cries)
- She lives down
the block from me.
I spoke to her
grandma yesterday.
She said that, um, she's
really afraid to come outside.
- Why would somebody want
to do something like that?
Was she in a gang or something?
- Helene Angel's not in
any gang, she was just
walking home from school and
got beat up from some kids.
I tried to get her to come out
but she won't talk to anyone.
Anyway, you can't get
close to the house.
There's all these
TV people and stuff.
- So, is she coming
back to school?
- I don't know,
Mrs. Calloway says
she won't even come
out of her room.
(bell rings)
(clears throat)
- Rafael Brown?
- Here.
- Suzanne Canady?
- Here.
- Helene Angel Calloway?
(silence)
(cries)
It's okay, Lori, it's okay.
It was a horrible thing,
but it'll be okay.
You all know that what
happened to Helene Angel
was a cruel and terrible thing.
I know how it made me feel.
I am hurt and angry
all at the same time.
I wonder how you feel?
Would anyone like to tell me?
- I'm terrified.
- Scared and terrified.
- I'm terrified.
- Dangerous and terrible.
- It was terrible.
- If someone did that
to me, I'd be afraid
to come back to school, too.
- I think that that
person might, you know,
might not be happy if
someone did that to them.
- I don't know why someone
would do something like that.
Helene Angel was just
minding her own business.
- Yeah.
- I think they need
more security guards.
- Yeah.
(students talking all at once)
- We should have security
guards to help kids
in the class cross the
street because then
it's as simple as if
something happens, they could
notify the police or anything,
or stop the person or something.
- I think I'll come
back to school with them
and then tell them
that there's nothing
to be scared about because
if it happened once,
it might not happen again.
- Maybe they should get
all the kids in the school
to walk with them
so maybe the person
wouldn't try to mug them
with all those people around.
- Yeah, maybe if we all
walk Helene Angel to school,
maybe she won't be so afraid.
(students agree)
- If you all feel so strongly,
maybe what we should do
is let Helene Angel know that.
Why don't we each
write her a letter,
so that Helene Angel will know
how much we care about her,
and how much we want
her to come back?
(steady piano music)
- No sir, I won't
let you talk to her,
and I want you to
leave us alone.
Things are tough
enough around here
without you bothering
us to death.
(steady piano music)
- Do you want any lunch, honey?
Now, you can't lock yourself
in there forever, child.
(sighs)
- Any problems?
- Nah, it's just hard
getting through the door
with all those
news guys outside.
- They'll go away soon.
- Were we on TV again today?
- I'm hungry, dinner ready?
- Knock on the
door and see if you
can get your sister to join us.
- Here I am, Chuck, two days
after the incident in the Bronx
where a young girl was a
victim of a brutal attack
by a gang of thugs
known as The Hawks.
The young girl was painted white
with a bottle of shoe polish.
Police have not come
up with any clues
as to who the Hawks are
nor whether there is proof
that any crime
actually occurred.
(knocks on door)
- Come on, Helene
Angel, you can't stay
in your room forever,
dinner's ready.
Nanna wants you to
come out, you hear?
Look, you gotta face up to it.
It ain't gonna get no
better until you do.
- Hello.
- Mail.
- Oh, thank you.
(light synthesizer music)
Helene Angel?
Look, child, look at all
this mail that came for you.
(upbeat piano music)
Helene Angel, darling, I know
this has been a truly rough
time for you, but now you got
to stand up and keep on living.
You have to remember that
you're the same Helene Angel
just as beautiful outside
as you are inside.
Let me tell you something,
when I was your age in Georgia,
children just like you stood
up to dogs and fire hoses
and the police themselves just
so we could do what everybody
else did, go to restaurants,
try on clothes in stores,
ride buses and trains,
worship without being bombed,
and believe you me,
I was plenty scared.
I kept asking myself,
how much could I stand?
People calling me
such terrible names
and beating on us,
young as we were.
- Let freedom ring from...
- [Nanna] But I heard Dr.
King speak in my church
and I knew I couldn't give up.
- [Dr. King] ...and singing
the words of the old negros...
- [Nanna] Because if I
gave up what I believed in,
I would end up with nothing.
(gospel music)
You are very
precious to me, now.
Those boys hurt you, but
they are the ugly ones.
You have to see that and
always remember that.
(upbeat gospel music)
Darling, I want you to go
back to school tomorrow.
- Yes ma'am.
(light synthesizer music)
- Where is that book?
I need it for my test!
- Well you should've
put it away.
Are you sure you had it here?
- Yes, I was doing my homework
right in front of the TV.
- You left it in the
bathroom, like usual.
(doorbell rings)
- Why won't they leave us alone?
Hello?
- Hello Mrs. Calloway,
is Helene Angel home?
- We really missed you
in class Helene Angel.
We don't like what
happened to you at all.
We know it's tough,
and we wanted
to show you that
you're not alone.
- We got up early so we could
all walk to school together.
- And we'll walk back together.
- We're all together.
- And no one's going
to beat on us no more.
(sniffles)
- [Nanna] See, you don't
have to worry anymore.
You've got company.
- Nanna, I'm going to school.
- Good, baby, that's good.
(children cheer)
(hip hop music)
* Friends of friends
we're on the same team
* We're helping each other
if you know what I mean
* Black, white, yellow or brown
* We're all together
and we're getting down
* In school or on the street
* If we help each
other we can't be beat
* Cause all alone
it's hard to survive
* But if we're in it
together we can stay alive
* You and me
* There ain't no
stopping what we can be
- Wait for me!
* You and me, hey,
just wait and see
* You and me there aint
no stopping what we can be
* You and me, hey,
just wait and see
* We've got to be friends
like sister and brother
* Working together and
helping one another
* If you know somebody
who's getting in trouble
* Give them a hand
and on the double
* In school or on the street
* If we help each
other we can't be beat
* Cause all alone
it's hard to be strong
* But working together
we can't go wrong
* You and me there ain't
no stopping what we can be
* You and me, hey,
just wait and see
* You and me there ain't
no stopping what we can be
* You and me, hey,
just wait and see
* You and me there ain't
no stopping what we can be
* You and me just wait and see