Original subtitles

Well, Moz,

what do you think?

Mm.

You know, it looks good from the front and the back, Cocoa.

Quit teasing me.

Honey, I'm not teasing.

This house really does have four bedrooms and three baths.

And, oh, this kitchen is so amazing.

It makes me want to become a chef, or at least buy a cute apron.

I'll call the realtor and make an appointment.

Uh, uh, Before we open chez Cocoa,

remember, we want to keep this from M'Dear until we have everything lined up.

Look at us, Moz.

We are finally in the position to buy a house again.

I mean, it wasn't that long ago that we were drowning in debt.

Yeah, well, God sent us a little life preserver named M'Dear.

She's probably gonna try and change our minds.

Oh, will she though?

Honey, we have filled her house with children and a crying baby.

She will be glad to see us leave.

I think you're exaggerating.

She's happy to have us here.

Especially me. She's crazy about me.

I know.

And, lucky for you, I am too.

What? Ooh.

What you two up to?

- Just loving on each other. - Hmm-mm.

We don't need no more crying babies in this house!

Where is a bathroom?

Did I say it right?

How are we supposed to know if you're holding the book?

That makes sense.

Sorry, I've just never been out of the country before

and just I'm so excited to go to Europe.

I mean, this trip is going to be amazing.

The food, the fashion, the handsome European boys. Ah!

You are so lucky your parents hooked you up.

I'm going to Europe too.

I can learn how to speak French just as poorly as Jade.

You'll get your chance, Ami.

And Jade, you need to study,

'cause I don't know French but I know bad when I hear it.

Okay, well, then I will go upstairs and practice in the mirror.

That way I can make sure I look cute when I'm talking.

Melly, did you hear about this?

They're going to build luxury condos on our land.

Oh no. How can they do that?

You know, if we still had that land,

they'd have to pay us to build those condos.

Mm-hmm.

What are you guys talking about?

Oh, it's a long and pointless story.

Hmm, must be about Jade.

Ami, don't be a hater.

Jeb, these children need to learn about their history.

Yeah, tell us. I want to know.

Okay.

It was 1902.

No, '05.

No, 1910.

When did the war start?

Jeb, let me tell it.

Now you are great in the pulpit, but when it comes to family storytelling,

my memory is better than yours.

- Sure, you're right, Melly. - Mm-hmm.

Now, it's just fascinating how the land came into this family,

so get comfortable.

The year was 1902.

Teddy Roosevelt was president,

and the first Target department stores opened.

I love Target!

I do too. Now, hush up.

More importantly, that was also the year that the great poet and author,

Langston Hughes, was born.

Grandpa's great-grandparents, Ajua and George, had a beautiful daughter,

Hannah, who had just gotten married.

Ooh!

Hannah and Nathaniel! Come on, newlyweds. Show us how it's done.

All right, let's go.

Mama, why don't you get up off those keys and really show us?

Let's go. Woo!

You mean, like this?

Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh!

I'm sorry, sir, we're closed.

Pardon my interruption. Are you Hannah McKellan?

Yes, sir.

People in these parts tell me you can work miracles.

My boy, Henry, is sick with consumption.

Now, we've been to every doctor, pharmacist, and Hoodoo woman

from here to New Orleans, and no one can seem to help him.

Papa, it hurts.

Well, his breathing isn't right. Let me have a look at him.

Mama, take him in the back room, please.

Hannah and her mama were known far and wide as healers.

Please help us.

I've got to tell you, I've burned through most of my money trying to get Henry well.

But I've got a piece of land.

Twenty acres.

It's yours once Henry is healed.

That seems like a fair trade.

Hannah.

You really think that white man is going to give us some land?

Who knows?

But I am not about to let the boy die.

So, did Hannah ever get the land?

Oh, sure did.

Hannah healed that boy good as new.

Uh, now, where was I?

Well, the last thing you said was, "Sure, you're right, Melly."

And I said, "I got it, Jeb."

So, let's turn the clock back to 1922.

The New York Yankees built their first stadium.

Langston, Zora Neale Hurston, and Countee Cullen

sparkled over the Harlem Renaissance.

And down here in Columbus,

the McKellans had been comfortably settled into their home and land for 20 years.

Perfect.

One day, our children's children will carve their initials in this tree.

And this tree is going to last as long as our love.

Mm. That meat is looking good.

Désirée, when it's ready, make a plate for me, will you?

Remember, the big piece of chicken is mine.

Yes, ma'am.

Now, everybody, I made a pie,

Mama made a pie, and Désirée made sort of a pie.

Mama, stop funnin' me. You sure love to tease.

She does, but she had a great idea to bring us all together

for a family reunion.

We should do this every year.

Now everybody get a taste of each of these pies so we can pick the winner.

Or you can declare me number one.

Can I help you, Mr. Lawrence?

That you, Nathaniel? Thanks for stepping out.

With all these boys,

I'd have a devil of a time figuring out which one is you.

Mr. Lawrence, how's your grandson, Henry? I heard he's back from college.

Well, he died a few days ago.

Oh my goodness.

If he wasn't well, why didn't you bring him to me?

I didn't even want my son sending him to you all those years ago.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

May the good Lord love and keep him.

Miss Wilma must feel awful.

Well, Miss Wilma ain't been the same since Thomas got killed in the war.

Now I have to bury my grandson. It's a terrible shame.

But now that they both all gone…

…I'm gonna want my land back.

Your land?

- This was Thomas's land. - He paid for my wife's services with it.

Mm-hmm.

Well, that may be true.

And y'all done such a good job keeping the soil fertile,

I'm going to let you stay,

provided you pay me some rent.

- Rent? - Rent.

But it's our land.

We have a deed certified by the county.

Well, if you're feeling up to it, you can take it up with Judge Carlson.

He's a good friend of mine.

But if you lose…

you will have to find another place to live.

I'm sorry to hear about Henry, Mr. Lawrence,

but I think it's time you leave.

Mm-hmm.

Wait, wait, wait. So let me get this straight.

You mean to tell me that that was your family's land

and that man just stole it out the blue?

Man, the South is wild. I can't believe they did that to y'all.

Well, it wasn't just the South, and it wasn't just us.

My grandparents went to court and they lost.

They had to leave their own home.

Well, that was 100 years ago.

Things have improved for Black people.

Sometimes, I think that.

But the minute I let my guard down,

another Black man goes jogging for the last time in his life.

Jeb, don't get your blood pressure up.

Grandpa, we have to do something.

I mean, yeah. Do you guys still have the deed?

Yeah, it's in the basement.

It's a waste of time. You're gonna be disappointed.

If you're smart, you'll just leave this alone.

How can you say that?

It's time you got reparations.

Wait, would getting our land back count as reparations?

Well, reparations is making amends for a wrong.

It's like that time that you broke my iPad but blamed it on Ami,

so I punched her. And then she kicked you in the face.

Jade, that's retaliation, not reparations.

Close enough.

- What are you talking about? - Sit down, sis,

and prepare to want to punch someone again. Just not me.

All right, Mazzi, when they come out,

you're going to wave the deed in the air like a flag.

I'm going to hop on the counter and yell, "reparations." Ami, you can record.

What an awful idea.

Let's explain our story and then show them the deed.

There's no way they can deny us after they hear what happened.

Ah. Uh…

How can I help you?

Reparations! Give them back their land!

Uh…

Ah.

You must be looking for mental health services.

They are on the second floor.

Tyson, get down.

Sir, please excuse my overzealous cousin.

My name's Mazzi McKellan.

We're here to reclaim land that was taken from us 100 years ago.

Here's the deed.

Okay.

See?

Hmm.

Says here this land is owned by the Lawrence family.

No. No, they stole that land.

And the McKellans want it back, right now.

I don't know about that. I'm just telling you what my records say.

You're just saying that because we're Black.

Tyson, chill.

Sir, the deed is proof that we own the land.

Exactly. So go back into your little office

and give them back their land before we take it back.

Young man, you are going to have to calm down or else I am calling security.

Tyson, you're so extra.

Ami's right.

We would've gotten further if you'd just let me explain the story.

We don't have time for that.

Malcolm X said, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

Martin Luther King said,

"Let us not drink from the cup of bitterness and hatred."

Do you two just have these quotes on hand?

Look, all I'm saying is that this country

has never given us anything without fighting for it.

And we need to fight.

Listen, bro.

I feel you, but we also need to be effective.

All right, so let's meet in the middle then.

We need to do something that Malcolm X and MLK could both be proud of.

And what's that?

Well, they got the system.

But we got the people.

This is what we're gonna do.

Did I nail it or what?

Um, "nailed it" isn't quite how I'd put it.

Honey, what's wrong this time?

Pfft. No formal dining room, no mud room, and no porch.

I mean, how will we sit with our sweet tea and watch the neighbors walk by?

We don't even do that now.

I want the option.

- Um, Navah, can you give us a minute? - Of course.

Honey,

what is really going on?

You have rejected 20 houses.

Do you want us to live with M'Dear forever?

I mean, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Look, honey, we are past the point where your parents are doing us a favor.

We are imposing.

I mean, it can't be money.

"C by Cocoa" has really taken off.

You've got a good salary at What's Up Football?

Honey, what exactly are you afraid of?

Okay.

You know,

when we first moved to Columbus, I was in a vulnerable place.

I was retiring, didn't know my next move,

and not to mention how badly we messed up our finances.

Yeah, that was scary. I even thought about moving in with my mama.

Scary? That would have been terrifying.

Cocoa, what happens if we go through that again?

Honey,

we cannot live in fear.

Do you remember what Grandpa said in church last week?

"Faith and fear cannot grow in the same heart."

How can our family move forward if we stay stuck?

Well, look at you, paying attention in church.

Honey,

it's time we move on.

Yeah, you're right, babe.

You know, marrying you might've been one of the smartest things.

One of?

Okay, see? You weren't paying attention.

- What I said was… - Okay.

I really liked that third house we saw.

- Okay. - Okay.

Black land matters!

Black land matters!

Reparations now!

Reparations now!

Black land matters!

Black land matters!

Reparations now!

Reparations now!

Reparations now!

What the devil is going on here?

I am councilwoman, Patricia Lawrence.

I own this land and I did not authorize a gathering.

Well, we don't care.

This land was taken from our ancestor, Hannah McKellan.

And we're taking it back.

Bless your hearts.

This property has been in my family for many generations.

That's the problem.

You had decades to make it right and you did nothing.

We won't stand for it.

We're not going anywhere.

Reparations now!

Reparations now!

In the spirit of our ancestors,

we've got to take back what's ours.

Black land matters.

Black land matters!

Can't you do something about these wayward youths

footloosing all over my property?

Jeb, you hear that?

If I say no, you're gonna send me to the doctor.

Oh, Jeb, relax.

It's the sound of silence.

Just me and you, and we thank Him.

Oh my God!

Look what just arrived for me!

Is that a shoelace?

What? It's a swimsuit!

Ami couldn't even fit in that thing.

You Americans!

Damn!

You better stop cussing in this house before I come up there

and start talking French to your behind!

Now, Jeb, like I said,

just me and you.

Evening, McKellans.

Oh Lord, I give up!

Jordan, what's wrong?

Your grandkids were trespassing over at Patricia Lawrence's land,

and I thought it better to bring them here than to take them in.

Thank you, Jordan.

What did you kids do?

It was a flash mob for justice.

I don't care who was there.

Grandpa, just let us explain.

We were on our land and it just…

It felt right.

You know, you could've gotten hurt.

Luckily, Jordan was there or you might not have made it home at all.

Grandpa, it wasn't even like that.

Our rally was a bunch of kids from all kinds of backgrounds

standing up for our rights.

You know, I really do appreciate what you kids are doing.

But it won't get our land back.

Well, I might as well just leave the door open.

Hello. Is this the McKellan residence?

Well, that depends.

I'm Cheyanne Jones, I'm with the Georgia chapter

of the Where's My Land? Organization.

We help Black people reconnect with stolen land

through research and data.

How'd you find us?

Actually, I got a call yesterday from Amelia McKellen.

Oh no, I didn't call anyone.

That was me. I'm Ami, also known as Amelia McKellan.

You guys have your way of protesting. I have mine.

Ami here explained your family story.

We were moved, and we'd like to help.

Thank you.

See, guys? Amelia McKellans get it done.

I know reparations are a hot topic right now,

but that does not mean that I'm responsible for them.

My fellow council members, their deed is questionable.

According to tax records,

for 20 years, the McKellans lived on their land,

and there is no record of a bill of sale

or a transfer of title to the Lawrence family.

So the deed that should be called into question is the Lawrence deed.

I am Amelia McKellan, First Lady of Heaven's Way Baptist Church.

Most of you know me.

Brother Jones, you're a little late with your tithe.

Hannah McKellan had a gift of healing,

and when Thomas Lawrence could not pay her with money,

he paid her with land.

She earned that land.

Hannah and her family turned that land…

I don't know, Grandpa. The white people don't seem convinced.

Maybe nothing's changed. Maybe we should just give up.

No, no, Mazzi, listen.

All of what you did is what got us here.

We can never, never stop fighting.

Sometimes… Sometimes I just get tired.

…the land that belongs to us.

So if there isn't any other business, let's wrap this meeting up.

No. No. No.

I have something I want to say.

This is not just a piece of land.

For our family,

it was the American dream.

I told my grandchildren, "Leave it alone."

But when you do nothing, you get nothing.

They gave me the hope.

Take your time, Jeb.

So my question to the council is,

how much time is it going to take

for you to make things right?

I want things different for the next generation.

Yes.

The question is, do you?

I have to say…

that I never thought that I would live to see this day.

Hey y'all. I'm sorry.

You know, I just got so caught up planning my trip.

I should've got more involved.

This is what the French would call a "faux pas."

And that's what we call "being Jade."

Amelia, kids,

I thank you.

Well, I hope your ancestors can rest easy now.

They can, thanks to you.

And Tyson, you have to stop talking about our ancestors

as if you're not a part of this family.

With all the things you've done, Hannah would be proud.

I don't know about Hannah, but I'm sure proud.

I mean, this family went so hard for me.

- I just wanted to go hard for y'all. - Mm.

We did it for you Grandpa.

We love you, and we wanted you to win.

I'm so proud of all of you.

So the question is,

now that we have all this land, what do we do with it?

Well, the one thing we are not going to do is build condos.

But until we can figure it out,

I think this would be the perfect place

for the McKellan family reunion.

Yes!

Yes!

Good!

A hundred years later and the land is ours again, thanks to me.

Oh, you did good, baby.

Uh, M'Dear, Cocoa and I have got something to tell you.

What?

That the two of you have been looking for houses and have decided to move out?

I know everything that goes on in my house and in this town.

And that house on Florence Drive,

well, it just screams Cocoa and Moz!

M'Dear, whose initials are these?

"AF," "GF," that's Ajua Freeman and George Freeman.

And the "HM" and "NM" must be Hannah and Nathaniel McKellan.

And those must be their kids.

Wow. It's lasted all this time.

Yeah, it's like they never left this place, not really.

We should carve our initials in.

All the McKellans will, including Tyson.

Hold up, now.

Jeb and I will go first and then if there's any room left,

then y'all can put your names up there.

Diva out.