The Wonder Years (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 15 - Black Teacher - full transcript
So much of our
early lives are shaped by teachers.
Outside of our parents,
they can be our first
role models.
They pour so much into us,
and still,
teachers are basically
strangers.
As kids, we didn't even
see them as people,
and we definitely never thought
about their personal lives,
unless we had to.
Now, before we go,
I wanted to let y'all know
that, sadly, this will be
my last week in class
before my visit from the stork.
How is she even pregnant?
Isn't she like 62?
Mrs. Anderson was 30,
but at that age,
we thought all our teachers
were ancient.
You'll meet your new teacher
tomorrow,
and I expect you to all
be as wonderful to them
as you have been to me.
English class
was pretty boring,
but we loved Mrs. Anderson,
especially
pregnant Mrs. Anderson.
The bigger her stomach got,
the less homework she assigned.
We were more excited about
that baby than she was.
What are the odds we can get
another pregnant lady in here?
I'd like to introduce
your new teacher.
Please join me
in welcoming Mr. Brady.
He's black?!
I wanted to start singing
the Negro National Anthem,
but I didn't know the lyrics.
Do you know him?
This is a historic moment
for Jefferson Davis Junior High.
I'm proud to say that
I recruited this teacher,
and I think that he has
a certain something special
that we'll all benefit from.
What about the debate team?
And the Knowledge Bowl?
Mrs. Anderson is our coach
and we've been practicing
all year!
Mr. Brady will be taking over
those as well.
Just so you know, we get pizza
and candy after every practice.
That's good to know.
Brad, right?
Well, I'll leave you to it.
I understand you've been
reading The Odyssey,
so let's open up to Chapter 9
and talk about
how Homer uses foreshadowing
to advance the story.
I couldn't believe it.
We finally had our first
Black teacher
in the history of the school.
It was a huge deal,
which wasn't lost
on my classmates either.
♪ I'm Black and I'm proud ♪
♪ Say it loud ♪
Okay,
it probably wasn't that bad,
but that's exactly how it felt.
Can anyone tell me
what type of clause
I've written on the board?
- Yes, Brad?
- A Santa Claus?
Tonight, read the next chapter
and write a half-page summary.
Having a Black teacher
is good news for you guys.
Why's that?
Oh, well, because...
Because he'll give the Black
students special treatment.
Does that mean Mrs. Anderson
gave you special treatment?
No. Of course not.
I mean, he seems pretty tough.
He gave us all homework
on the first day.
I don't think anybody's
getting special attention.
Dean, Cory, Keisa.
Can I see just the three of you
for a moment?
Right.
I was reviewing
Mrs. Anderson's grade book
and noticed you all have
excellent grades.
Has anyone ever suggested
you try out for
the Knowledge Bowl team?
I got asked to try out
for the basketball team.
Track and field.
Nobody asked me
to join any teams.
I see.
Well, I've decided to hold
a new round of tryouts
so everyone can have
the opportunity to earn a spot,
and I think you all should
consider trying out.
It took most teachers a week
to stop calling me "Cory,"
but Mr. Brady was already
letting us know
that he sees us.
And there it was.
The first Black head nod.
You just witnessed history,
people.
♪ Love is haa-aa-aard ♪
♪ But war is so easy ♪
♪ And all I know is ♪
♪ All I know ♪
♪ Ohhh, through
the highs and the lows ♪
♪ I'mma find my way home ♪
*THE WONDER YEARS (2021)*
Season 01 Episode 15
Episode Title: "Black Teacher"
Aired on: March 02, 2022.
Mr. Brady thinks I should
try out for the Knowledge Bowl.
Wow, you just keep getting
cooler and cooler.
I still can't believe
they finally hired
- a Black teacher at this school.
- It's about time.
If you're gonna
integrate the school,
you need to integrate
the teaching staff.
Well, it's not gonna
be easy for him.
We're gonna have to
show him our support.
What does that mean?
I'm gonna call him up
and invite him over for dinner.
- That's a great idea.
- At our house?
- Cooler and cooler.
- Why do we have to do that?
Well, after you told me
about Mr. Brady,
I did a little research.
One phone call to
the biggest gossip at church
counts as research?
I learned that
he's from Chicago
and he's never lived
in the South before,
so I figured
we could welcome him
and teach him a thing or two
about how things work
around here.
I hear that. We want him
to have a smooth transition.
What in the Marcus Garvey...?
For the past few weeks, you've
been studying The Odyssey,
which is similar to the oral
tradition of storytelling
in many African cultures,
like the Yoruba people
of West Africa.
He's going full Africa
on Day 2?
Like the ancient Greeks,
Africans passed down
important history
generation to generation
through storytellers
known as griots.
These griots used different
instruments, like these drums,
to perform for
and educate the village.
Drums too?
Oh, know your audience, man.
This is a fiddle crowd.
I'm a griot, too!
I always wanted
a Black teacher,
but did he have to be so Black?
And it didn't
make it any better
that Brad and Karen
may have been right.
As class went on,
it did seem like
part of Mr. Brady's Blackness
involved giving us
special treatment.
Can anyone tell me which part of
the sentence is underlined?
- Yes, Keisa?
- The prepositional phrase?
That is correct.
Man, this guy really
doesn't like me.
I wonder why.
The day of tryouts had arrived,
and the academic cream of
the crop was here to represent.
Hey, Cory.
You're trying out
for the Knowledge Bowl?
What? No, man.
I'm just, uh...
here to support Dean.
I'll see you at practice.
Okay, everyone.
Welcome to
the Knowledge Bowl tryouts.
Yes?
I don't understand why
we have to do tryouts again.
We already have a team.
Well, what's the current record?
1-6.
Then I'd say there's
room for improvement.
Okay, let's get started.
An archipelago.
The Krebs cycle.
Pangaea.
It was an epic battle of wits,
the elite minds of our
generation going head-to-head.
That's easy. Treaty of Paris.
The aurora borealis.
Uh... 7?
The answer is "diameter."
Okay, "epic" was
an overstatement,
but it was a big deal to us.
We all wanted to grab one of
the five spots on the team.
Aorta.
- That is correct.
- Oh. Oh.
Alright, Dean, you're up.
Pythagoras.
The Bill of Rights.
Mesopotamia.
That is correct.
Also known as
the Fertile Crescent.
Also known as
the Cradle of Civilization,
but I'm not bragging.
Don't worry, guys.
We got this.
Before I announce the results,
I want to thank everyone
who showed up today
and brought their A game.
I've tallied all the scores,
and the students
who've earned a place on this
year's Knowledge Bowl team
are Keisa...
- Brett...
- Yes!
...Cory...
Karen... and Dean.
As the highest scorer, Dean,
you'll be captain.
Brad,
you'll be the alternate.
Congratulations to everyone.
A team that was 100% white
is now 60% Black.
That's what we call
reparations math.
Hey, congratulations, guys.
And congrats to you
for being an alternate.
Um, you were really good
in tryouts.
I don't know.
I feel like
Mr. Brady was giving me
all the hard questions,
you know?
He's not prejudiced.
Easy for you to say.
You guys made the team.
He's not giving anyone
special treatment.
Looking forward to seeing
you and your family
at dinner tonight, Dean.
Bruh, we have got to
work on your timing.
Careful, now. Don't want to
waste the good stuff.
I think it's a good thing
we're meeting
your new teacher tonight.
Yeah?
I thought you'd be more excited.
I am.
I like Mr. Brady, but...
I was thinking maybe
you could talk to him.
About?
Well, it feels like
he's giving special attention
to the Black kids,
and some of my white friends
are feeling left out.
You sneak a sip of the whiskey?
'Cause you're clearly
not thinking right.
You think those white kids
felt bad about
all the special attention
they were getting
- from the white teachers?
- I-I don't know.
It feels like whenever
he does something nice for us,
everybody stares
like... like they're mad.
People predisposed to hating
gonna actively hate.
Oh, man.
He was almost the first dude
to say "haters gonna hate."
And now me, Cory, and Keisa are
all on the Knowledge Bowl team,
and Brad got bumped.
Listen, you're not
doing anything wrong,
and neither is Mr. Brady.
Seems to me like
he's just trying to
level the playing field.
Go greet your guest, boy.
My guest?
This wasn't even my idea.
Well, well, well.
Look who left their kente cloth
and lion's mane at home.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Dad, this is Mr. Brady.
Dennis. Nice to meet you.
Huh, I thought his first name
was "Mr."
Bill. Hey,
this is the really good stuff.
You and I gonna get along
just fine.
You put your foot in this meal,
Lillian.
Well, wait until
you try a little bit
of Vivian's peach cobbler.
- It'll change your life.
- Mm-hmm.
And that's how
I locked Cliff down.
Now, I was on the make.
That should let you know
how good that cobbler is.
Well, I'm grateful for the
invitation and the hospitality.
Our pleasure.
I know firsthand
how important it is
to keep students motivated,
so keep doing what you're doing.
"Keep doing what you're doing"?
We just talked about this!
Well, I wish all the parents
were as enthusiastic as you all.
There have been some thoughts
about my teaching style.
- Hmm, some thoughts.
- Thoughts, huh?
Well, that's not surprising.
You're new to the South,
and things can be
a bit different down here.
For example, uh, Cliff and I
work at a somewhat...
conservative office.
She mean white folks.
We work with white folks.
And we've learned that
if we want to make a change,
we have to be
subtle and strategic.
Interesting point, Mom.
Continue.
Speak when spoken to.
Did he get
into the whiskey sours?
Well, I have to admit,
I don't have a reputation
for being
the most subtle person.
You shouldn't have to be subtle
when you're doing the right thing.
That's right. Like Malcolm X.
Hey, if you're gonna start
quoting that nonsense,
you can take your leather glove
and go to your room.
Okay. How about,
"The time is always right
to do what is right"?
Is Dr. King more appropriate
dinner conversation?
No, Bill is right. D-Don't be
afraid to speak your mind.
Like you do when Mr. Davidson's
always asking you
to work through lunch to
help him finish his reports?
Well, who needs 30 minutes
for lunch?
Look, I'm just saying,
I like the way
you're shaking things up.
These boys need to see that.
I asked my dad
to talk him down,
- not radicalize him.
- I got to say,
those drums
you brought to school
were pretty cool, Mr. Brady.
Sounds like
a great teaching tool.
I may have to try it out
myself someday.
And I'm sure it will be
very well-received,
since you work at
a Black university
surrounded by Black people.
You have a freedom at work
that many of us
at this table don't.
Now, that is true.
I think the Good Lord
saw fit to give me that job
because he knew I didn't
have the temperament
to work in a more
conservative office.
Amen.
Well, I think if I take
one more bite of anything,
I'm gonna pop, so I'll have to
take a piece of that
peach cobbler to go.
No, no, no, no. What you don't
eat here comes home with me.
Thank you all for
the lovely meal and the advice,
but I think I'll manage
just fine down at the school.
And you two need to rest up
for tomorrow's match.
And remember, Dean, as captain,
it's your job to pick
the official answer,
and if there's any disagreement,
you have the final say.
I was hoping my parents could
talk some sense into Mr. Brady,
but, clearly, it would be
up to me to make sure
everyone on the team
felt included, so I determined
to handle being captain of
the Knowledge Bowl team my way.
It's time for the
final three questions of the round.
"The bacteria causing leprosy
directly damages
what protective sheathing
around nerve cells?"
It's mitochondria.
- You mean myelin.
- No, Karen.
Dean, it's mitochondria, man.
Dean, Karen's right.
I think it's myelin, too.
Five seconds, Jefferson Davis.
Come on, Dean.
Cory seemed confident,
and so did Karen,
but I picked Cory's answer
last time,
and I really wanted to be fair,
but I also wanted to win,
in a fair way.
Win with fairness.
Time's up.
Stonewall Jackson Junior High?
Is myelin right?
Myelin?
- Myelin.
- That is correct.
My way wasn't working.
Time's up.
Time's up.
Time's up.
- Roanoke.
- That is correct.
That will end the second round.
We will take a short break
and continue with
the final round.
What's going on?
That's the fourth time you
didn't give an answer in time,
and I know
you know this stuff.
Everybody has
a different answer,
and I get confused.
I-I don't want anyone
to feel bad.
You know what?
I think we're gonna make
a change for the final round.
- Julius Caesar.
- That is correct.
- Chromosphere.
- Correct.
Pocket veto.
That is correct.
Now it's time for
the final question.
"What is the range of mountains
that lies between
the Great Basin
and the Great Plains?"
The Rocky Mountains.
- The Rocky Mountains.
- That is correct.
Jefferson Davis Junior High,
you are the winners.
I never thought that having
our first Black teacher
would lead to me
feeling left out.
Congratulations
on the win today, Brad.
I know you were
disappointed at first,
but I'm proud of how it didn't
keep you from working hard
and being ready to step in.
Thanks, Mr. Brady.
You okay?
I'm fine.
Dean.
Do you know why
I made you captain?
Because you were treating
us Black kids special?
Is that what you thought
I was doing?
I made you captain because
you're the smartest student
on the team.
Then why'd you take me out
and put Brad in?
Well, when I first met Brad,
I could tell he had potential,
but he didn't
take anything seriously,
so I challenged him
to work harder,
and he rose to the occasion.
For the most part.
As for you...
...I could tell from
the first day of class
that you were uncomfortable
getting attention from me
because I'm Black.
It's because
I wanted people to like you.
No, actually, it's because
you wanted people to like you.
You see, wanting to be liked
is a dangerous thing.
It can mask itself as wanting
all the white students
to like the Black teacher,
or wanting to make everyone
on the quiz team happy.
Because I was really scared
that if the white kids
thought you were giving me
special attention,
they wouldn't like me.
Or if I didn't listen to
everyone's answers
on the Knowledge Bowl,
they wouldn't like me.
But at the end of the day,
all that really happened was
that you put your light
under a bushel.
Every future leader
needs to learn
how to make
their own decisions,
even if it means
people won't like them.
I hope what happened today
makes you realize
what you're really capable of.
The team was already set.
He kicked my son off
the Knowledge Bowl team,
and I can't help but feel
like that, what,
there's a little bit of
favoritism going on?
I-I'm sure that's not something
that Mr. Brady was doing
purposefully.
No, I was only rewarding the
students who performed the best.
What about that drum
he brought into class?
What does tribal drumming
have to do with English?
Concerned white parents
have always been at
the forefront of the battle
to ensure that
what we teach in schools
is fair and balanced.
Seemed like
Jefferson Davis Junior High
wasn't quite ready for
its first Black teacher.
Or maybe Mr. Brady
wasn't quite ready for us.
Did they fire you?
Was it the drum?
No. I wasn't fired.
But Principal Cartwright and I
both agreed
that Jefferson Davis
isn't the best fit for me,
so I'm still on the search
for the school that is.
It's ironic that a teacher that
once was an embarrassment to me
is now the person
I'll miss the most.
Well, I hope your next
Black teacher
is so much Blacker than me
that Kim gets worried.
Oddly enough, the Blackest
teacher I had after that
was my white African-American
Studies professor in college.
♪ Ah, the summer went by
so fast ♪
I later learned that
Brad's parents, like mine,
appreciated us having a teacher
who inspires his students
because of what he sees
inside them, not outside.
♪ Teacher's mini
was up above... ♪
And even though
Mr. Brady's time
at Jefferson Davis was short,
he showed me what it felt like
to have a great teacher,
and I took that leadership
advice he gave me to heart.
♪ I caught her skating ♪
- As well as a few more things.
- ♪ Soul teacher ♪
- ♪ Let's get together ♪
- ♪ Soul teacher ♪
- ♪ Have a good time ♪
- ♪ Soul teacher ♪
Captioned by VITAC...
Synchronized by srjanapala
early lives are shaped by teachers.
Outside of our parents,
they can be our first
role models.
They pour so much into us,
and still,
teachers are basically
strangers.
As kids, we didn't even
see them as people,
and we definitely never thought
about their personal lives,
unless we had to.
Now, before we go,
I wanted to let y'all know
that, sadly, this will be
my last week in class
before my visit from the stork.
How is she even pregnant?
Isn't she like 62?
Mrs. Anderson was 30,
but at that age,
we thought all our teachers
were ancient.
You'll meet your new teacher
tomorrow,
and I expect you to all
be as wonderful to them
as you have been to me.
English class
was pretty boring,
but we loved Mrs. Anderson,
especially
pregnant Mrs. Anderson.
The bigger her stomach got,
the less homework she assigned.
We were more excited about
that baby than she was.
What are the odds we can get
another pregnant lady in here?
I'd like to introduce
your new teacher.
Please join me
in welcoming Mr. Brady.
He's black?!
I wanted to start singing
the Negro National Anthem,
but I didn't know the lyrics.
Do you know him?
This is a historic moment
for Jefferson Davis Junior High.
I'm proud to say that
I recruited this teacher,
and I think that he has
a certain something special
that we'll all benefit from.
What about the debate team?
And the Knowledge Bowl?
Mrs. Anderson is our coach
and we've been practicing
all year!
Mr. Brady will be taking over
those as well.
Just so you know, we get pizza
and candy after every practice.
That's good to know.
Brad, right?
Well, I'll leave you to it.
I understand you've been
reading The Odyssey,
so let's open up to Chapter 9
and talk about
how Homer uses foreshadowing
to advance the story.
I couldn't believe it.
We finally had our first
Black teacher
in the history of the school.
It was a huge deal,
which wasn't lost
on my classmates either.
♪ I'm Black and I'm proud ♪
♪ Say it loud ♪
Okay,
it probably wasn't that bad,
but that's exactly how it felt.
Can anyone tell me
what type of clause
I've written on the board?
- Yes, Brad?
- A Santa Claus?
Tonight, read the next chapter
and write a half-page summary.
Having a Black teacher
is good news for you guys.
Why's that?
Oh, well, because...
Because he'll give the Black
students special treatment.
Does that mean Mrs. Anderson
gave you special treatment?
No. Of course not.
I mean, he seems pretty tough.
He gave us all homework
on the first day.
I don't think anybody's
getting special attention.
Dean, Cory, Keisa.
Can I see just the three of you
for a moment?
Right.
I was reviewing
Mrs. Anderson's grade book
and noticed you all have
excellent grades.
Has anyone ever suggested
you try out for
the Knowledge Bowl team?
I got asked to try out
for the basketball team.
Track and field.
Nobody asked me
to join any teams.
I see.
Well, I've decided to hold
a new round of tryouts
so everyone can have
the opportunity to earn a spot,
and I think you all should
consider trying out.
It took most teachers a week
to stop calling me "Cory,"
but Mr. Brady was already
letting us know
that he sees us.
And there it was.
The first Black head nod.
You just witnessed history,
people.
♪ Love is haa-aa-aard ♪
♪ But war is so easy ♪
♪ And all I know is ♪
♪ All I know ♪
♪ Ohhh, through
the highs and the lows ♪
♪ I'mma find my way home ♪
*THE WONDER YEARS (2021)*
Season 01 Episode 15
Episode Title: "Black Teacher"
Aired on: March 02, 2022.
Mr. Brady thinks I should
try out for the Knowledge Bowl.
Wow, you just keep getting
cooler and cooler.
I still can't believe
they finally hired
- a Black teacher at this school.
- It's about time.
If you're gonna
integrate the school,
you need to integrate
the teaching staff.
Well, it's not gonna
be easy for him.
We're gonna have to
show him our support.
What does that mean?
I'm gonna call him up
and invite him over for dinner.
- That's a great idea.
- At our house?
- Cooler and cooler.
- Why do we have to do that?
Well, after you told me
about Mr. Brady,
I did a little research.
One phone call to
the biggest gossip at church
counts as research?
I learned that
he's from Chicago
and he's never lived
in the South before,
so I figured
we could welcome him
and teach him a thing or two
about how things work
around here.
I hear that. We want him
to have a smooth transition.
What in the Marcus Garvey...?
For the past few weeks, you've
been studying The Odyssey,
which is similar to the oral
tradition of storytelling
in many African cultures,
like the Yoruba people
of West Africa.
He's going full Africa
on Day 2?
Like the ancient Greeks,
Africans passed down
important history
generation to generation
through storytellers
known as griots.
These griots used different
instruments, like these drums,
to perform for
and educate the village.
Drums too?
Oh, know your audience, man.
This is a fiddle crowd.
I'm a griot, too!
I always wanted
a Black teacher,
but did he have to be so Black?
And it didn't
make it any better
that Brad and Karen
may have been right.
As class went on,
it did seem like
part of Mr. Brady's Blackness
involved giving us
special treatment.
Can anyone tell me which part of
the sentence is underlined?
- Yes, Keisa?
- The prepositional phrase?
That is correct.
Man, this guy really
doesn't like me.
I wonder why.
The day of tryouts had arrived,
and the academic cream of
the crop was here to represent.
Hey, Cory.
You're trying out
for the Knowledge Bowl?
What? No, man.
I'm just, uh...
here to support Dean.
I'll see you at practice.
Okay, everyone.
Welcome to
the Knowledge Bowl tryouts.
Yes?
I don't understand why
we have to do tryouts again.
We already have a team.
Well, what's the current record?
1-6.
Then I'd say there's
room for improvement.
Okay, let's get started.
An archipelago.
The Krebs cycle.
Pangaea.
It was an epic battle of wits,
the elite minds of our
generation going head-to-head.
That's easy. Treaty of Paris.
The aurora borealis.
Uh... 7?
The answer is "diameter."
Okay, "epic" was
an overstatement,
but it was a big deal to us.
We all wanted to grab one of
the five spots on the team.
Aorta.
- That is correct.
- Oh. Oh.
Alright, Dean, you're up.
Pythagoras.
The Bill of Rights.
Mesopotamia.
That is correct.
Also known as
the Fertile Crescent.
Also known as
the Cradle of Civilization,
but I'm not bragging.
Don't worry, guys.
We got this.
Before I announce the results,
I want to thank everyone
who showed up today
and brought their A game.
I've tallied all the scores,
and the students
who've earned a place on this
year's Knowledge Bowl team
are Keisa...
- Brett...
- Yes!
...Cory...
Karen... and Dean.
As the highest scorer, Dean,
you'll be captain.
Brad,
you'll be the alternate.
Congratulations to everyone.
A team that was 100% white
is now 60% Black.
That's what we call
reparations math.
Hey, congratulations, guys.
And congrats to you
for being an alternate.
Um, you were really good
in tryouts.
I don't know.
I feel like
Mr. Brady was giving me
all the hard questions,
you know?
He's not prejudiced.
Easy for you to say.
You guys made the team.
He's not giving anyone
special treatment.
Looking forward to seeing
you and your family
at dinner tonight, Dean.
Bruh, we have got to
work on your timing.
Careful, now. Don't want to
waste the good stuff.
I think it's a good thing
we're meeting
your new teacher tonight.
Yeah?
I thought you'd be more excited.
I am.
I like Mr. Brady, but...
I was thinking maybe
you could talk to him.
About?
Well, it feels like
he's giving special attention
to the Black kids,
and some of my white friends
are feeling left out.
You sneak a sip of the whiskey?
'Cause you're clearly
not thinking right.
You think those white kids
felt bad about
all the special attention
they were getting
- from the white teachers?
- I-I don't know.
It feels like whenever
he does something nice for us,
everybody stares
like... like they're mad.
People predisposed to hating
gonna actively hate.
Oh, man.
He was almost the first dude
to say "haters gonna hate."
And now me, Cory, and Keisa are
all on the Knowledge Bowl team,
and Brad got bumped.
Listen, you're not
doing anything wrong,
and neither is Mr. Brady.
Seems to me like
he's just trying to
level the playing field.
Go greet your guest, boy.
My guest?
This wasn't even my idea.
Well, well, well.
Look who left their kente cloth
and lion's mane at home.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Dad, this is Mr. Brady.
Dennis. Nice to meet you.
Huh, I thought his first name
was "Mr."
Bill. Hey,
this is the really good stuff.
You and I gonna get along
just fine.
You put your foot in this meal,
Lillian.
Well, wait until
you try a little bit
of Vivian's peach cobbler.
- It'll change your life.
- Mm-hmm.
And that's how
I locked Cliff down.
Now, I was on the make.
That should let you know
how good that cobbler is.
Well, I'm grateful for the
invitation and the hospitality.
Our pleasure.
I know firsthand
how important it is
to keep students motivated,
so keep doing what you're doing.
"Keep doing what you're doing"?
We just talked about this!
Well, I wish all the parents
were as enthusiastic as you all.
There have been some thoughts
about my teaching style.
- Hmm, some thoughts.
- Thoughts, huh?
Well, that's not surprising.
You're new to the South,
and things can be
a bit different down here.
For example, uh, Cliff and I
work at a somewhat...
conservative office.
She mean white folks.
We work with white folks.
And we've learned that
if we want to make a change,
we have to be
subtle and strategic.
Interesting point, Mom.
Continue.
Speak when spoken to.
Did he get
into the whiskey sours?
Well, I have to admit,
I don't have a reputation
for being
the most subtle person.
You shouldn't have to be subtle
when you're doing the right thing.
That's right. Like Malcolm X.
Hey, if you're gonna start
quoting that nonsense,
you can take your leather glove
and go to your room.
Okay. How about,
"The time is always right
to do what is right"?
Is Dr. King more appropriate
dinner conversation?
No, Bill is right. D-Don't be
afraid to speak your mind.
Like you do when Mr. Davidson's
always asking you
to work through lunch to
help him finish his reports?
Well, who needs 30 minutes
for lunch?
Look, I'm just saying,
I like the way
you're shaking things up.
These boys need to see that.
I asked my dad
to talk him down,
- not radicalize him.
- I got to say,
those drums
you brought to school
were pretty cool, Mr. Brady.
Sounds like
a great teaching tool.
I may have to try it out
myself someday.
And I'm sure it will be
very well-received,
since you work at
a Black university
surrounded by Black people.
You have a freedom at work
that many of us
at this table don't.
Now, that is true.
I think the Good Lord
saw fit to give me that job
because he knew I didn't
have the temperament
to work in a more
conservative office.
Amen.
Well, I think if I take
one more bite of anything,
I'm gonna pop, so I'll have to
take a piece of that
peach cobbler to go.
No, no, no, no. What you don't
eat here comes home with me.
Thank you all for
the lovely meal and the advice,
but I think I'll manage
just fine down at the school.
And you two need to rest up
for tomorrow's match.
And remember, Dean, as captain,
it's your job to pick
the official answer,
and if there's any disagreement,
you have the final say.
I was hoping my parents could
talk some sense into Mr. Brady,
but, clearly, it would be
up to me to make sure
everyone on the team
felt included, so I determined
to handle being captain of
the Knowledge Bowl team my way.
It's time for the
final three questions of the round.
"The bacteria causing leprosy
directly damages
what protective sheathing
around nerve cells?"
It's mitochondria.
- You mean myelin.
- No, Karen.
Dean, it's mitochondria, man.
Dean, Karen's right.
I think it's myelin, too.
Five seconds, Jefferson Davis.
Come on, Dean.
Cory seemed confident,
and so did Karen,
but I picked Cory's answer
last time,
and I really wanted to be fair,
but I also wanted to win,
in a fair way.
Win with fairness.
Time's up.
Stonewall Jackson Junior High?
Is myelin right?
Myelin?
- Myelin.
- That is correct.
My way wasn't working.
Time's up.
Time's up.
Time's up.
- Roanoke.
- That is correct.
That will end the second round.
We will take a short break
and continue with
the final round.
What's going on?
That's the fourth time you
didn't give an answer in time,
and I know
you know this stuff.
Everybody has
a different answer,
and I get confused.
I-I don't want anyone
to feel bad.
You know what?
I think we're gonna make
a change for the final round.
- Julius Caesar.
- That is correct.
- Chromosphere.
- Correct.
Pocket veto.
That is correct.
Now it's time for
the final question.
"What is the range of mountains
that lies between
the Great Basin
and the Great Plains?"
The Rocky Mountains.
- The Rocky Mountains.
- That is correct.
Jefferson Davis Junior High,
you are the winners.
I never thought that having
our first Black teacher
would lead to me
feeling left out.
Congratulations
on the win today, Brad.
I know you were
disappointed at first,
but I'm proud of how it didn't
keep you from working hard
and being ready to step in.
Thanks, Mr. Brady.
You okay?
I'm fine.
Dean.
Do you know why
I made you captain?
Because you were treating
us Black kids special?
Is that what you thought
I was doing?
I made you captain because
you're the smartest student
on the team.
Then why'd you take me out
and put Brad in?
Well, when I first met Brad,
I could tell he had potential,
but he didn't
take anything seriously,
so I challenged him
to work harder,
and he rose to the occasion.
For the most part.
As for you...
...I could tell from
the first day of class
that you were uncomfortable
getting attention from me
because I'm Black.
It's because
I wanted people to like you.
No, actually, it's because
you wanted people to like you.
You see, wanting to be liked
is a dangerous thing.
It can mask itself as wanting
all the white students
to like the Black teacher,
or wanting to make everyone
on the quiz team happy.
Because I was really scared
that if the white kids
thought you were giving me
special attention,
they wouldn't like me.
Or if I didn't listen to
everyone's answers
on the Knowledge Bowl,
they wouldn't like me.
But at the end of the day,
all that really happened was
that you put your light
under a bushel.
Every future leader
needs to learn
how to make
their own decisions,
even if it means
people won't like them.
I hope what happened today
makes you realize
what you're really capable of.
The team was already set.
He kicked my son off
the Knowledge Bowl team,
and I can't help but feel
like that, what,
there's a little bit of
favoritism going on?
I-I'm sure that's not something
that Mr. Brady was doing
purposefully.
No, I was only rewarding the
students who performed the best.
What about that drum
he brought into class?
What does tribal drumming
have to do with English?
Concerned white parents
have always been at
the forefront of the battle
to ensure that
what we teach in schools
is fair and balanced.
Seemed like
Jefferson Davis Junior High
wasn't quite ready for
its first Black teacher.
Or maybe Mr. Brady
wasn't quite ready for us.
Did they fire you?
Was it the drum?
No. I wasn't fired.
But Principal Cartwright and I
both agreed
that Jefferson Davis
isn't the best fit for me,
so I'm still on the search
for the school that is.
It's ironic that a teacher that
once was an embarrassment to me
is now the person
I'll miss the most.
Well, I hope your next
Black teacher
is so much Blacker than me
that Kim gets worried.
Oddly enough, the Blackest
teacher I had after that
was my white African-American
Studies professor in college.
♪ Ah, the summer went by
so fast ♪
I later learned that
Brad's parents, like mine,
appreciated us having a teacher
who inspires his students
because of what he sees
inside them, not outside.
♪ Teacher's mini
was up above... ♪
And even though
Mr. Brady's time
at Jefferson Davis was short,
he showed me what it felt like
to have a great teacher,
and I took that leadership
advice he gave me to heart.
♪ I caught her skating ♪
- As well as a few more things.
- ♪ Soul teacher ♪
- ♪ Let's get together ♪
- ♪ Soul teacher ♪
- ♪ Have a good time ♪
- ♪ Soul teacher ♪
Captioned by VITAC...
Synchronized by srjanapala