All language subtitles for The.Ernest.Green.Story.1993.480p.DVDRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.BZ]

I'm Ernest Green.

In the spring of 1957, I was finishing
my junior year in high school.

Each day on my way to school, I passed
Central High, the white school.

Its outstanding academic ratings and
facilities made it one of the best

in America.

I went to Horace Mann, the black school.

But in those days, the words black and
African American weren't used.

So it was called the Negro Colored
School.

Mark, now I know Doreen is your main
squeeze, but there needs to be a little

between the two of you, okay?

Yes, Mr. Pryor.

Don't go too up and too back.

With a strong turn.

Back to the mat.

Hit it.

It had been three years since the
Supreme Court had ordered all public

to desegregate.

The NAACP and the Little Rock School
Board had finally compromised on a phase

-in plan.

The high school would be integrated
first, with the black students

to transfer to Central High.

Most people didn't expect trouble. After
all, we weren't Deep South, we were

Upper South.

Size integration had already taken
place.

in the law school, library, parks, and
public buses.

With the support of the Little Rock
newspapers, Mayor Mann, and Governor

no one thought there'd be any trouble.

Naturally, you can see the concern of
the Citizens Council. The federal

government is trying to dictate to the
state of Arkansas.

Now, now, Emmett, everybody knows no
state law supersedes federal law.

a lot of people feel otherwise.

We got ourselves an explosive situation
here.

The Negro is fundamentally inferior.

He's immoral, inept, and incapable of
learning.

And integration will lead to the
monogamization of the races.

Now, do you want to be known as the
governor who permitted the dilution of

blood? Reverend, I'm just a boy who came
down out from the hills.

I don't think I even saw a Negro till I
was old enough to shave.

But if you want northern business down
here, and if you want factories and jobs

and tax revenues... Governor, if you
want to be re -elected, if you want a

term, which is as rare in Arkansas as a
blue pig, then you better listen to the

will of the people. Eighty -five percent
of the people of this state are opposed

to that plan of the devil.

You've seen the poll.

Now, Mr. Jimmy Johnson down in the Delta
is directing his campaign for Governor

at... That's 85%. Mr. Jimmy Johnson is
not governor of Arkansas and is not

to be.

What are you suggesting, gentlemen?

You have police powers.

Use them to prevent the integration of
Central High.

Use them to protect the purity of the
white race and become a great man in the

eyes of all true Americans.

We need a theme song. Yeah. Now you go
around campus with your horn making

sounds. You go up to the chicks and you
say, my, you're looking fly today.

Whether they do or not, that's politics.

Marcus, who's Chris Pathetics?

Who? The first to defy the first to die.

Killed by the British at the Boston
Massacre on the night American

started.

Marcus, he was a Negro.

So? Harriet Tubman.

So join the troop. Frederick Douglass.
Yeah, I know them. Civil War.

Hiram Rebels.

Lance Bruce.

Senators from Mississippi.

Negroes. Do you understand that, Marcus?

No. I don't understand what you're
talking about.

Okay.

Now, what have they got at Central that
we don't have at Horseman?

They've got a stadium, haven't they?

They've got an auditorium, haven't they?

They've got textbooks that are new, not
hand -me -downs with names already in

them. They've got hundreds of microscope
slides instead of just one for every 50

students.

Hey, man, can you imagine what George
Washington Carver could have done in a

like that?

What else have they got, Marcus?

I don't know.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Wouldn't it be nice to find out?

Hey, you think of the transfer.

Now, you crazy.

You're a big bad cat on campus.

Now, you could be student body press.

You got the jasmine. You could be in a
senior play.

We could do serenade.

You could even wear a big nose.

Now, look at all you'd be giving up.
Brother, finish your chores and wash up

supper. Marcus, you have to leave now
unless you're planning to eat with us.

Uh, no thanks, Miss Green. I've got to
go home. All right.

You got to be crazy to transfer.

You'd be absolutely positively non
-compass mentis. That means not too much

here if you get my drift.

My mother's father was deacon at the
church.

He always said a person should put his
best foot forward So he was a very

careful dresser I think he was the only
mail carrier in the US Postal Service

who wouldn't wear a uniform He made his
rounds in a three -piece suit Mother and

aunt were the first black women to leave
Little Rock to go to college in Ohio

both were teachers Scott was still a
learner

I don't see the difference.

Nobody's going to get cut. One way is
right. The other is wrong. That's the

difference.

Isaiah 40, verse 31.

Those who look to the Lord will win new
strength.

They will grow wings like eagles. They
will run and not be weary.

They will march on and never grow faint.

Amen.

Amen.

Everything looks delicious, Lothair.

Why, thank you, Papa.

I'm going to start off with some of this
tomato relish.

Mrs. Wilson brought that by earlier
today, especially for you.

She says it's your favorite.

How would that woman know what my
favorite is?

Now, Scott,

your plate's going to get so heavy, you
won't be able to lift it.

I need my strength, Grandfather.

I've got to deliver those papers.

I understand, son, but you don't have to
put all the chicken on the plate at

once. It's been cooked.

It ain't going to run over.

Mother?

I've decided I'm going to transfer the
pin.

It ought to be trouble.

Scott, I didn't say anything.

I think it's a wonderful idea.

We've been asking for integration.

And now that the Lord has given us this
chance, I think we ought to take it.

Brother, have you thought about this
carefully?

It won't be easy.

Well, Terrence is doing it.

So is Minnie Ching.

Hundreds of kids are.

Everybody knows you get better class.

They've got a cool physics lab.

I can get my science credit.

I can get a better education.

Mother, kids who graduate from Central,
they get into college.

You get your diploma there, you get
respect.

It's going to be trouble.

Scott, stop that.

What does Sadie think?

You keep not saying things like that,
and you can be excused from the table.

Brother, you don't have to do this.

Nobody's pressuring you. It's entirely
up to you.

I know.

Fine, then.

If you thought it through and it's what
you want to do, you should do it.

We'll all stand behind you.

Now, I don't see any point making a fuss
about it. Eat your vegetables.

Okra?

Why do I have to eat okra?

Because it's there, brother.

There's not going to be any trouble.

Why should there be if the law?

Yeah. Well, thanks for letting us know.

Big rally down in the Delta last night.

Jimmy Johnson's got everybody jumping up
and down, hollering about Yankee

meddling.

Governor, you're going to have to do
something.

He's reaching in your pocket and he's
taking votes.

Yeah.

Yeah. Governor Georgia, sir.

Marvin, nice to hear from you.

I'm going to be coming over your way for
luncheon with the citizens council. I

wanted to chat with you first.

No way am I going to comply with the
Supreme Court.

The only thing the feds ever did for us
was help pay towards the fuel program.

Well, they can take the black -eyed peas
and the two pots and they can get the

hell out of my state.

But everybody's wondering what you're
going to do over at Little Rock.

My duty, Marvin.

My solemn duty.

That's just what I've been saying.

Orville Faubus is a red -blooded
southern gentleman.

Nice talking to you, Orville.

Get me the mayor.

Governor, if Georgia isn't going to
integrate, our people are going to ask,

should Arkansas?

You're going to have to get off the
straddle if you want a third term.

It's Mayor Mann, sir.

Woody, what's this disturbing news I
hear about white and Negro students

knives and guns?

Rumors, Governor, nothing more. Spread
by the Mother's League.

I just talked to the chief about it.
It's all hogwash.

Keep me informed.

For desegregation, against.

I don't see how in good conscience I can
force our citizens to do something that

they are so much against.

I'm committed.

Melba.

Hi. A group of us went to a special
meeting at the school board with Daisy

Bates, president of the Arkansas NAACP.

My father's still not happy I'm doing
this. He says we don't need a guinea pig

in the house.

But guinea pigs are so cute.

Hi. Hi. Hey, Thelma.

I thought your parents would never let
you do it with your heart problem.

I got my doctor to approve.

It's just a few blocks away from my
house, and I won't have to get up so

to take buses.

All right, children.

Let's go.

Where is everybody?

I thought at least 100 kids would be
picked to transfer.

All right, let's begin.

I'm Mr.

Matthews, Principal Central High. This
is Mr. Loomis, Boys Counselor, Ms.

Gaines, Girls Counselor.

Will the transfer students rise as I
call their names?

Sophomores Jefferson Thomas, Carlotta
Walls,

juniors Minnie Jean Brown, Elizabeth

Eckford, Thelma Mothershed, Melba
Petillo,

Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts.

Senior Ernest Green.

Out of the many applications received,
you students have been selected to start

the phase -in program on the basis of
scholarship and deportment.

You may be seated.

That's why they picked us.

We're the good niggers.

Now, despite personal feelings, I'm sure
we all want this done in orderly

fashion. So there are certain rules that
have to be followed.

For the protection of the Negro boys and
girls.

Yes, we certainly wouldn't want anything
to happen to any of y 'all.

You will not be permitted to engage in
team sports.

You will not be permitted to run for
student offices.

You will not be permitted to attend
dances.

You will not be permitted to join any of
the service or social clubs, the school

marching band, the swing band, the...
Yes?

I played a tenor fax, sir.

Does this mean that I won't be able to
join any of the groups?

Well, you'll be able to take music
class, but no, you won't be allowed to

any of the groups.

Yes?

My daughter, Minnie Jean, has a very
fine singing voice, and she sings in our

church choir.

Are you saying she can't sing in the
Glee Club?

Yes. She can take singing class, but she
can't join the Glee Club.

Of course, there's something for all of
you to consider.

If you want to participate in
extracurricular activity, there's still

change your mind and stay at Horace
Mann.

The children have decided to accept your
conditions.

onerous as they are.

Now, listen up, you little boys and
girls.

You can't be debonairs. You can't be
southerners.

You can't be key club, beta club, LR
club, stardust club, and your backbone

connected to you. Shoulder bone, your
shoulder bone connected to you. Neck

your neck bone connected to you. Head
bone, I hear the words of the Lord.

Children,

stop that.

i still don't think it's fair we should
have the same privileges as them white

kids

Right here.

Ernest Green.

Your name right there. All the
children's names.

What's the matter with you?

Don't anybody have any sense?

They're not going to let you in that
school.

You're messing everything up. Excuse me,
Miss Wilson. I'm going to be late for

my job. We colored. Got it good here in
Arkansas.

This ain't on Mississippi.

We got jobs that can ride on the bus
just like the white folks.

Now you get out of line and rile up Mr.
Charlie. Excuse me, Miss Wilson. It's

all a white plot to break up the
community.

Jobs are going to get lost.

People are going to get hurt.

Lillian Wilson, quit jumping on that
boy. Shame on you.

I am just trying to explain to him the
facts of life.

Now, you've got to take into account the
way things are.

My grandson has a constitutional right
to go to Central High, and that is the

facts of life.

Too bad you're so old you don't
understand that.

Oh, you're as old as I am. You've seen
all that I've seen.

Not so old that I don't know.

That just because things are the way
they are, they always have to be the way

they are.

Don't you forget what happened the last
time we got involved in that integration

business. Time for a change, Wilson.
Time for a change.

I'll believe it when I see it.

If you got a problem with the boy, don't
go to him. Come to me.

Ernie.

I asked you to come by because it's
important I talk to you.

I know that since your daddy died many
years ago, that you've been the man of

the house.

I know what that means.

Your mom is very proud of you.

Maybe this integration thing will go
along smoothly, but then again, maybe it

won't.

You're no older than any of the other
kids, but the thing is, Ernie, you're

only senior.

They're going to be looking to you for
leadership, guidance.

So the way in which you conduct yourself
is going to set the tone for the other

children.

Yes, ma 'am.

I understand.

It's not right to put so much
responsibility on one so young, but then

much of what is going on isn't right
either.

I can do it, ma 'am.

I know you can.

You know, I have some nice homemade
apple pie.

Martin Luther King developed his ideas
of nonviolence from Jesus' Sermon on the

Mount and from the ideas of this man.

You took Negro history, Ernie.

Who is this man and how did he influence
Dr. King?

Mahatma Gandhi, he was from India.

He broke the British colonial rule using
nonviolence.

Exactly.

Dr. King recognized that nonviolence
worked, that it has the capacity to

an adversary off balance.

Or even turn him into your friend.
Ernie, come up here.

But, and this is important, nonviolence
is most often misunderstood.

It is not passive and acquiescent.

It doesn't mean taking it.

It doesn't mean going into danger as
though danger wasn't there.

Of course it's there.

No, nonviolence is creative.

It takes thinking and imagination.

It means showing that you are a quality
human being and that your adversary is

not. So, no bowed heads.

Look them in the eyes.

Learn their names, even.

That's what we're going to practice here
in this laboratory.

You're walking along, minding your own
business.

Do it. Do it.

All right, Reverend Watson.

I'm coming home from a jam session.

I'm a white boy.

Oh, I'm a mean Mr. Talley.

This is a rock.

Well, what do you do?

Wait before you answer.

He has three choices.

One.

Throw it back harder.

Shh. Two.

Run. Be careful so nobody can run as
fast as you.

All right, all right. Three.

Show that you are a quality human being
and that your adversary is not.

Creativity, Ernie.

Imagination.

Sir, I believe this was yours.

Excellent. Excellent.

But leave out the chuck.

Not one hair of one head of one

white person shall be harmed.

Look, those are Dr. King's words. It's
right there.

Okay, Ernie.

The next, let me see it.

Who was to start on September 3rd? The
boys got ready.

So did the girls.

Everybody wanted to look fine.

I guess secretly we felt that if the
clothes were acceptable, the person

be too.

Elizabeth spent a whole week making her
dress.

She said she wanted something new for
school that hadn't been seen before.

Everyone felt confident things would be
okay.

the city.

If Negro pupils should attempt to enter
Central High School, blood will run in

the streets.

I have a constitutional duty and
obligation from which I will not shrink.

am announcing today that because of
evidence of disorder and threats of

disorder, I'm calling out the Arkansas
National Guard whose duty it will be to

surround Central High School.

Maintain order.

He means keep the children out of
school.

To think I voted for that man.

We all did.

Boys, I've got a cool pitcher of
lemonade inside. Y 'all are welcome to

your thirst.

Come on.

Brother?

It's okay, Scott.

They may not think we're coming, but we
are.

I knew you didn't know that non
-violence, man.

And I'm not saying that it's bad, but
that non -violence can get you killed.

Here, take this. No, I... Go on, man.
Just keep it handy.

What I just can't understand is why his
mother can't go with him, his

grandfather. Papa, please, you know what
the school board is worried about.

They say if the Negro parents take their
children to school, it might start a

riot. I want to take a picture of my
grandson being among the first to enter

that school.

I want to record this for history. Show
it to Brother's children and his

children's children.

Papa, neither of us may be here to show
anything to Brother's children's

children. Well, if you're going to be
technical.

Good luck, son.

Here I go.

Bye now.

At the last minute, it was decided we
would all meet at Daisy Bates' house and

be led to school under the protection of
the Little Rock City Police.

Are you excited about your first date?
No time for questions.

What do you kids think about this? Are
you a little apprehensive? A little

nervous?

You expect there to be any trouble?

Where are your parents? Why aren't your
parents here with you?

Hey, Ms. Bates, where's Elizabeth?

They don't have a phone, so I sent a
message. I just hope she doesn't go

by herself.

We ask them to do it.

Would you like to say anything?

This negro girl came here alone today to
try and attend Central High.

She's been the target of an angry,
screaming mob that has followed her.

We don't want you here. Go back to
Africa!

Leave her alone!

Stop it!

She's just a child!

I'll take you home.

Well, come on.

Do something.

How dare you?

I do believe that black boy is yellow.

We're going back.

We're going back to my house.

the National Guard brought out the
trouble.

While fathers deliberately fomented the
violence, we are insisting on an

investigation. It's Elizabeth's mother.

Yes.

Mr. Attorney General, that mob is making
war on children. It is children who are

being terrified.

Well, it is up to Eisenhower to enforce
the order of the court. Oh, they'll be

glad to hear it. Yes.

Ernie?

Elizabeth's home. Everything's all
right. All right.

Thank you for calling.

Yes.

Elizabeth's okay? Her mom just called.

All right, I'll have a cookie on that.

I'll tell you something right now.

I ain't staying in the South all my
life.

Yeah, what you gonna do?

Get an education.

That's the only way out.

With you, everything's an education.

Yes, it is.

He's right, Minnie Jean.

You know that yourself.

All right, all right.

Now, maybe Miss Bates can bring home our
school assignments and we can do them

here while they're figuring out what
they're gonna do.

Children, this is Mr. Thurgood Marshall.

He's a lawyer with the NAACP, and he is
going to explain to you what we're

doing. How's everybody?

Fine.

Good, good.

We're trying to get an injunction
against Governor Faubus, forcing him to

the Arkansas National Guard so you all
can get into school.

If I were governor, I'd be worried
President Eisenhower would send in

Well, Governor Faubus is of the opinion,
incorrectly so.

That it is unconstitutional for federal
troops to come into a state and let the

governor call it for them.

Well, no wonder he's not worried. He's
never going to do that. Well, you know

that, son, and I know that.

But you have to wonder what they know in
Washington.

Legal maneuvering went on for days.

The National Guard stayed where it was.

We met every day in Daisy Bates' house.

doing the school assignments she was
able to get, being interviewed by the

press, and waiting for the mailman.

Letters were coming to us from all
around the world.

Some of us were building up very good
stamp collections.

Friends! This one's from friends!

Harold Porter.

Harold P -O -R -T -E -R.

Student Body Press.

Now that should have been you. That
could have been you.

Everybody going around saying, Harold!

to the chief.

Oh, and all those fine foxes are going
around saying, where's Ernie? Where's

answer to my prayers?

Someone else is answering their prayers,
man.

Someone else is going to be in the
senior place. Someone else is frontin'

jasmine. So, me.

Ernie, where are you?

You're not in Central.

Not in Horace, man.

You're in Daisy Bates High School.

That's limbo. Kids, Ernie, I ask,
there's still time to come back.

I can't. Why can't you?

Because I can.

What kind of answer is that? Because I
don't want to.

It's more important now than ever.

They're trying to scare us.

Marcus, I pledged myself.

Man, you are so deep.

It's our way of becoming equal.

It's like Rosa Parks not giving up her
seat on that Montgomery bus to a white

person. I'm tired. My feet hurt, she
said.

It's like Dr. King.

Dr. King said, straighten up.

Walk erect.

Brother, Mrs. Bates just called. We got
the injunctions. The National Guard is

leaving. School tomorrow.

I got it.

Right.

Two, four, six, eight.

I've been here all my life. I've never
seen anything like this before in my

life. I don't want them here. They don't
need to be here. They need to be out of

here, too.

I'd like to welcome you to Central High.

Didn't you?

Honey, are you all right?

She has a heart problem. Yes, she has
tiny holes in her heart.

We'll get you home right away. No,
please.

I can't leave now.

It's been so long for me to get in.

I won't faint again, honest. I won't.
All right, all right. Come on.

That day, we got our homeroom
assignment.

They said we wanted integration, so they
separated us completely.

Not one of us was put in the same
homeroom.

That was also the day I learned that the
boys' counselor, Mr. Loomis, was my

physics teacher.

Mr. Loomis?

Y 'all sit down.

Mr. Loomis, I'm Ernest Green.

My homeroom teacher said that...

Mr. Loomis, sir?

Hi, I'm Ernest Green.

My home... Three weeks have gone by
since school started.

You've missed all those classes.

We've covered the first two chapters
already.

Well, yes, sir, I know. I have the books
I've been trying to study. I give tests

every Friday. I've given three already.

You missed them all.

Naturally, I'll have to give you else on
each of them.

Well, sir, I can do makeup. I don't give
makeup.

Unless there's especially good reason.

And I don't see that your absence
qualifies as especially good reason.

I'm sure you don't expect special
treatment because you're a nigger.

You do want me to be fair, don't you,
boy?

That's the whole idea, isn't it?

To see if colored can do as well as
white. Isn't it, Ernest?

Well, sir, I... Physics demands a keen
brain.

Maybe you ought to take an easier
course.

No, sir, I want physics.

It's a good science credit for college.

Oh, you consider yourself college
material.

That's interesting.

Well, yes, sir. I'm sure if I study
hard, I can pass.

Oh, really?

Well, we'll find out, won't we?

Go take a seat.

Go on. Sit down, Ernest.

All right, students, take your places.

Dave, shut them windows.

Open your lab manual to page 22.

A ball is shot from a cannon raised 30
degrees from the horizontal line. The

initial velocity of the ball is 50
meters per second.

Thank you.

Ernest, gather your things.

You're leaving.

The police say they can't hold the
barricades.

They're taking you home for your own
safety.

Bye -bye, Negro.

My education.

When I joined the crew, it was
definitely getting an education.

All right, kids, get in the car.

It is not in good taste.

For me, your governor, to say I told you
so, and I would leave it to others to

judge if the events of today justified
what I did in calling out the National

Guard to protect the peace.

Naturally, I am concerned over reports
that some Negroes have beaten white

persons in Little Rock.

I urge all of you to do everything
possible to restore calm.

Do not, under any circumstances, attempt
to take the law into your own hands.

Mr. Brownell, I'm ashamed of the
citizens of this city waging war on nine

schools. Now, somebody around here has
got to do something.

Yes, it's me. I'm lame duck anyway.

As mayor of Little Rock, I am hereby
making an official request for federal

troops to enforce the Supreme Court
decision and keep the peace at Central

I have today issued an executive

order directing the use of troops under
federal authority to aid in the

execution of federal law at Little Rock,
Arkansas.

This became necessary when my
proclamation of yesterday was not

the obstruction of justice still
continues.

Our personal opinions about the decision
have no bearing on the matter of

enforcement.

The responsibility and authority of the
Supreme Court to interpret the

Constitution are very clear.

The interest of the nation in the proper
fulfillment of the law's requirements

cannot yield to opposition and
demonstrations by some few persons.

Mob rule cannot be allowed to override
the decisions of our courts.

This has been a special address by the
President of the United States, Dwight

Eisenhower. How about that for a
birthday present, brother?

I know I'm not supposed to say it, but
that's what I wish for.

On Tuesday, September 24th, while I was
still absent from the state attending

the Southern Governor's Conference in
Sea Island, the cleverly conceived plans

of the Justice Department for the
military occupation of Arkansas were

execution. 1 ,200 troops of the 101st
Airborne Division occupied

in force the grounds of Central Ohio.

At the same time, the entire Arkansas
National Guard was federalized and are

part of the United States Army.

We are now in occupied territory.

Evidence the naked force of the federal
government is here apparent in these

unsheathed bayonets in the backs of
schoolgirls.

By the use of federal troops.

Right. just so precious, if not more so
than integration, have been trampled

into the dust under the boots of the
paratroopers.

Does the will of the people, the basic
precept of democracy, no longer matter?

Must the will of the majority now yield
under force?

To the will of the minority, regardless
of consequences.

In the name of God, whom we all revere.

In the name of liberty, we hold so dear.

In the name of decency, which we all
cherish.

What is happening in America?

Instead

He said you're into jazz?

Oh, yeah.

Me too.

I spend almost all my allowance on
records.

I know what you mean.

See you around.

All right.

Oh, sorry.

You saw Charlie Parker?

My favorite, too. I used to live in
Chicago.

That's neat. You know, I wish I could
have seen Bird.

I know almost every record he ever made.

April in Paris?

April in Paris.

So I said to him, who's the baboon, you
or me?

Yeah, sure you did.

Well, he almost did, but he's non
-confirmational.

Drain, they want you in the girls'
counselor's office.

Don't ask me why.

All right,

see y 'all later.

Slow down, boy.

Charlene says that you bump into her.

Many times.

He bumps into me every time he can.

That's serious, boy.

I hope you know how serious that is.

Ernest, do you bump into Charlene?

Well, you're not going to ask him, are
you?

I mean, what nigger ever tells the
truth?

Be quiet, Charlene.

Well, yes, ma 'am. I bumped into her
once by accident.

But only once.

There. See, he admitted it.

And it was disgusting.

I burned my clothes.

All right, Charlene.

You can go.

Well, what about him?

We'll take care of it.

Well, I hope so.

Because my parents are going to hear
about this.

You're dismissed.

I said get out of here.

He ought to be expelled.

The thought of that boy pawing on a
white girl. Oh, please. I'm recommending

Mr. Matthews the whole thing be dropped.

Dropped?

Nothing happened.

You know Charlene Talbot.

She lies like a rug.

It doesn't matter what they do to you,
nigger.

Because you're never going to graduate
from Central. Never.

I want to talk with you, brother.

Do you mind turning that down?

Yes, sir.

I heard at the church that you have been
having lunch

with a white girl.

Not just me, grandfather.

A bunch of us are.

See, some of the white kids, they're
real friendly.

And we just sit around and talk.

Talk?

Yes, sir.

About all kinds of things.

I don't have to remind you, do I?

What happened in Money, Mississippi,
when a boy even younger than you said

baby, to a white woman.

That's all the talking he did.

No, Grandfather.

You don't have to remind me.

That's good.

Tough enough just trying to get the
school integrated.

Things sure can get complicated, can't
they?

Yes, sir.

See you later.

Run.

Look what my sister sent me. The new
Miles Davis album.

I'll lend it to you if you want.

What's the matter?

I don't think we should be having lunch
together anymore.

We're talking.

I'm sorry, Ernie.

I really am.

The Negro students will remain in
Central High, and the 101st Airborne

withdrawn. They're leaving.

The paratroopers are... Left to maintain
order will be the Arkansas National

Guard, which will be stationed outside
the school.

Now to other news.

In the recent election... Why?

Why would Eisenhower agree to a thing
like that?

The kids felt safe as long as the
paratroopers were there and nobody got

with. Why?

I'm worried about the guard being only
on the outside of the school.

What's going to happen on the inside?

I'll get him.

Hello? Start bleeding, boy. Things are
going to be a lot different now.

Walk close to the wall.

I know.

I know.

Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on
earth

as it is in heaven.

My physics notes.

They tore them all up.

Now, how am I going to study for my
midterms?

I'm not worried about getting beaten up.

They did it to Jefferson. They could do
it to me.

I'll get over it.

But it's too late to drop the class, and
I need my science credit.

If I don't pass physics, all of this
will be for nothing.

I won't be able to graduate.

All right, Ernie.

I'll see if we can find you a tutor.

Daisy, I think the children need to get
big book bags, carry all their things

with them. Yeah, tote that bars, lift
that bags. Son, I can see that

level in you rising and rising. It's
getting near a dangerous point.

Watch yourself.

Yes, sir, I'm sorry.

Ernie, I was holding this for later, but
I think I'll tell you now.

All your people are looking at you.

You would be the first graduate to come
out of a white school here.

Ernie, a four -year, all -expense -paid
scholarship

to Michigan State has been arranged for
you by an anonymous donor.

Of course, you do have to graduate.

Well, what are you doing in there?

Looking like an old hound dog with his
tail between his legs.

Your daddy used to come here, too, when
he was young.

You know, whenever he wasn't feeling up
to things, he'd find himself a hole and

sit in and think.

You could tell how poorly he was feeling
by how deep the hole was he got into.

I messed myself up, Grandfather.

I didn't mean to. I mean, I thought I
was doing better for myself and for

everybody by transferring, but I didn't.

Well, now, you don't know that for a
fact yet.

Do it.

Mr. Loomis is never going to let me pass
no matter what I do.

No teacher at Horace Mann would have
ever given me that type of trouble.

Yes, that is so.

I agree with you on that.

So what have I done, Grandfather?

You've got yourself in a deep hole and
you've got to get out of it.

Listen, this isn't just about passing
physics and going to college.

It isn't even just about integration,
although that's what we want, of course,

and that's what we should have, of
course. But it's about more than that.

It's the beginning of our exercise of
our constitutional rights.

You young people are making history here
in Little Rock.

But making history is not something
that's...

Easily done.

Mrs. Bates did get me a tutor and I
started working with him.

But no matter what was going on in
school or on the street, at home things

very normal. Mother thought of that.

She said integration was one thing.
Getting married was integration too.

So my sister Triopia came home from
Baltimore to be married and Mother saw

the wedding went on as though nothing
else was happening.

I suppose you heard about Elizabeth's
mother.

All those years working for the school
for the blind.

Now, she might get fired because
Elizabeth's the central.

And Karloff's father, too. Can't get no
more construction work. I told you so,

didn't I? Did I say so?

Lillian Wilson, are you still jumping on
that boy? I'm not jumping. I'm not

jumping. You're supposed to be enjoying
this happy occasion instead of talking

about your facts of life.

I am enjoying this happy occasion. Throw
some rice, Wilson. Throw some rice.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye. Bye.

We love you.

Take care of her, Harold.

What's the matter with you?

Oh, nothing.

What's going on?

I told you, nothing.

It was about then that I started having
nightmares.

Physics and graduation were constantly
on my mind.

And so was Scott.

Here's my nigga, buttofake.

Do something. Okay, boy.

What's the matter with you?

What are you doing? What I have to?

No, Scott.

Ernie, I just want to make the streets
safer. You are not making the streets

safe.

You're spreading violence.

They don't need me to spread it. It's
already spread.

Turn your cheek.

Now turn your other cheek.

What do you do when you run out of
cheeks?

Don't tell Mother about this?

About what?

You know, you're still my little
brother, and I care about you.

Oh, come on. No, no, I do.

After Christmas vacation, some of the
whites got more vicious.

What's wrong?

There's something on the floor.

Look, it's glass.

Coach.

Get in the shower.

There's glass all over the floor.

There's no glass in there, Green.

You're a troublemaker.

But, Coach, there was glass all over the
floor.

I cut my foot, Coach.

Brother?

They keep getting away with it.

Nobody takes our word for nothing.

The rule is, if a teacher or an adult
doesn't see it, then nothing's done.

Mrs. Bates -Phantom, our kids have been
expelled already.

Yeah, but not enough.

Brother, do you want to leave Central?

You can go back to Horace Mann or to
Baltimore with Triopia and finish high

school there. No one would think poorly
of you.

I would.

I'd be quitting.

Well, it's not going to get any easier.

The closer you get to graduation, the
worse it'll be.

I know.

Well, you talk it over with Jackie
Robinson.

They cut him, they spiked him, they
threw baseballs at his head.

That's what it took for the first Negro
to break in.

I guess it's going to take that much to
break you into Central.

I'll wash up for supper.

We're having pork roast.

No pork roast.

Mother.

Some of the other kids' parents have
been having trouble at work.

Are they going to fire you?

I don't know.

What will be, will be. But you are not
to let that affect what you do.

How much you weigh, nigger?

When you fall in the sewer, we want to
know how much you do dip out.

Hey, Green.

You don't look green to me.

You look stinking ugly.

Negro, take a look.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I
pondered, weak and weary, something,

something, while I nodded, nearly
napping, suddenly there came a tapping.

See, there's this raven just above the
chamber door.

What lips my lips have kissed and where
and why, I have forgotten.

And what arms have lain under my head
till morning, many demons, terrible.

What else does the poem say?

I hope this chili's good.

She threw chili on me.

He's been messing with me. Every chance
he gets, he says something nasty to me.

I don't want to hear anymore.

I will not put up with that kind of
behavior in my school.

Now, Minnijean, any further incident and
you will be expelled. Is that clear?

Minnijean, is that clear?

Well, I hope they throw you out, you
nigger.

Leave me alone, white trash.

What? I said leave me alone, you white
trash.

You don't even belong here.

I can't believe... Did you just hear
that?

Did you just hear what she just called
me?

Benny Jean, back in my office.

Look, I'm glad to be getting out of
here.

I'll be in New York.

Lena Horne's daughters went to the new
Lincoln School.

And Harry Belafonte's.

They gave me a scholarship.

They want me.

I think you're all crazy for staying
here and taking this agitation.

Minnie Jean.

Take care.

Bye.

Ernest, you get out of here.

Go where folks are decent.

Goodbye, Mini Jean.

See you, Mini Jean.

Please just let me go, Mom. I'll be late
for class.

Sure. We're nice guys.

Are you all right?

I'm all right.

I can't stand...

Yes, sir.

He pushed Elizabeth down the stairs.

I guess I got mad.

Did any teacher see it?

I don't know.

No.

Ernest, maybe he bumped into Elizabeth
by accident.

That can happen, can't it?

Students. bump into each other all the
time by accident?

Don't they?

Don't they, Ernest?

All right, I'm going to let this pass
this time.

But if it happens again, Ernest, believe
me, you'll be expelled.

That's all.

I talked to Miss Gaines.

It's okay, Ernie. I'm staying.

Good.

Tremendous, isn't it?

Knocks me out.

Yeah, I'll be right there.

It's called B.

Guaranteed to stimulate the libidinal
impulses of the chicks.

Come on, brother. Come with us.

No, no, no.

I'm not much in the mood for libidinal
impulses.

It's Valentine's Day. Know what you're
going to do? Sit here and study?

I mean, you can't study with a moor in
the air.

Come on, it'll feel good.

All right.

Why don't you go to Central High Dance?

They give you a uniform and let you
serve up the refreshments.

Oh, man, you made it.

Y

'all

want to hear some Night Train?

Night Train will be back.

You were right, Marcus.

You told me not to transfer.

I should have listened to you.

No, Ernie, I wasn't right.

Everyone at Horace Mann is proud of you.
They're rooting for you. They want to

see you graduate.

It's hard to say this.

I talked against you going to Central.

I was afraid to do it myself.

Well, brother, how was the dance?

Real cool.

Grandfather, could I be having so much
trouble with physics because I'm a

That's exactly what Loomis and everybody
like him would like you to believe.

Yeah, I know, but still, is it possible?

Brother.

You just stick with your tutor every
step of the way from here to the final

exam.

Then you'll find the answer for
yourself.

Good night, Grandfather.

Good night.

All right, class, listen up.

Keep your examination papers face down
on your desk until I tell you to start.

If you finish before class is over,
bring the test paper to my desk and

Okay, start.

Finished or not, turn them in.

Hey, Ernie.

How was it?

Well, you know.

You didn't say.

Okay, good luck, man.

It would be a while before I'd know if I
passed physics.

As preparations for graduation went
ahead, I fought to keep up my hope.

All right.

Sunland.

Ernest Green.

Can I sign your annual?

Sure. I'd like you to sign mine, too.

Hey, can I sign your annual, Ernie?
Sure.

Hey, Ernie, will you sign mine?

Yeah.

Dear Ernie, I enjoyed knowing you and
regard you as a friend no matter what.

You deserve the very best in life.

I know it's been a hard year for you and
many of us didn't help.

Honestly, I don't think I would have had
the guts to do what you did.

If you ask me, some people in Arkansas
are for the birds.

I believed them at first, but I've
changed.

Being what you did is why.

May God bless you richly.

I did it.

I did it, Grandfather.

I passed physics.

Well, so now I guess you know the answer
to your question.

Yes, yes.

Hail to the victors. Hey, hey, hey.

That's not Michigan State. That's
Michigan.

Oh, I know, but I don't know the state
fight song.

Yeah.

Hail to the victors.

All right.

All right, quiet down, everybody. I have
an announcement to make.

I spoke with Daisy Bates earlier today.

She's talked to Dr.

King, and he will come to Ernie's
graduation.

Oh, how wonderful.

Your napkin belongs on the lap. Got it.

Hello? You will never make it through
the ceremony, nigger.

You're going to be shot.

Congratulations. Dr.

King, this is Mr. Scott, Ernie's
grandfather.

And this is Mrs. Green, Ernie's mother.
Hello.

Ernest, Mr. Matthews wants to see you in
Tunnel H.

Yes, sir?

Ernest, if you don't want to march out
there with the class, you can go home.

We'll mail you your diploma.

It'd be all right.

It'd be safer.

But you'd still graduate.

I'm sorry, sir.

My grandfather wants to take pictures of
me.

And I can't disappoint him.

The graduating class of 1958 will always
stand out in my memory because it

reacted so admirably to the shock of
having the eyes of the world focused on

school.

Only the news of the Russian footnick
took our school off the front page.

The occurrences which members of the
class of 1958 will remember, however, as

the most significant events of the
senior year will probably not be

books.

These, I believe, have been the really
important events to most members of the

class. The string of 33 victories won by
the varsity football team with two

seniors named on all American high
school selections, four on all southern

teams, and nine members making first
string on all conference teams.

The listing of Central High as one of
the top 38 high schools in the United

States. The outstanding performances in
the key club capers.

Beta Club College Day.

The beautiful concerts of the a cappella
choir.

The successes of the varsity,
basketball, and track and field.

The dances of the service club.

The vertical.

William Gidley.

the class of 1958.

In July 1958, Governor Faubus won
nomination for a third term as governor

soon closed the schools of Little Rock
to forestall integration.

In a Gallup poll taken in late 1958,
Governor Faubus was voted one of the ten

most admired persons in the United
States.

Ernie Green earned his master's degree
at Michigan State University and later

served as Assistant Secretary of Labor
in the Carter administration.

Today, he is a managing director of an
investment banking firm in Washington, D

.C., and a member of the National Board
of the NAACP.