1
00:01:13,126 --> 00:01:17,856
“I am writing to you this same year
as you turn fifteen."
2
00:01:19,967 --> 00:01:25,864
"Because this year you saw Eric Garner
strangled when he sold cigarettes."
3
00:01:25,931 --> 00:01:31,703
“Because you know that Renisha McBride
was shot when she sought help."
4
00:01:31,770 --> 00:01:35,123
“John Crawford was shot
when he was walking around a shop."
5
00:01:35,190 --> 00:01:40,170
“You have seen men in uniform drive by
and shoot Tamir Rice."
6
00:01:40,237 --> 00:01:44,091
"A child they had sworn to protect."
7
00:01:44,157 --> 00:01:48,136
“You have seen men in the same uniforms
abuse Marlene Pinnock"-
8
00:01:48,203 --> 00:01:51,807
- "someone's grandmother, by the side of the road."
9
00:01:51,874 --> 00:01:55,560
“All this is familiar
for black people."
10
00:01:55,627 --> 00:02:00,732
“All this is old knowledge
for black people."
11
00:02:00,799 --> 00:02:05,112
“I told you your grandparents
tried to tell me:"
12
00:02:05,179 --> 00:02:08,865
"'This is your country,
this is your world.'"
13
00:02:08,932 --> 00:02:15,163
"'This is your body,
and you have to find a way'"-
14
00:02:15,230 --> 00:02:20,002
- "'to live in it all.'"
15
00:03:02,736 --> 00:03:08,717
The Apollo is synonymous with
what it means to be you.
16
00:03:08,784 --> 00:03:10,385
Like black.
17
00:03:10,452 --> 00:03:17,017
It is synonymous with what it means
to be at your highest level.
18
00:03:17,084 --> 00:03:23,023
It is synonymous with what it means
to be who you want to be.
19
00:03:23,966 --> 00:03:30,530
It is synonymous with
what you can imagine yourself doing-
20
00:03:30,597 --> 00:03:33,533
-and do it more than in the imagination.
21
00:03:35,269 --> 00:03:40,707
Apollo makes me think of that
African American contribution to cultural
22
00:03:40,774 --> 00:03:45,545
- music, dance and performance.
The history and legacy.
23
00:03:45,612 --> 00:03:50,342
And know that Apollo
is open to all that.
24
00:03:54,788 --> 00:03:57,849
They paved the way, but it came at a cost.
25
00:03:57,916 --> 00:04:03,563
I don't know where we would have been without it
all the performances on that stage.
26
00:04:03,630 --> 00:04:06,483
It is the beginning of everything.
27
00:04:28,197 --> 00:04:33,927
The US is the big circle.
Inside it is New York.
28
00:04:33,994 --> 00:04:37,139
Inside New York
is of course New York City.
29
00:04:37,206 --> 00:04:40,559
Inside New York City
of course there is Harlem.
30
00:04:40,626 --> 00:04:43,562
And in Harlem
is the Apollo Theater.
31
00:05:03,398 --> 00:05:06,918
- Hey, girls! Where are you from?
- New Orleans.
32
00:05:06,985 --> 00:05:12,174
My name is Billy Mitchell
and is the historian at the Apollo Theater.
33
00:05:12,241 --> 00:05:15,218
I've been here off and on
for 51 years.
34
00:05:15,285 --> 00:05:19,723
I ran errands here
when I was 15 years old, now I'm 66.
35
00:05:19,790 --> 00:05:24,269
- You saw who came here!
- Everyone.
36
00:05:24,336 --> 00:05:28,732
- What do you think of when you hear Apollo?
- Music. Show.
37
00:05:28,799 --> 00:05:33,403
One of the first places
on which our entertainers performed.
38
00:05:33,470 --> 00:05:35,614
- Have you been in?
- No.
39
00:05:35,681 --> 00:05:37,449
- Do you want to see it?
- Yes!
40
00:05:37,516 --> 00:05:41,828
Follow along. Come in, come in.
Come with me.
41
00:05:41,895 --> 00:05:46,249
watch out,
we'll get over to that side.
42
00:05:46,316 --> 00:05:49,753
They rehearse
before the performance of "Ella".
43
00:05:49,820 --> 00:05:52,005
Get off the stage.
44
00:05:52,072 --> 00:05:54,216
- We are so eager.
- Me too.
45
00:05:54,283 --> 00:05:58,971
I love this more than you guys
love to see it. It's my life.
46
00:05:59,037 --> 00:06:02,266
- Come with me.
- Move the staves first.
47
00:06:02,332 --> 00:06:09,022
Joe shows when it's curtain time.
We also listen to the first sounds.
48
00:06:10,465 --> 00:06:14,945
- We continue with the young Ella.
- One, two, hey, hey.
49
00:06:15,012 --> 00:06:16,780
One, two.
50
00:06:16,847 --> 00:06:21,576
We'll pick up the other one over here.
Here below.
51
00:06:21,643 --> 00:06:27,291
Can young Ella get on stage?
- Get ready for young Ella.
52
00:06:27,357 --> 00:06:32,462
We used to go to the Apollo on
the amateur night. There were two sisters-
53
00:06:32,529 --> 00:06:36,258
- who was the world's most dancing woman.
Edwards Sisters.
54
00:06:38,118 --> 00:06:40,929
When I saw them dance-
55
00:06:40,996 --> 00:06:47,102
- I said I never go out there and
dancing. Because they pulled down applause boxes.
56
00:06:48,754 --> 00:06:53,734
When I came out on stage shouted
someone in the audience: "What is she going to do?"
57
00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:58,572
It is November 21, 1934
and Wednesday evening.
58
00:06:58,639 --> 00:07:02,909
Time for the world famous
the amateur night at Apollo!
59
00:07:02,976 --> 00:07:06,913
Ella, welcome to the amateur evening.
Are you wearing dancing shoes?
60
00:07:06,980 --> 00:07:10,917
Aren't you going to dance?
What should you do instead?
61
00:07:10,984 --> 00:07:14,421
The man said:
"You stand there, so do something."
62
00:07:14,488 --> 00:07:19,926
I remembered that mom had the record
"Judy" with Miss Connee Boswell.
63
00:07:19,993 --> 00:07:24,556
So I tried to sing "Judy"
as Miss Connee Boswell.
64
00:07:24,623 --> 00:07:29,937
They said, "That girl can sing."
And I won first prize.
65
00:07:52,276 --> 00:07:57,589
Ella Fitzgerald was in the first year
with amateur evenings.
66
00:07:57,656 --> 00:08:02,803
She was going to sing, but forgot the lyrics
and started singing scat.
67
00:08:02,870 --> 00:08:06,515
She turned out to be the world's best
on scat.
68
00:08:18,468 --> 00:08:22,698
There is a legend about a tree stump
called the "tree of hope".
69
00:08:22,764 --> 00:08:28,245
All artists who have performed
at the Apollo Theater has touched the tree.
70
00:08:28,312 --> 00:08:32,582
When you go on stage
as a hopeful amateur
71
00:08:32,649 --> 00:08:39,589
- and touch the tree, the magic goes
from it into the marrow of you-
72
00:08:39,656 --> 00:08:42,134
- like it went into the tree.
73
00:08:42,201 --> 00:08:48,015
It is a piece of wood from one
who stood outside the Lafayette Theater-
74
00:08:48,081 --> 00:08:54,521
- which my father and Leo Brecker ran
before moving to 125th Street.
75
00:08:54,588 --> 00:08:57,858
Artists used to stand at the refuge
on 7th Avenue-
76
00:08:57,925 --> 00:09:01,612
- and hope that my father
Frank Schiffman had jobs for them.
77
00:09:04,973 --> 00:09:11,705
Frank Schiffman was one of the hardest
the contenders in theatre.
78
00:09:12,940 --> 00:09:18,503
In 1935 they had put up all resistance
out of play.
79
00:09:18,570 --> 00:09:24,176
They were the only ones in Harlem for
African American theatrical entertainment.
80
00:09:27,996 --> 00:09:32,059
I grew up along Lenox Avenue.
81
00:09:32,125 --> 00:09:35,896
125th Street
was my playground.
82
00:09:51,103 --> 00:09:57,417
When people talked about Harlem
with Cotton Club and Savoy-
83
00:09:57,484 --> 00:10:01,713
- were there places
which blacks were not allowed to visit.
84
00:10:01,780 --> 00:10:06,343
I was born in 1930.
Whites visited these places.
85
00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,475
You forget
that Harlem was a special place-
86
00:10:13,542 --> 00:10:18,730
- for former slaves who
wanted to avoid being lynched in public.
87
00:10:18,797 --> 00:10:21,525
Racism existed in the midst of New York City.
88
00:10:24,219 --> 00:10:29,241
You have to understand
what the US was like in 1934.
89
00:10:29,308 --> 00:10:33,120
It still was
a segregated country.
90
00:10:34,313 --> 00:10:40,294
Music and culture were a path
out of the legacy of slavery.
91
00:10:41,945 --> 00:10:45,966
When Apollo opened its doors in 1934-
92
00:10:46,033 --> 00:10:49,970
- was one of the few
non-segregated theaters-
93
00:10:50,037 --> 00:10:57,311
- which gave colored, and especially
African Americans, a chance.
94
00:11:00,464 --> 00:11:05,986
When I was little I used to walk
to Apollo to see big bands.
95
00:11:06,053 --> 00:11:08,488
Apollo was my palace.
96
00:11:08,555 --> 00:11:11,825
1934 APOLLO THEATRE'S LIGGER
97
00:11:25,239 --> 00:11:29,676
In the 30s was jazz
popular music.
98
00:11:35,374 --> 00:11:38,644
It was the music
that the teenagers wanted to hear.
99
00:11:38,710 --> 00:11:42,314
It was the music
which adults wooed each other to.
100
00:11:42,381 --> 00:11:47,945
And that's what the record companies
wanted to sell to the public.
101
00:11:48,011 --> 00:11:53,408
Imagine... Man walks in
in a theater and see a stage-
102
00:11:53,475 --> 00:11:58,997
- filled with well-dressed, black men
in matching suits-
103
00:11:59,064 --> 00:12:03,502
- with shiny instruments,
that play together like a machine.
104
00:12:16,623 --> 00:12:21,728
It was the model of an achievement
of blacks that people enjoyed-
105
00:12:21,795 --> 00:12:27,442
- and wanted in their lives.
That was the strength of the big band era.
106
00:12:28,802 --> 00:12:31,113
In the former glory days of Apollo-
107
00:12:31,180 --> 00:12:35,242
- was it the only place
that blacks could perform on-
108
00:12:35,309 --> 00:12:38,662
- to then get
a successful career.
109
00:12:40,314 --> 00:12:46,628
Much of that was thanks to Mr
Schiffman enlisted the help of Ralph Cooper.
110
00:12:49,156 --> 00:12:52,175
- Hello?
- Ralph was always so cool.
111
00:12:54,119 --> 00:12:56,805
He always wore a suit in Harlem.
112
00:12:56,872 --> 00:13:01,977
Ralph always exuded show business.
113
00:13:02,044 --> 00:13:05,689
Ralph Cooper
was a show business genius.
114
00:13:05,756 --> 00:13:08,900
He was behind the idea of amateur night.
115
00:13:10,636 --> 00:13:14,823
He was a talent scout
who took people there.
116
00:13:17,476 --> 00:13:19,286
Like Billie Holiday.
117
00:13:19,353 --> 00:13:22,873
The reason for
Billie Holiday's debut at the Apollo
118
00:13:22,940 --> 00:13:26,835
- was that Ralph Cooper saw her
at a small club
119
00:13:26,902 --> 00:13:31,006
- and then Frank Schiffman tipped
about her.
120
00:13:42,251 --> 00:13:46,188
"Strange Fruit"
didn't want Frank Schiffman along.
121
00:13:46,255 --> 00:13:52,361
He was terrified that she would
sing it. He asked her not to.
122
00:13:52,427 --> 00:13:56,698
Black bodies rock
123
00:13:56,765 --> 00:14:01,161
in the light winds of the South
124
00:14:01,228 --> 00:14:05,207
Strange fruit hanging
125
00:14:05,274 --> 00:14:10,003
in the poplars
126
00:14:12,281 --> 00:14:17,719
When Billie Holiday sang “Strange
Fruit" the company did not want to release it.
127
00:14:17,786 --> 00:14:21,640
They didn't want to upset the listeners
who was from the South.
128
00:14:21,707 --> 00:14:26,645
Bulging eyes
129
00:14:26,712 --> 00:14:29,231
A twisted mouth
130
00:14:29,298 --> 00:14:33,151
She knew
that she could sing it at the Apollo.
131
00:14:33,218 --> 00:14:38,907
"People here understand." It was
innovative, because it is protest music.
132
00:14:38,974 --> 00:14:41,326
An early protest song.
133
00:14:41,393 --> 00:14:46,915
And a great smell
134
00:14:46,982 --> 00:14:52,337
of burning flesh
135
00:14:53,363 --> 00:14:57,592
Here is a fruit
136
00:14:57,659 --> 00:15:02,264
as crows can skin
137
00:15:03,457 --> 00:15:08,186
that the rain can save
138
00:15:09,505 --> 00:15:14,818
which the wind can suck up
139
00:15:14,885 --> 00:15:19,072
as the sun causes to rot
140
00:15:20,057 --> 00:15:24,369
Unless something miraculous happens, Billie
no longer worth anything to us.
141
00:15:24,436 --> 00:15:27,289
She no longer goes home with the audience.
142
00:15:27,356 --> 00:15:32,878
Good gig. Cooperative. Sing right
good. No inappropriate behavior.
143
00:15:33,987 --> 00:15:39,217
Frank Schiffman wrote extensively
notes on the performances.
144
00:15:39,284 --> 00:15:45,849
How much he earned. It worked
about control over everything that happened there.
145
00:15:47,835 --> 00:15:49,853
Excellent performance.
146
00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:55,943
CHARLIE PARKER BAND
4 musicians
147
00:15:56,009 --> 00:15:58,946
SARAH VAUGHN
vocalist, former amateur winner
148
00:15:59,012 --> 00:16:03,241
Sung very well.
A very bad deal.
149
00:16:05,269 --> 00:16:09,331
EXCELLENT tape.
Still, an unsatisfactory deal.
150
00:16:13,068 --> 00:16:18,507
They kept notes on us.
It could be...
151
00:16:18,574 --> 00:16:23,679
"Good voice,
talking too much."
152
00:16:27,875 --> 00:16:31,937
I started at Apollo
when I was nine years old.
153
00:16:45,601 --> 00:16:51,790
I stepped. I did imitations.
And I sang.
154
00:16:51,857 --> 00:16:53,333
Little Leslie Uggam's.
155
00:16:56,236 --> 00:16:59,881
They still showed movies.
Always tap dancing.
156
00:17:03,785 --> 00:17:10,142
- A comedian...
- Have you heard about the guy who...?
157
00:17:14,338 --> 00:17:15,814
Did I say something funny?
158
00:17:15,881 --> 00:17:18,066
Then there was the star.
159
00:17:30,854 --> 00:17:35,375
The first one I worked with
was Louis Armstrong.
160
00:17:35,442 --> 00:17:39,254
He was so weird.
I loved just looking at him.
161
00:17:39,321 --> 00:17:43,717
I had my own space
in the corner of the stage-
162
00:17:43,784 --> 00:17:47,763
- where I saw all his performances.
163
00:17:56,171 --> 00:17:57,856
A school for me.
164
00:18:09,268 --> 00:18:13,038
Ella always had the door open
and said to mother and me:
165
00:18:13,105 --> 00:18:15,999
"Come in, and you can eat something."
166
00:18:16,066 --> 00:18:19,962
There was always a lot of food
in her lodge.
167
00:18:29,037 --> 00:18:32,432
Dinah Washington
was also someone I worked with.
168
00:18:46,638 --> 00:18:50,701
I was her little girl.
She used to say to me:
169
00:18:50,767 --> 00:18:54,037
"You shall always be a lady."
I said, "Okay."
170
00:18:58,692 --> 00:19:01,545
She always had $100 bills.
171
00:19:01,612 --> 00:19:06,300
If someone came backstage
who had difficulty coping-
172
00:19:06,366 --> 00:19:11,805
- she gave away 100 dollars.
She cared about everyone.
173
00:19:20,464 --> 00:19:25,569
So I grew up
with these wonderful people-
174
00:19:25,636 --> 00:19:29,156
-who were the best at what they did.
175
00:19:34,394 --> 00:19:39,708
Welcome to the Apollo Theater. I am
Billy Mitchell, or "Mr Apollo".
176
00:19:39,775 --> 00:19:45,631
We go in a bit. Very good. watch out,
so you don't fall. Come further in.
177
00:19:45,697 --> 00:19:49,968
Now we stand
in front of the wall of legends.
178
00:19:50,035 --> 00:19:54,556
These are photos of all the stars
who performed at the Apollo-
179
00:19:54,623 --> 00:19:57,392
- repeatedly,
and it was sold out.
180
00:19:58,836 --> 00:20:05,025
Most of these great entertainers
started here at the Apollo Theater.
181
00:20:08,011 --> 00:20:13,617
I think the challenge
for Apollo and the Blacks' Harlem-
182
00:20:13,684 --> 00:20:20,374
- is whether it can continue to be one
living institution of black culture.
183
00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:24,503
If the community can continue
with his black expression.
184
00:20:25,654 --> 00:20:31,677
Or it becomes a place of pilgrimage
for all the past?
185
00:20:37,958 --> 00:20:42,396
On to the focus
for the meeting.
186
00:20:42,462 --> 00:20:47,776
What is Apollo's identity?
What are we?
187
00:20:47,843 --> 00:20:53,615
What should we be known for so that people
coming? What do we mean to people?
188
00:20:53,682 --> 00:20:57,119
In the current political climate-
189
00:20:57,186 --> 00:21:02,124
- and what affects
the African American community-
190
00:21:02,191 --> 00:21:07,713
- is it important for us to be
a place where we can talk about it.
191
00:21:07,779 --> 00:21:13,302
Apollo could be the place
which creates new works
192
00:21:13,368 --> 00:21:19,141
- which you can't see anywhere else.
New works that are created from-
193
00:21:19,208 --> 00:21:23,478
- African American cultural experience.
We can be.
194
00:21:27,466 --> 00:21:34,114
We are here to work with “Between
the world and me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
195
00:21:34,181 --> 00:21:40,287
We see actors for the first time
interpret Ta-Nehisi's work.
196
00:21:40,354 --> 00:21:47,544
We want to set the agenda for something
we'll be talking about for decades to come.
197
00:21:47,611 --> 00:21:51,340
"Between the World and Me"
hits the spot.
198
00:21:51,406 --> 00:21:55,927
“I am writing to you this same year
as you turn fifteen."
199
00:21:55,994 --> 00:22:02,559
"Because this year you saw Eric Garner
strangled when he sold cigarettes."
200
00:22:02,626 --> 00:22:06,605
The book "Between the world and me"
are letters to his son.
201
00:22:06,672 --> 00:22:10,317
“How do I explain
for my young, black son"-
202
00:22:10,384 --> 00:22:13,570
- "how to become an adult
after the murder of Trayvon Martin?"
203
00:22:13,637 --> 00:22:20,077
He deals with his inner chaos,
right? We test it.
204
00:22:20,143 --> 00:22:22,704
"No one is held accountable."
205
00:22:23,689 --> 00:22:26,917
“Our concepts
- race relations, racial divides"-
206
00:22:26,984 --> 00:22:31,088
- "racial justice, racial profiling,
white privilege, white supremacy"-
207
00:22:31,154 --> 00:22:34,758
- "obscuring the view of racism
is an inner experience."
208
00:22:34,825 --> 00:22:38,595
"It crushes skulls,
blocks airways"-
209
00:22:38,662 --> 00:22:42,266
- "sever organs, break bones,
sinks teeth in."
210
00:22:42,332 --> 00:22:47,271
“You must never forget
that sociology, history and economics"-
211
00:22:47,337 --> 00:22:54,486
- "charts, tables and austerities
with force strikes the human body."
212
00:22:56,221 --> 00:23:00,951
I wrote the book after my friend
Prince Jones was murdered in 2000.
213
00:23:01,018 --> 00:23:05,247
Kamilah and I went to school
with him and knew him.
214
00:23:05,314 --> 00:23:08,750
"He wore fine clothes,
like it was prom"-
215
00:23:08,817 --> 00:23:12,296
- “forever frozen
in the spring of his youth."
216
00:23:12,362 --> 00:23:16,091
“The face was narrow, brown
and beautiful."
217
00:23:16,158 --> 00:23:20,721
“And smiled with Prince Carmen Jones
open, unforced smile."
218
00:23:21,663 --> 00:23:28,103
Fifteen years after the murder
at Prince Jones so little has happened.
219
00:23:28,170 --> 00:23:30,647
I tried to vent it.
220
00:23:30,714 --> 00:23:36,361
To bear witness to the anger, to bear witness to
the rage, to bear witness to the pain.
221
00:23:36,428 --> 00:23:39,323
"Our parents took to the whip"-
222
00:23:39,389 --> 00:23:45,621
- “in the same way as the flagellants
during the Black Death took to the scourge".
223
00:23:45,687 --> 00:23:48,290
Thank you. Very good.
224
00:23:48,357 --> 00:23:51,918
It was very helpful.
225
00:23:51,985 --> 00:23:57,049
It is important
that people who have the same experiences-
226
00:23:57,115 --> 00:24:02,095
-get a chance to see it.
227
00:24:02,162 --> 00:24:08,101
Apollo is likely
one of the few places where it is possible.
228
00:24:08,168 --> 00:24:10,729
WELCOME TO WORLD FAMOUS
APOLLO THEATER
229
00:24:26,645 --> 00:24:31,166
Sit down.
I want to talk about booing.
230
00:24:31,233 --> 00:24:36,546
For those of you who are 16 years and older...
You can be booed tonight.
231
00:24:36,613 --> 00:24:41,969
The story behind the booing... For 82 years-
232
00:24:42,035 --> 00:24:47,349
- have people come to the Apollo Theater
to boo the amateurs.
233
00:24:51,170 --> 00:24:56,149
The amateur night at Apollo
has been recurring every week-
234
00:24:56,216 --> 00:24:58,944
- since 1934.
235
00:25:03,056 --> 00:25:09,913
We learn that in the theater...
Then you should behave like that.
236
00:25:09,980 --> 00:25:13,667
But culturally speaking, we are not like that.
237
00:25:14,902 --> 00:25:18,088
First, you have the power to bow.
238
00:25:18,155 --> 00:25:24,553
Everyone wants to at some point in their life
boo someone.
239
00:25:24,620 --> 00:25:28,056
"Boo! Get out of there!"
240
00:25:28,123 --> 00:25:33,228
"Sing beautifully when you open your mouth,
because you don't get a second chance."
241
00:25:33,295 --> 00:25:36,273
I went to the amateur night.
242
00:25:36,340 --> 00:25:42,112
I remember how I came out on stage
and saw everyone boo. All!
243
00:25:42,179 --> 00:25:46,241
And that was the best
that could happen to me.
244
00:25:46,308 --> 00:25:49,036
After that I was fearless.
245
00:25:55,317 --> 00:25:59,004
If you performed at the amateur night
and survived…
246
00:25:59,071 --> 00:26:02,382
Even if you didn't win
was it an achievement.
247
00:26:03,575 --> 00:26:07,638
Things went bad for Lauryn Hill,
but she learned a lot.
248
00:26:07,704 --> 00:26:12,100
She moved on
and had a good career.
249
00:26:20,676 --> 00:26:24,571
Hello and welcome
to the world famous Apollo Theater!
250
00:26:24,638 --> 00:26:26,865
Parquet seat straight ahead.
251
00:26:26,932 --> 00:26:29,785
Front rows this way.
252
00:26:29,852 --> 00:26:33,872
Good evening! Welcome
to the world famous Apollo Theater!
253
00:26:33,939 --> 00:26:36,208
Parquet seat straight ahead.
254
00:26:36,275 --> 00:26:39,211
Welcome
to the world famous Apollo Theater!
255
00:26:40,696 --> 00:26:46,885
I want to ask you to take that person
that sits next to you in your hand.
256
00:26:46,952 --> 00:26:50,639
Hold each other's hands
even if you are strangers.
257
00:26:50,706 --> 00:26:53,392
Just hold each other's hands.
258
00:26:53,458 --> 00:26:56,728
Everyone should hold someone's hand.
259
00:26:56,795 --> 00:26:59,982
I was a stagehand
on the Ralph Cooper show.
260
00:27:00,048 --> 00:27:04,611
How about a round of applause
for my little band? Huh?
261
00:27:04,678 --> 00:27:10,325
A woman always jumped up and stayed
totally crazy. Her name is Eva Isaac.
262
00:27:15,022 --> 00:27:18,166
She always had the same place
on the amateur night.
263
00:27:19,526 --> 00:27:25,465
I got to sit at the front in the middle.
108 was my seat.
264
00:27:25,532 --> 00:27:32,723
I came close to that scene. I pulled
into them and hugged them half to death.
265
00:27:32,789 --> 00:27:36,560
I sang to myself.
Then she said, "Can you sing?"
266
00:27:36,627 --> 00:27:38,895
I said, "You get to sing tonight."
267
00:27:38,962 --> 00:27:43,609
Has anyone seen
how beautiful is eva tonight?
268
00:27:43,675 --> 00:27:47,237
In the second act I step forward
to replace the mic.
269
00:27:47,304 --> 00:27:51,158
Then Eva stands up and says:
"Let Joe sing."
270
00:27:51,225 --> 00:27:57,164
"Let Joe sing."
What Eva wants, Eva also gets.
271
00:27:57,231 --> 00:28:01,877
Ralph looks at me
and gives me the mic. So I said:
272
00:28:01,944 --> 00:28:07,841
Don't you remember you said
that you love me
273
00:28:07,908 --> 00:28:14,181
Joe came forward and sang. I jumped.
Since then, Joe has been recording music.
274
00:28:14,248 --> 00:28:15,807
That's my man, that!
275
00:28:21,547 --> 00:28:25,692
Welcome to the amateur evening
276
00:28:25,759 --> 00:28:29,738
Welcome to the amateur evening
277
00:28:29,805 --> 00:28:35,577
Joe Gray performed for 27 years
on the amateur night. Every Wednesday.
278
00:28:37,271 --> 00:28:42,501
Few artists can say they have stood
on a stage as often as Joe Gray.
279
00:28:44,486 --> 00:28:49,716
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to
audition for Apollo's amateur night.
280
00:28:49,783 --> 00:28:56,473
Nice to have you here. Many legends and
stars have sat in the same seats.
281
00:28:56,540 --> 00:28:59,601
We hope some of you
will be the same.
282
00:28:59,668 --> 00:29:02,980
My name is Bianca Graham.
283
00:29:13,932 --> 00:29:18,245
Some who have stood
on this stage have become icons.
284
00:29:18,312 --> 00:29:23,875
But some have been
brain surgeons, franchisee-
285
00:29:23,942 --> 00:29:27,713
-garbage men, school teachers...
286
00:29:32,743 --> 00:29:34,970
Okay. Thank you, sir.
287
00:29:35,037 --> 00:29:38,849
Okay. Thank you, thank you.
288
00:29:38,916 --> 00:29:44,563
In our community, access is sometimes granted
no clear boundary.
289
00:29:44,630 --> 00:29:50,027
So when you can say
"everyone can try"-
290
00:29:50,093 --> 00:29:54,656
- the limit for access is clear
and you can sign up.
291
00:29:54,723 --> 00:29:57,743
You just have to make sure
to be good and ready.
292
00:30:02,231 --> 00:30:05,250
REHEARSAL FOR
THE AMATEUR NIGHT
293
00:30:07,194 --> 00:30:11,590
Sometimes when it goes week after week,
then we forget.
294
00:30:11,657 --> 00:30:16,178
“Whoa, this person
have come all the way from Georgia"-
295
00:30:16,245 --> 00:30:18,722
- "and could hardly afford to fly."
296
00:30:18,789 --> 00:30:23,268
Then they came here, and we dismissed them.
297
00:30:23,335 --> 00:30:27,397
"It's okay."
But it really isn't.
298
00:30:27,464 --> 00:30:28,941
Okay, everyone!
299
00:30:29,007 --> 00:30:33,487
Then we begin
rehearsal and sound check.
300
00:30:33,554 --> 00:30:38,825
I remind myself, our band
and the rest of the gang about-
301
00:30:38,892 --> 00:30:43,205
- how valuable it is to the person
at that very moment.
302
00:30:43,272 --> 00:30:46,458
They might not be
a new Gladys Knight.
303
00:30:46,525 --> 00:30:48,919
But we have to believe it right then.
304
00:30:48,986 --> 00:30:51,463
First we have Bianca Graham.
305
00:30:51,530 --> 00:30:55,467
"I have nothing", "One night"
and "How sad".
306
00:30:56,702 --> 00:30:59,096
I took the Greyhound bus here.
307
00:30:59,162 --> 00:31:03,058
But it quit
in Philadelphia.
308
00:31:03,125 --> 00:31:09,898
So when I came for the audition
they didn't let anyone in.
309
00:31:09,965 --> 00:31:17,239
I went home, practiced, bitten and
decided to go here again.
310
00:31:24,271 --> 00:31:30,711
My friend was murdered by the police.
One of the policemen in Cincinnati.
311
00:31:30,777 --> 00:31:36,091
This is for him, our city
and our community back home.
312
00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:52,065
Family and friends collected money
before we left Cincinnati.
313
00:32:03,477 --> 00:32:10,000
I've come as far as I can
this. It means a lot to me.
314
00:32:58,156 --> 00:33:03,845
The genius of the amateur night
is to hand over power-
315
00:33:03,912 --> 00:33:09,351
- to the audience itself. One deprives
close to the owner of that power.
316
00:33:15,465 --> 00:33:18,068
Who allowed it to happen?
317
00:33:18,135 --> 00:33:22,155
Who created the environment
where the artists can be innovative?
318
00:33:22,222 --> 00:33:26,076
The amateur night was Ralph Cooper's idea.
319
00:33:27,311 --> 00:33:30,289
Ralph Cooper, you are a legend.
320
00:33:30,355 --> 00:33:36,837
You are alive and well, driving
Apollo and gives young, black people a chance.
321
00:33:36,904 --> 00:33:40,590
- Where did you get the ideas from?
- They were born in Harlem.
322
00:33:40,657 --> 00:33:45,095
The ideas "were" Harlem.
Entertainment is like a big tree.
323
00:33:45,162 --> 00:33:50,267
There is so much on a tree.
Many branches stretch out.
324
00:33:50,334 --> 00:33:54,062
There always was
two kinds of show business.
325
00:33:54,129 --> 00:33:57,941
A white show business
and a black show business.
326
00:34:10,187 --> 00:34:15,834
My father did all the booking
at the theater. I saw the show-
327
00:34:15,901 --> 00:34:20,505
- but there never was
some of the giants of the entertainment industry.
328
00:34:20,572 --> 00:34:24,134
Sidney Poitier,
Eartha Kitt, Lena Horne...
329
00:34:24,201 --> 00:34:27,804
I said to my father:
"Why don't you book them?"
330
00:34:27,871 --> 00:34:32,726
He said, “I say
as the agencies tell me:"
331
00:34:32,793 --> 00:34:39,107
"'They're white acts. They want to be on
Persian Room and Waldorf Astoria.'"
332
00:34:39,174 --> 00:34:43,779
I said, "I don't buy that."
So I wrote to Eartha Kitt.
333
00:34:43,846 --> 00:34:47,115
She called me up
and invited me to lunch.
334
00:34:47,182 --> 00:34:52,371
Hi Dan. That's me.
The cruise is divine.
335
00:34:52,437 --> 00:34:58,085
I am in very good hands.
Yes, I have the car and the caviar.
336
00:34:58,151 --> 00:35:01,421
Before I left
she called the William Morris Agency-
337
00:35:01,488 --> 00:35:04,424
- and said:
"I want to perform at the Apollo."
338
00:35:06,785 --> 00:35:10,514
How nice! So wonderful.
339
00:35:10,581 --> 00:35:17,312
Then she married a white man. Then
she started getting hate mail from black people.
340
00:35:17,379 --> 00:35:21,692
She was terrified.
But then the day is here.
341
00:35:21,758 --> 00:35:24,319
The theater was packed.
342
00:35:24,386 --> 00:35:29,116
I stood with Eartha in the wings,
and she said:
343
00:35:29,183 --> 00:35:33,704
“Bobby, they've arrived
to kill me. You'll see."
344
00:35:35,147 --> 00:35:36,790
She went out on stage.
345
00:35:36,857 --> 00:35:42,587
People stood up and applauded
for ten minutes. Ten minutes!
346
00:35:42,654 --> 00:35:48,385
What they conveyed was, “We know that you
no need to come to Apollo."
347
00:35:48,452 --> 00:35:53,098
“We know you're here because you
want, and we love you for it."
348
00:35:55,209 --> 00:35:56,810
First appearance.
349
00:35:56,877 --> 00:35:58,395
Extraordinarily.
350
00:35:58,462 --> 00:36:03,567
And how important does that make me? Me
was responsible for buying toilet paper.
351
00:36:03,634 --> 00:36:08,572
But after that I went there
all the artists who came to the Apollo.
352
00:36:08,639 --> 00:36:10,866
Every gig, every artist. All.
353
00:36:29,243 --> 00:36:32,512
Late 50s, early 60s-
354
00:36:32,579 --> 00:36:37,100
- when no artists wanted to come
because of New York's winter
355
00:36:37,167 --> 00:36:38,977
-Jewel Box Revue was booked.
356
00:36:41,046 --> 00:36:46,735
The costumes, the antics, the burlesque...
Everything with it!
357
00:36:46,802 --> 00:36:52,074
They were men
who dressed as women.
358
00:36:52,140 --> 00:36:56,620
You just had to see it.
359
00:36:56,687 --> 00:37:01,083
There was a group
who stuck out his snout and said:
360
00:37:01,149 --> 00:37:05,462
“It undermines
the value of the black family."
361
00:37:05,529 --> 00:37:10,550
Glorification of homosexuality
was a big deal among blacks.
362
00:37:11,952 --> 00:37:15,847
“If you guys run that show
we destroy the theater."
363
00:37:15,914 --> 00:37:20,227
- I bet a lot of money on the show.
- How did you solve it?
364
00:37:20,294 --> 00:37:24,773
I settled it with 150 dollars.
I bought myself free.
365
00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:29,361
And the show was fruitful
both for me and the community.
366
00:37:53,619 --> 00:37:55,429
When I was little-
367
00:37:55,495 --> 00:38:01,184
- still existed
many preconceived notions in Harlem.
368
00:38:01,251 --> 00:38:04,229
A department store was called Blumstein's.
369
00:38:04,296 --> 00:38:11,194
African Americans were not allowed to enter there.
I was a child and wondered why.
370
00:38:12,513 --> 00:38:17,784
There were many stores that black
was not allowed to enter on 125th Street.
371
00:38:49,174 --> 00:38:56,114
“The black body is beautiful.
Black hair and skin must be protected."
372
00:38:56,181 --> 00:39:00,160
Both and. “We are
our beautiful bodies."
373
00:39:00,227 --> 00:39:05,624
It is free to find places
to jump in and talk to each other.
374
00:39:05,691 --> 00:39:09,962
“Black beauty has never been celebrated
in film, television or school books."
375
00:39:10,028 --> 00:39:14,216
“Anyone who was anything, from Jesus
to George Washington, were white."
376
00:39:14,283 --> 00:39:19,388
“That's why your grandparents banned us
to have Tarzan or white dolls."
377
00:39:19,454 --> 00:39:24,393
“A rebellion against the history books that
sentimentally mentioned 'first black'."
378
00:39:24,459 --> 00:39:28,272
"First Black General,
first black mayor…”
379
00:39:28,338 --> 00:39:33,193
"Real history was about the West-
the world, and the West was white."
380
00:39:33,260 --> 00:39:37,739
"Weapons as a purpose. They had
their heroes. We must have ours."
381
00:39:37,806 --> 00:39:41,952
“I had read central authors
for the canon of our history."
382
00:39:42,019 --> 00:39:46,623
“I had learned that Mansa Moussa
from Mali was black."
383
00:39:46,690 --> 00:39:51,920
“And Shabaka of Egypt was black.
Yaa Asantewaa was black."
384
00:39:51,987 --> 00:39:54,965
- Black, black, black.
- Yes!
385
00:40:16,345 --> 00:40:20,240
When James Brown came to Harlem
"were all there".
386
00:40:22,768 --> 00:40:24,578
He loved the community.
387
00:40:24,645 --> 00:40:28,999
Children truant from school
to see James Brown.
388
00:40:29,066 --> 00:40:35,339
Doctors and lawyers were there.
All categories of people in Harlem.
389
00:40:35,405 --> 00:40:38,383
VOTED FORWARD
AS BEST RandB STAR 1962
390
00:40:41,995 --> 00:40:45,390
James Brown became synonymous with Apollo-
391
00:40:45,457 --> 00:40:49,561
- after first
The Live at the Apollo album.
392
00:40:49,628 --> 00:40:52,898
If he could catch
The energy of the Apollo audience
393
00:40:52,965 --> 00:40:56,568
- would be very good,
and he was right.
394
00:41:09,147 --> 00:41:13,627
The album was successful.
It was on the charts for like 1.5 years.
395
00:41:13,694 --> 00:41:19,341
That was the beginning for James
was accepted in mainstream circles.
396
00:41:37,217 --> 00:41:41,363
At the time, the minimum wage was
a dollar an hour.
397
00:41:41,430 --> 00:41:46,535
If we wanted to go out dancing
or go to Apollo-
398
00:41:46,602 --> 00:41:51,248
- we were allowed to sneak in.
One paid to enter.
399
00:41:51,315 --> 00:41:55,794
Then that person opened the emergency exit-
400
00:41:55,861 --> 00:42:01,341
- so that the rest of us could enter.
That's what we did regularly.
401
00:42:03,785 --> 00:42:06,430
The day the social contribution was paid out
402
00:42:06,497 --> 00:42:12,352
- was a good day for premiere,
because then people had money.
403
00:42:12,419 --> 00:42:17,024
We checked the payout dates.
"That day will be the premiere!"
404
00:42:17,090 --> 00:42:21,862
Apollo Theater proudly presents
The Motown Revue!
405
00:42:26,308 --> 00:42:28,493
Our first show with Motown-
406
00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:34,875
- included Smokey Robinson and the
Miracles, Diana Ross and the Supremes-
407
00:42:34,942 --> 00:42:38,670
- Martha and the Vandellas,
The Temptations-
408
00:42:38,737 --> 00:42:43,175
- The Four Tops with Stevie Wonder.
It was the whole show.
409
00:42:43,242 --> 00:42:47,429
May I introduce
an outstanding young man-
410
00:42:47,496 --> 00:42:52,851
- which is considered the talent of our time?
And he is only 12 years old.
411
00:42:52,918 --> 00:42:59,399
Let us make him happy now that we hear
the 12-year-old genius Stevie Wonder.
412
00:43:00,384 --> 00:43:06,490
When the Motown Revue came to the Apollo
then it was a party.
413
00:43:06,557 --> 00:43:10,535
If everyone says yeah!
414
00:43:10,602 --> 00:43:13,914
Say yes!
415
00:43:13,981 --> 00:43:16,041
Say yes!
416
00:43:16,108 --> 00:43:20,295
Yeah, yeah! Say it!
417
00:43:38,505 --> 00:43:45,654
Clap your hands a little higher
Clap your hands a little higher
418
00:43:48,473 --> 00:43:51,326
It happened live at the Apollo.
419
00:43:51,393 --> 00:43:54,871
That's how the world got to know
about Little Stevie Wonder.
420
00:43:54,938 --> 00:43:58,083
Awesome Supremes!
How about that?
421
00:44:01,904 --> 00:44:06,800
We went out on stage
and began to sing our sweet song-
422
00:44:06,867 --> 00:44:10,220
-in cute, short dresses.
423
00:44:10,287 --> 00:44:16,226
We were so scared, for the Apollo crowd
was the toughest crowd.
424
00:44:16,293 --> 00:44:19,354
They would probably boo.
425
00:44:29,389 --> 00:44:35,412
We got into the song. We were so scared
and kept looking at each other.
426
00:44:43,070 --> 00:44:47,966
But when the second song was over
they applauded.
427
00:44:48,033 --> 00:44:51,928
Then we knew we had been accepted.
428
00:44:54,998 --> 00:45:00,812
I don't remember anyone in the audience.
I never looked at them.
429
00:45:00,879 --> 00:45:04,024
But I saw every stain on the wall.
430
00:45:16,186 --> 00:45:21,917
First time The Miracles and me
playing there was Ray Charles' headlining act.
431
00:45:28,866 --> 00:45:35,347
Apollo's manager went crazy because we
missing scars We didn't know anything about that.
432
00:45:38,709 --> 00:45:43,855
Then came Ray Charles. He said, “Know
any of you how you play your songs?"
433
00:45:43,922 --> 00:45:49,236
I knew how to play them
piano. I got to sit next to him.
434
00:45:49,303 --> 00:45:52,072
Okay. Everything is calm.
435
00:45:52,139 --> 00:45:56,868
He heard me play once
and took over. "Saxophone, write down..."
436
00:45:56,935 --> 00:45:59,621
"Trumpets, write like this..."
437
00:45:59,688 --> 00:46:05,419
He arranged both of our songs
without any preparation.
438
00:46:23,629 --> 00:46:27,149
the artists,
who were not always musicians-
439
00:46:27,216 --> 00:46:32,779
- maybe got a record deal
and a hit song and would tour.
440
00:46:32,846 --> 00:46:38,076
How do you get such knowledge?
You hang out backstage.
441
00:46:55,244 --> 00:46:58,972
Apollo was rather
like a university.
442
00:47:01,250 --> 00:47:05,228
It was a school
to perform at the Apollo.
443
00:47:05,295 --> 00:47:09,149
I learned
to be polite to the audience.
444
00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:16,531
It was busy backstage.
445
00:47:16,598 --> 00:47:23,956
You could smell make-up and perfume,
and someone was always looking for hair curlers.
446
00:47:25,524 --> 00:47:29,711
Apollo had
a unique ranking system.
447
00:47:29,778 --> 00:47:33,590
When you started there
you had your lodge on the 8th floor.
448
00:47:33,657 --> 00:47:35,342
They worked their way down.
449
00:47:35,409 --> 00:47:39,680
All the artists who passed by my booth
when they were to perform-
450
00:47:39,746 --> 00:47:44,726
- wondered if we should play cards
afterwards. And I always lost.
451
00:47:45,669 --> 00:47:51,900
You didn't go and change. If man
did that, you had to hurry.
452
00:47:51,967 --> 00:47:56,613
Apollo had many stairs, so
you had to rush if you wanted to see something.
453
00:47:56,680 --> 00:48:01,868
If something new happened, you wanted to
join in and see what the audience thought.
454
00:48:01,935 --> 00:48:05,998
Then you could possibly include it
in its number.
455
00:48:06,064 --> 00:48:09,751
Everyone wanted to be better
than the next group.
456
00:48:09,818 --> 00:48:14,423
Everyone stood close to each other,
but were also competitive.
457
00:48:26,710 --> 00:48:31,773
One cannot mention Apollo
not to mention dance and music.
458
00:48:31,840 --> 00:48:33,567
All kinds of dances.
459
00:48:35,302 --> 00:48:38,113
Honey Coles.
460
00:48:38,180 --> 00:48:41,241
Sammy Davis Jr.
461
00:48:41,308 --> 00:48:44,119
And Gregory Hines.
462
00:48:45,062 --> 00:48:47,789
And of course Sandman Sims.
463
00:48:48,774 --> 00:48:52,336
I studied them.
I learned something from all of them.
464
00:49:02,996 --> 00:49:06,266
From Temptations
to Gladys Knight and the Pips...
465
00:49:06,333 --> 00:49:13,315
Cholly Atkins was the dancer
which was behind all the choreography.
466
00:49:13,382 --> 00:49:16,818
They were four or five brothers
who stepped.
467
00:49:36,363 --> 00:49:42,469
It was a deliberate move
to have "the dangerous black man"-
468
00:49:42,536 --> 00:49:48,267
- in an Italian suit while he
performed disciplined dance steps.
469
00:49:49,585 --> 00:49:52,479
We had Dr. King. We had the speakers.
470
00:49:52,546 --> 00:49:57,651
We know there were
who could express things in words.
471
00:49:57,718 --> 00:50:03,532
But with fashion
could they achieve the same thing.
472
00:50:03,599 --> 00:50:09,121
That made whites get a softer one
attitude to the freedom of the blacks.
473
00:50:22,326 --> 00:50:24,761
In adolescence-
474
00:50:24,828 --> 00:50:31,268
- a new kind of music suddenly appeared
in England.
475
00:50:31,335 --> 00:50:35,647
We had grown up with "white music",
which is a little stiff.
476
00:50:35,714 --> 00:50:42,779
Suddenly this hip music appeared
up and we fell in love with it.
477
00:50:42,846 --> 00:50:48,619
We wanted to sing like them, write
the same, behave the same.
478
00:50:56,109 --> 00:51:03,050
We picked it up and introduced it
that for the white audience-
479
00:51:03,116 --> 00:51:07,554
- who didn't know about it.
Especially not in the US.
480
00:51:11,583 --> 00:51:14,686
The first time we came to New York-
481
00:51:14,753 --> 00:51:18,815
- we wanted to go to Apollo,
but we were advised against it.
482
00:51:18,882 --> 00:51:23,070
“No, you can't go there.
It's too dangerous."
483
00:51:23,136 --> 00:51:28,450
So we didn't do it then. The first one
The Beatles tour we didn't.
484
00:51:28,517 --> 00:51:32,621
It was only much later
as we went to Apollo.
485
00:52:00,048 --> 00:52:04,820
To perform as a black woman
and travel the kingdom around-
486
00:52:04,887 --> 00:52:07,781
- was really tough.
487
00:52:07,848 --> 00:52:13,954
We couldn't go into restaurants,
use toilets, stay in hotels...
488
00:52:14,021 --> 00:52:16,081
Then we slept in the manor wagon.
489
00:52:21,987 --> 00:52:28,468
If we stopped at roadside inns
could we sit there for an hour-
490
00:52:28,535 --> 00:52:31,555
-before someone said: "We have to ask you to leave."
491
00:52:37,252 --> 00:52:40,022
LINCOLN ROCKWELL'S "HATE" BUS
492
00:52:44,343 --> 00:52:48,280
I sang better
than white girls who slept in hotels
493
00:52:48,347 --> 00:52:52,951
- who went to restaurants
and who were paid much better.
494
00:53:06,823 --> 00:53:10,761
We were worth the same,
but was not allowed to be worth it.
495
00:53:18,961 --> 00:53:24,107
Imagine the feeling
to come with the tour bus.
496
00:53:24,174 --> 00:53:28,195
You're in Harlem
and travels along 125th Street.
497
00:53:28,262 --> 00:53:31,073
Then you stop at the Apollo Theater.
498
00:53:31,139 --> 00:53:36,036
The relief and the joy
to have come home.
499
00:53:46,029 --> 00:53:51,843
It was always our community that
welcomed home our great artists.
500
00:53:51,910 --> 00:53:55,597
SHE'S HOME AGAIN
ARETHA FRANKLIN
501
00:53:55,664 --> 00:54:02,604
Welcome to Apollo!
It is a very special evening.
502
00:54:02,671 --> 00:54:09,861
Sit back, relax and
let us borrow your time for a few minutes.
503
00:54:09,928 --> 00:54:14,283
I promise we will repay you.
Okay?
504
00:54:14,349 --> 00:54:17,411
I also promise you, as you have heard-
505
00:54:17,477 --> 00:54:22,291
- that before you leave here
did you guys like this gig-
506
00:54:22,357 --> 00:54:26,253
- at least as much
as others you can see.
507
00:54:40,167 --> 00:54:43,979
Many years ago now.
God, Apollo Theater…
508
00:54:44,046 --> 00:54:49,860
Those were the first 3-4 commitments
in my career.
509
00:54:49,927 --> 00:54:56,241
I was 17 years old. At that time
I performed four times a day.
510
00:54:56,308 --> 00:54:58,910
It could be five times on the weekend.
511
00:55:03,607 --> 00:55:06,501
We drove
five gigs per day.
512
00:55:06,568 --> 00:55:08,754
Twenty-nine gigs a week.
513
00:55:08,820 --> 00:55:14,551
- First time at Apollo...
- Don't pull it. We sound so stupid.
514
00:55:14,618 --> 00:55:20,891
After the first gig I went up to
the lodge which was on the top floor.
515
00:55:20,958 --> 00:55:27,105
I packed the clothes,
and as we were about to leave the porter said:
516
00:55:27,172 --> 00:55:30,484
- We said: "See you!"
- "Where the hell do you think you're going?"
517
00:55:30,551 --> 00:55:34,237
We said our gig was over.
518
00:55:34,304 --> 00:55:38,533
Then they said, "Go up again,
you have four more gigs today."
519
00:55:38,600 --> 00:55:42,955
We said, “Huh? Four gigs?"
520
00:55:43,021 --> 00:55:48,335
We were at the theater from eleven o'clock
in the morning until midnight.
521
00:55:48,402 --> 00:55:53,215
First time Miracles played on
Apollo we were just kids. I was 17.
522
00:55:53,282 --> 00:55:57,844
Schiffman wanted money back
from Barry, but had not paid.
523
00:55:57,911 --> 00:56:02,724
- We couldn't afford to leave the hotel.
- Schiffman, you didn't pay enough.
524
00:56:14,845 --> 00:56:21,785
I remember how poor my family was
1932 and -33.
525
00:56:21,852 --> 00:56:23,912
-34 and -35.
526
00:56:23,979 --> 00:56:29,584
- 36, -37, -38, -39,
- 40, -41, -42, -43.
527
00:56:29,651 --> 00:56:32,546
We were broke. P-A-A-A...
528
00:56:32,613 --> 00:56:38,260
...A-A-A-A-A-A-N-K-A.
529
00:56:38,327 --> 00:56:42,389
Comedians are always needed,
because we say it like it is.
530
00:56:42,456 --> 00:56:49,062
Two cops in Chicago sued me
for kicking and biting them-
531
00:56:49,129 --> 00:56:52,065
- when they were going to throw me
in front of a train.
532
00:56:53,550 --> 00:56:59,031
If someone told me tomorrow that I
going to Apollo, I had shaken.
533
00:56:59,097 --> 00:57:03,619
It's scary.
The overwhelming reaction.
534
00:57:03,685 --> 00:57:10,250
Reaction. The laughter. The theater shakes.
535
00:57:10,317 --> 00:57:16,548
Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx,
Moms Mabley, Pigmeat Markham-
536
00:57:16,615 --> 00:57:22,179
- was groundbreaking,
because they weren't trying to be mainstream.
537
00:57:22,246 --> 00:57:26,683
They were, for lack of a better word, genuine.
538
00:57:26,750 --> 00:57:29,978
If you get caught, you hear
what they think of niggers.
539
00:57:30,045 --> 00:57:32,522
They shoot niggers by mistake all the time.
540
00:57:34,675 --> 00:57:41,573
A nigger can't be shot that much
by mistake. “My weapon fell out…”
541
00:57:41,640 --> 00:57:44,743
"...and shot him six times."
542
00:57:47,020 --> 00:57:49,831
What the hell
are the police doing?
543
00:57:49,898 --> 00:57:55,587
I'm afraid. I'm not going to do it
off with some weapon. Forget it!
544
00:57:55,654 --> 00:57:58,298
A cop stopped me the other day.
545
00:57:58,365 --> 00:58:02,844
He made me believe
that I had stolen my own car.
546
00:58:03,787 --> 00:58:08,225
- "Get out of the car! You've stolen it!"
- "Yes, maybe I have."
547
00:58:08,292 --> 00:58:11,728
"God, I've stolen a car!"
548
00:58:11,795 --> 00:58:13,939
You are black and have to stand up.
549
00:58:14,006 --> 00:58:20,445
So we'll keep joking
based on our struggle.
550
00:58:45,913 --> 00:58:49,600
I think we all
have had such moments.
551
00:58:49,666 --> 00:58:51,810
When you are innocent-
552
00:58:51,877 --> 00:58:58,025
- but things become normalized,
how do you express fear then?
553
00:58:58,091 --> 00:59:01,737
You are born black
with post-traumatic stress.
554
00:59:01,803 --> 00:59:06,325
The first time a police officer targeted
weapon against me I was nine years old.
555
00:59:06,391 --> 00:59:09,953
I wasn't big
like Shaquille O'Neal.
556
00:59:10,020 --> 00:59:12,164
But I got PTSD.
557
00:59:12,231 --> 00:59:16,835
When they slammed the door
for taking my uncle i got PTSD.
558
00:59:16,902 --> 00:59:23,759
Do you understand? We are born into
this world with a disadvantage.
559
00:59:23,825 --> 00:59:30,432
These experiences haunt us,
and we are alone with them.
560
00:59:30,499 --> 00:59:33,185
As a society, we have lived on malice.
561
00:59:34,378 --> 00:59:38,523
But despite the circumstances-
562
00:59:38,590 --> 00:59:43,403
- have we found the joy or humor
or freedom in truth.
563
00:59:52,729 --> 00:59:55,916
"Think of your mother,
who had no father."
564
00:59:55,983 --> 00:59:59,378
"Your grandmother,
who was abandoned by his father."
565
00:59:59,444 --> 01:00:02,130
"Your grandfather, left by his father."
566
01:00:02,197 --> 01:00:05,842
“Prince's daughter who was summoned
in the same gloomy vein"-
567
01:00:05,909 --> 01:00:08,679
- "and deprived of his birthright."
568
01:00:08,745 --> 01:00:14,017
"The vessel that was her father,
filled to the brim with 25 years of love."
569
01:00:14,084 --> 01:00:20,983
“I was gripped by fear just as deeply rooted
like our American family tree."
570
01:00:21,049 --> 01:00:26,738
I think our goal is
an explosion. Then comes the fog-
571
01:00:26,805 --> 01:00:28,907
-which we are trying to get through.
572
01:00:28,974 --> 01:00:33,787
We move back and forth in time.
Eric Garner, Tray...
573
01:00:33,854 --> 01:00:39,793
Such headlines again and again...
It should feel like broken glass.
574
01:01:13,227 --> 01:01:19,499
July 17, 1964: Black youth
killed by police; student riots
575
01:01:19,566 --> 01:01:25,464
The man thought he could kill
him. He is a police inspector.
576
01:01:26,615 --> 01:01:30,927
Even if the guy was guilty
should he not shoot him.
577
01:01:31,870 --> 01:01:37,768
He is outstanding. He has received
honorable mentions 20 times.
578
01:01:37,835 --> 01:01:41,813
I would believe
that the police had no choice.
579
01:01:45,509 --> 01:01:48,445
That guy, James Powell-
580
01:01:48,512 --> 01:01:53,742
- who was shot down in cold blood
the other day, was murdered.
581
01:01:53,809 --> 01:01:56,453
He was my son and your son-
582
01:01:56,520 --> 01:02:00,624
- and all of America's blacks
mother's and father's son.
583
01:02:01,692 --> 01:02:06,046
We must demand, my brothers-
584
01:02:06,113 --> 01:02:13,178
- that Police Inspector Gilligan
gets suspended and arrested for murder.
585
01:02:13,245 --> 01:02:15,639
And that at once!
586
01:02:18,709 --> 01:02:20,477
WANTED FOR MURDER
587
01:02:27,301 --> 01:02:33,240
In 1964, when the riots began,
we made a sign.
588
01:02:33,307 --> 01:02:39,705
A black man had a shop nearby,
which you went down to.
589
01:02:39,771 --> 01:02:43,500
We said, “Set up
that a black man owns the store."
590
01:02:43,567 --> 01:02:49,047
“Because these are coming
to set Harlem on fire."
591
01:02:49,114 --> 01:02:51,425
"Fire, fire, fire."
592
01:02:53,827 --> 01:02:57,097
Shops were destroyed,
windows were smashed.
593
01:02:57,164 --> 01:03:03,645
In the midst of all the chaos
were the people who protected Apollo.
594
01:03:03,712 --> 01:03:06,023
Not a single window was broken.
595
01:03:19,311 --> 01:03:23,332
The riots in Harlem are surprising
not anyone.
596
01:03:23,398 --> 01:03:28,962
Our people fall victim
and treated brutally by the police.
597
01:03:29,029 --> 01:03:35,469
I am surprised that the outbreak between
races don't get more derailed than this.
598
01:03:35,536 --> 01:03:39,848
It doesn't matter
about the ability of the New York police-
599
01:03:39,915 --> 01:03:43,185
-to stop the negroes in Harlem.
600
01:03:43,252 --> 01:03:46,563
It's about the ability
at Harlem's Negroes-
601
01:03:46,630 --> 01:03:53,946
- to show mastery
during a time of brutality.
602
01:03:54,012 --> 01:04:00,243
It is not an American dream. We have
experienced the American nightmare.
603
01:04:02,604 --> 01:04:08,502
We do not benefit from America's democracy.
We must endure America's hypocrisy.
604
01:04:09,444 --> 01:04:14,216
The generation growing up now sees it
and don't be afraid to say it.
605
01:04:14,283 --> 01:04:18,011
"Never mind if we get caught.
We were born imprisoned.”
606
01:04:18,078 --> 01:04:21,723
As a black person, you are born imprisoned.
607
01:04:21,790 --> 01:04:25,310
- Denzel was good.
- I thought it was him.
608
01:04:25,377 --> 01:04:31,233
- We need a new Malcolm now.
- This is the new Malcolm.
609
01:04:31,300 --> 01:04:35,445
To teach young people in a way
which they understand is radical.
610
01:04:35,512 --> 01:04:38,949
- You have to read it.
- Yes, but it's a start.
611
01:04:39,016 --> 01:04:44,204
I don't say
that books are not real, but…
612
01:04:44,271 --> 01:04:46,206
Something is happening inside.
613
01:04:46,273 --> 01:04:49,751
“Prince was on his way
to meet his fiancée."
614
01:04:49,818 --> 01:04:52,879
“He was killed
a few meters from her house."
615
01:04:52,946 --> 01:04:58,093
“The only witness to Prince Jones
dead was the man who shot him."
616
01:04:58,160 --> 01:05:04,725
“He was not charged with anything.
He was not punished."
617
01:05:04,791 --> 01:05:07,394
"He got to keep working."
618
01:05:20,933 --> 01:05:28,332
Malcolm X shot dead
at mass meeting
619
01:05:33,487 --> 01:05:38,258
Hold your hands up. Go now. This way.
620
01:05:55,425 --> 01:05:59,988
Dr. King assassinated by assassins
621
01:06:00,055 --> 01:06:05,243
Riots break out in several cities
622
01:06:17,573 --> 01:06:24,262
I take offense to the people
that overlooks the city, overlooks Harlem.
623
01:06:24,329 --> 01:06:26,890
My fight has only just begun.
624
01:06:27,833 --> 01:06:34,439
My fight now is to blacken the US
shall become American.
625
01:06:34,506 --> 01:06:40,153
Say it louder
626
01:06:40,220 --> 01:06:42,572
I'm black and proud
627
01:06:42,639 --> 01:06:44,491
Say it louder
628
01:06:44,558 --> 01:06:46,660
I'm black and proud
629
01:06:48,562 --> 01:06:54,835
We had had enough.
That really hit the spot.
630
01:06:54,902 --> 01:06:58,547
Black power means black dignity.
631
01:06:59,489 --> 01:07:03,343
Like whites are proud
are we proud to be black.
632
01:07:03,410 --> 01:07:07,639
Black is beautiful, baby.
It's neat.
633
01:07:07,706 --> 01:07:11,643
Hello, you white man.
634
01:07:11,710 --> 01:07:16,023
Look at me and see me.
635
01:07:16,089 --> 01:07:22,946
I'll make you see me,
because black is beautiful, baby.
636
01:07:23,013 --> 01:07:26,283
I am your teacher. You are a nigger.
637
01:07:26,350 --> 01:07:27,826
- No.
- What are you?
638
01:07:27,893 --> 01:07:30,287
- Black and beautiful.
- Nationality?
639
01:07:30,354 --> 01:07:34,249
My nationality is African American.
640
01:07:35,192 --> 01:07:39,713
It was at the Apollo
as James Brown took the stage-
641
01:07:39,780 --> 01:07:45,469
- and chanted "I'm black and
proud". It wasn't just a gig.
642
01:07:45,536 --> 01:07:49,806
It was a chance
to have a dialogue about what happened-
643
01:07:49,873 --> 01:07:55,020
- and how we continuously
needed to celebrate our identity.
644
01:07:55,087 --> 01:07:57,856
- Louder
- I am black and proud
645
01:07:58,799 --> 01:08:03,528
James Brown encapsulated it all
which the black United States sought at the time.
646
01:08:04,680 --> 01:08:09,368
He skipped his styled hairstyle
and got an afro haircut.
647
01:08:10,310 --> 01:08:13,038
I remember how I 1968-
648
01:08:13,105 --> 01:08:18,752
- said to my parents:
"I want natural hair."
649
01:08:18,819 --> 01:08:21,296
One had to discuss it-
650
01:08:21,363 --> 01:08:26,677
- because it was considered to be
radical and militant
651
01:08:26,743 --> 01:08:29,554
-even in the black community.
652
01:08:29,621 --> 01:08:34,601
Did you hear what I said?
that I should preach to? Black power!
653
01:08:35,544 --> 01:08:37,396
VOTE FOR CHISHOLM
NOT PURCHASED
654
01:08:39,882 --> 01:08:43,318
I stand here today-
655
01:08:43,385 --> 01:08:49,116
- as the Democrats' presidential candidate
in the United States.
656
01:08:51,768 --> 01:08:55,455
Black woman poses
as a presidential candidate
657
01:08:55,522 --> 01:09:02,212
I am not the candidate of the blacks,
even though I'm black and proud.
658
01:09:18,587 --> 01:09:25,444
If you fight to gain access
to things - and you get access...
659
01:09:25,511 --> 01:09:31,783
What Happens to "Black Institutions"
when more places become available?
660
01:09:31,850 --> 01:09:33,619
Yes, they expire.
661
01:09:33,685 --> 01:09:39,249
So did the neighborhoods
where these institutions were located.
662
01:09:49,243 --> 01:09:53,555
Streamlined economy
had moved to the suburbs.
663
01:09:53,622 --> 01:09:58,810
The only thing left
where to get ahead.
664
01:10:03,215 --> 01:10:09,947
The state of the nation is not good.
Millions of Americans are unemployed.
665
01:10:10,013 --> 01:10:14,284
Recession
affecting millions more.
666
01:10:14,351 --> 01:10:17,704
The prices are too high
and demand poor.
667
01:10:22,734 --> 01:10:28,340
I can tell you what happened.
Apollo had 1,683 seats.
668
01:10:28,407 --> 01:10:31,843
Felt Forum had 4,600 seats.
669
01:10:31,910 --> 01:10:37,474
With 1,683 seats
you don't survive.
670
01:10:37,541 --> 01:10:40,352
The industry has become too big.
671
01:11:01,982 --> 01:11:06,712
The first time Gladys Knight performed
I paid $800-
672
01:11:06,778 --> 01:11:11,008
- because she and The Pips
would play 31 gigs.
673
01:11:11,074 --> 01:11:17,681
Last time she performed, paid
I $80,000 for 16 gigs.
674
01:11:35,349 --> 01:11:39,161
So it happened
if we were to play that many gigs.
675
01:11:39,228 --> 01:11:41,496
Someone made money from it.
676
01:11:50,030 --> 01:11:55,302
My colleague, Walter Brecker,
managed the finances.
677
01:11:55,369 --> 01:12:00,432
He said, “Bobby, we're in trouble
to make ends meet financially."
678
01:12:00,499 --> 01:12:05,812
Harlem is struggling
in order not to the economic curtain-
679
01:12:05,879 --> 01:12:11,109
-will fall at the Apollo Theater
680
01:12:11,176 --> 01:12:16,365
Apollo made our people proud.
681
01:12:16,431 --> 01:12:22,162
But without Apollo would not
African American communities have somewhere-
682
01:12:22,229 --> 01:12:26,291
- to express
their artistic visions.
683
01:12:26,358 --> 01:12:32,047
We can't let them drown
as if we were not here.
684
01:12:36,034 --> 01:12:40,889
Will it survive?
685
01:12:46,628 --> 01:12:53,777
Business went badly
and Apollo went bankrupt.
686
01:13:02,394 --> 01:13:04,204
And they struck again.
687
01:13:04,271 --> 01:13:05,789
The theater in bankruptcy
688
01:13:10,652 --> 01:13:17,926
APOLLO
END
689
01:13:24,541 --> 01:13:29,646
Percy Sutton,
a famous leader in Harlem-
690
01:13:29,713 --> 01:13:34,943
- had been a civil rights lawyer
and representing Malcolm X.
691
01:13:35,010 --> 01:13:39,489
He acquired Apollo
after the bankruptcy.
692
01:13:41,558 --> 01:13:43,869
Apollo had been deserted for a while.
693
01:13:43,936 --> 01:13:49,666
But grandfather wanted to
to buy the Apollo Theater.
694
01:13:51,026 --> 01:13:54,171
He saw Apollo as a landmark-
695
01:13:54,238 --> 01:13:58,884
- which could give new life force
at 125th Street.
696
01:14:00,619 --> 01:14:05,933
Percy Sutton called me up
in his office. He had an idea.
697
01:14:05,999 --> 01:14:11,063
He wanted to renovate and open the Apollo
Theater again together with me.
698
01:14:25,811 --> 01:14:29,289
- What do you buy tickets for?
- Tito Puente.
699
01:14:29,356 --> 01:14:34,336
He buys them from the temporary
the ticket window at the Apollo Theater.
700
01:14:34,403 --> 01:14:37,923
Soon we will have the new ticket window.
701
01:14:42,828 --> 01:14:45,847
INAUGURATION OF THE NEW APOLLO
702
01:14:49,626 --> 01:14:55,148
I remember when they reopened
and how it looked.
703
01:14:55,215 --> 01:14:58,193
It meant a lot to all of us.
704
01:14:58,260 --> 01:15:03,699
“We've got Apollo back!
Check out how it looks now.”
705
01:15:05,767 --> 01:15:08,412
You could feel the atmosphere in the street.
706
01:15:09,771 --> 01:15:12,582
We were glad it was back.
707
01:15:21,325 --> 01:15:28,640
The building could not have been demolished,
for Harlem is Apollo-
708
01:15:28,707 --> 01:15:32,603
-and Apollo is Harlem.
709
01:15:37,090 --> 01:15:38,567
Apollo is back
710
01:16:00,239 --> 01:16:04,259
The reopening was a magical evening.
711
01:16:04,326 --> 01:16:09,389
Harlem was glad of it. Everyone went there.
712
01:16:09,456 --> 01:16:14,895
We are so excited to see
that joy is back in Harlem.
713
01:16:15,838 --> 01:16:18,815
I had seen how it was renovated-
714
01:16:18,882 --> 01:16:22,819
- and saw the big chandelier
in the middle of the hall-
715
01:16:22,886 --> 01:16:26,281
- is hung up again.
716
01:16:26,348 --> 01:16:30,535
To be there at the opening
was wonderful.
717
01:16:31,478 --> 01:16:34,206
You will see a little of this.
718
01:17:22,905 --> 01:17:26,591
Showtime at Apollo!
719
01:17:26,658 --> 01:17:29,553
Tonight we hear the latest music!
720
01:17:29,620 --> 01:17:33,390
Percy Sutton proposed a show-
721
01:17:33,457 --> 01:17:38,103
- as a way to put spotlights-
light on RandB, hip-hop and rap.
722
01:17:51,558 --> 01:17:56,663
Many had heard of Apollo,
now they got to see it too.
723
01:17:56,730 --> 01:18:01,752
Rap and hip hop
didn't you see on "The Tonight Show".
724
01:18:05,989 --> 01:18:12,054
Seeing Apollo felt religious. That
made people feel "that could be you."
725
01:18:22,214 --> 01:18:24,650
Without hip-hop, I wouldn't have written.
726
01:18:24,716 --> 01:18:30,030
They were the first to show me that
words are beautiful. I could feel them.
727
01:18:30,097 --> 01:18:35,535
I could imagine them.
They played with words.
728
01:18:35,602 --> 01:18:37,788
Then there's the beat. The drums.
729
01:18:37,855 --> 01:18:42,292
Hip-hop speaks to something deep
within one. Cultural and inherited.
730
01:18:49,032 --> 01:18:53,053
Hip hop brought forth our expression
and our cultural
731
01:18:53,120 --> 01:18:58,725
-and all that is us, to the world.
732
01:19:01,336 --> 01:19:07,943
At school we had duels.
I could start with…
733
01:19:08,927 --> 01:19:12,656
I had different sounds. I could...
734
01:19:15,434 --> 01:19:18,412
Then I added something else.
735
01:19:36,371 --> 01:19:42,102
A thing like the hip hop revolution
provided the music industry with
736
01:19:42,169 --> 01:19:47,190
- was that we started having
young black men and women-
737
01:19:47,257 --> 01:19:53,322
- who questioned the power structures in
USA in a direct and explicit way.
738
01:20:01,563 --> 01:20:05,584
Every week there were packed shows.
739
01:20:05,651 --> 01:20:12,674
But it just went around. The big thing
the problem is the 1,500 seats.
740
01:20:12,741 --> 01:20:17,471
It is not enough.
In the end it just became burdensome.
741
01:20:20,374 --> 01:20:25,812
I have gone 2 million dollars in
loss per year since I bought Apollo.
742
01:20:31,468 --> 01:20:35,405
Mr. Sutton told
how tough it was.
743
01:20:35,472 --> 01:20:41,078
The business model didn't work for
a commercial establishment.
744
01:20:41,144 --> 01:20:46,249
From a business point of view
was not feasible.
745
01:20:47,192 --> 01:20:52,089
Then he settled with the state,
who took over.
746
01:20:52,155 --> 01:20:55,550
That was then
as the Apollo Theater Foundation-
747
01:20:55,617 --> 01:21:01,848
- a non-profit organization, was founded,
for it to be sustainable.
748
01:21:02,791 --> 01:21:07,354
After that we had a more stable one
financial basis to stand on.
749
01:21:07,421 --> 01:21:14,194
A rightful force
for culture and music in New York City.
750
01:21:44,583 --> 01:21:46,727
When you think about the music…
751
01:21:46,793 --> 01:21:50,522
The songs we sing in private
are so beautiful-
752
01:21:50,589 --> 01:21:54,318
-and speaks to something so human.
753
01:21:54,384 --> 01:22:00,198
Even those who want to push down
one can't help but sing along.
754
01:22:02,768 --> 01:22:05,912
WE CELEBRATE THE APOLLO LEGEND
ARETHA FRANKLIN 1942-2018
755
01:22:44,476 --> 01:22:50,040
When one of our icons has died,
so people come to Apollo-
756
01:22:50,107 --> 01:22:52,626
-because then you meet others-
757
01:22:52,693 --> 01:22:59,800
- who also mourns someone
which was important to our community.
758
01:23:02,327 --> 01:23:04,179
HE CHANGED OUR WORLD
759
01:23:04,246 --> 01:23:09,977
It also depends a lot on the screen ceiling.
To stand under it.
760
01:23:10,919 --> 01:23:18,026
When you know that those people have
been here, you share some history.
761
01:23:18,093 --> 01:23:21,571
REST IN PEACE THE APOLLO LEGEND
THE GODFATHER OF THE SOUL
762
01:23:36,570 --> 01:23:41,550
James Brown performed on the Apollo stage
more than 200 times.
763
01:23:43,076 --> 01:23:50,434
The queues wound around the corner
and along 125th Street.
764
01:23:50,501 --> 01:23:52,519
It really was his home.
765
01:24:03,388 --> 01:24:04,906
It was James Brown-
766
01:24:04,973 --> 01:24:11,413
- who with a single song erased the word
"negro" out of our vocabulary forever.
767
01:24:11,480 --> 01:24:16,460
He made us say it out loud:
We are black and proud.
768
01:24:17,611 --> 01:24:21,298
He created something out of nothing.
Open the chest!
769
01:24:21,365 --> 01:24:28,639
Let the world see him!
The Godfather James Brown.
770
01:24:36,588 --> 01:24:40,150
People know
that Apollo is their refuge.
771
01:24:40,217 --> 01:24:45,113
It is their sanctuary.
It is their gathering place.
772
01:24:50,686 --> 01:24:53,288
For many, this is a church.
773
01:24:53,355 --> 01:24:58,251
It is a place
where people's dreams come true.
774
01:24:58,318 --> 01:25:02,297
They seek hope and aspiration.
775
01:25:09,496 --> 01:25:15,894
Harlem, it's an honor to present
the first sitting president-
776
01:25:15,961 --> 01:25:22,526
- to give a speech at the Apollo Theater.
Welcome Barack Obama to Harlem!
777
01:25:22,593 --> 01:25:26,613
President of the United States!
778
01:25:38,025 --> 01:25:40,168
Hello, Harlem!
779
01:25:42,988 --> 01:25:45,716
Wonderful to be here tonight!
780
01:25:47,409 --> 01:25:50,137
I...
781
01:25:52,414 --> 01:25:56,518
...is so in love with you
782
01:26:00,172 --> 01:26:02,441
As a good speaker-
783
01:26:02,508 --> 01:26:07,654
- he knew that one immediately
connect through music.
784
01:26:09,014 --> 01:26:11,825
Sandman didn't drive me away.
785
01:26:13,393 --> 01:26:15,704
Don't worry.
786
01:26:15,771 --> 01:26:21,501
I can't sing like you. Me
just wanted to show my appreciation.
787
01:26:21,568 --> 01:26:26,340
Everyone who was there
fell in love with him.
788
01:26:26,406 --> 01:26:31,094
It was a beautiful way of saying:
789
01:26:31,161 --> 01:26:33,972
"I am one of you."
790
01:26:35,290 --> 01:26:40,687
When you step out of the scenes
and grabs the microphone-
791
01:26:40,754 --> 01:26:45,484
- have you stood
at the place of music...
792
01:26:45,551 --> 01:26:52,407
...jokes, costumes, singers...
793
01:26:52,474 --> 01:26:56,495
Then you have stood
in their place and that of their spirits.
794
01:26:56,562 --> 01:27:00,123
Their souls are in that floor.
795
01:27:09,241 --> 01:27:12,427
I want to take the chance to say Ase.
796
01:27:12,494 --> 01:27:17,057
- Ace.
- Thank you. Amen.
797
01:27:17,124 --> 01:27:20,477
- To have that moment.
- Ta-Nehisi?
798
01:27:20,544 --> 01:27:24,940
I just want to say
that Prince was killed 18 years ago.
799
01:27:25,007 --> 01:27:30,279
He was murdered
before there were mobile cameras.
800
01:27:30,345 --> 01:27:35,033
It happened regularly,
and the people were forgotten.
801
01:27:35,100 --> 01:27:41,999
Kam and Greg knew Prince. He
is not forgotten, and that is so important.
802
01:27:42,065 --> 01:27:44,459
Thank you, everyone.
803
01:27:44,526 --> 01:27:46,378
BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME
804
01:27:46,445 --> 01:27:48,130
Welcome here tonight-
805
01:27:48,197 --> 01:27:55,178
- to the premiere of "Between the world
and me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
806
01:27:58,248 --> 01:28:02,144
Thank you, and welcome
to "Between the World and Me".
807
01:28:05,797 --> 01:28:11,528
“I thought about how southern Manhattan
had always been our Ground Zero."
808
01:28:11,595 --> 01:28:14,197
"There they auctioned our bodies."
809
01:28:14,264 --> 01:28:20,537
"In the same devastated,
aptly named financial district."
810
01:28:20,604 --> 01:28:24,041
“Once a burial ground
for auctioned off."
811
01:28:24,107 --> 01:28:26,627
"They built a department store over it."
812
01:28:31,907 --> 01:28:34,343
"I kept it in my head."
813
01:28:36,245 --> 01:28:38,472
"So do you."
814
01:28:39,456 --> 01:28:43,185
“Damn it
with everyone telling us"-
815
01:28:43,252 --> 01:28:47,397
- "to be twice as good
and then shoot us anyway."
816
01:28:58,725 --> 01:29:02,287
“Samori, I am speaking to you
as I always did."
817
01:29:02,354 --> 01:29:08,335
“Like the sober, serious man who
I always wanted you to be."
818
01:29:08,402 --> 01:29:11,421
“Which doesn't apologize
for their feelings."
819
01:29:11,488 --> 01:29:14,466
“Which doesn't apologize
for its length"-
820
01:29:14,533 --> 01:29:19,763
- "his long arms,
her beautiful smile."
821
01:29:20,914 --> 01:29:23,558
"You're starting to gain consciousness."
822
01:29:23,625 --> 01:29:29,648
“My wish is that you never feel
that you have to restrain yourself"-
823
01:29:29,715 --> 01:29:32,943
- "to get others
to feel safe."
824
01:29:37,264 --> 01:29:41,493
“I never wanted to
that you would be twice as good."
825
01:29:42,811 --> 01:29:47,958
“I've always wanted to
that you attack every day"-
826
01:29:48,025 --> 01:29:54,506
- "of your short, bright life in battle."
827
01:30:07,836 --> 01:30:13,317
Apollo has for me
always represented the truth.
828
01:30:13,383 --> 01:30:17,571
When artists went up
on stage-
829
01:30:17,638 --> 01:30:21,241
- you had to take spirit and soul
with him up.
830
01:30:21,308 --> 01:30:24,786
All one's talent, all one's authenticity.
831
01:30:24,853 --> 01:30:31,543
This is happening in the world right now,
and we must pay attention to it.
832
01:30:31,610 --> 01:30:35,964
We have to prepare for it
and we must fight.
833
01:31:09,356 --> 01:31:14,419
Trayvon never gets old
Black children robbed of their childhood
834
01:31:14,486 --> 01:31:16,505
One more time
835
01:31:16,572 --> 01:31:19,633
Are you in? Are you in?
836
01:31:19,700 --> 01:31:24,805
Stephon Clark never gets old
Black children robbed of their childhood
837
01:31:24,872 --> 01:31:29,434
Ordered by name and language
Who Stole Black's Soul?
838
01:31:29,501 --> 01:31:34,189
The same man who stole the chief
Blacksmoke's land and whipped us
839
01:31:34,256 --> 01:31:37,734
We had to go in the back way
and we were drawn
840
01:31:37,801 --> 01:31:41,863
I wish the hate would stop
War and battle with us
841
01:31:41,930 --> 01:31:46,493
Black Lives Matter
We must discuss this
842
01:31:46,560 --> 01:31:49,663
A new plantation
Mass arresting
843
01:31:49,730 --> 01:31:53,834
I inherited the hatred from them
But I'm not pointing fingers at anyone
844
01:31:53,901 --> 01:31:57,587
Singers have received the final anointing
Nina, Marvin, Billie, Stevie
845
01:31:57,654 --> 01:32:01,049
Must hear the songs
Who freed me?
846
01:32:01,116 --> 01:32:05,470
Lincoln or Cadillac?
Alcohol or rap duel?
847
01:32:05,537 --> 01:32:10,017
Endangered in our own environment
Guns and drugs, take them
848
01:32:10,083 --> 01:32:12,936
We are from a family of fighters
849
01:32:13,003 --> 01:32:18,984
Fought in your wars and our wars, if you
brings more than one nigger to Star Wars
850
01:32:19,051 --> 01:32:23,322
Then we might believe you
See black in the future
851
01:32:23,388 --> 01:32:28,285
We were not shipped here
to rob and shoot you
852
01:32:28,352 --> 01:32:32,039
Men and women are born equal
including black Americans
853
01:33:15,566 --> 01:33:17,209
My son...
854
01:33:18,402 --> 01:33:22,297
"I'm thinking back to the reunion."
855
01:33:22,364 --> 01:33:26,843
“I think of the warm wind
that billowed over us."
856
01:33:27,786 --> 01:33:30,430
"We were at the football game."
857
01:33:30,497 --> 01:33:34,184
“We were sitting in the stands
with old friends and their children."
858
01:33:34,251 --> 01:33:37,437
“Neither did we care
about tackles and points."
859
01:33:39,131 --> 01:33:44,778
“It was a moment — a happy one
moment - out of the dream."
860
01:33:44,845 --> 01:33:50,450
“It was imbued with the power that
is more beautiful than any suffrage act."
861
01:33:50,517 --> 01:33:54,288
"The Force, The Black Force"-
862
01:33:54,354 --> 01:33:57,457
- "from a perspective
on the American galaxy"-
863
01:33:57,524 --> 01:34:02,045
- "seen from
a dark and indispensable planet."
864
01:34:02,112 --> 01:34:06,591
“The Black Power
is the perspective from the dungeon"-
865
01:34:06,658 --> 01:34:11,555
- "that is to say
a perspective born of struggle."
866
01:34:11,622 --> 01:34:14,766
“And the black power
gives birth to an insight"-
867
01:34:14,833 --> 01:34:18,437
- "which illuminates the galaxies
in their truest colors."
868
01:34:18,504 --> 01:34:20,814
"Even the dreams feel it."
869
01:34:20,881 --> 01:34:24,192
“It's Billie they're playing
when they are sad."
870
01:34:24,259 --> 01:34:28,655
“And Mobb Deep
when they're feeling bold."
871
01:34:28,722 --> 01:34:31,533
"Isley they hum when they're in love."
872
01:34:31,600 --> 01:34:34,870
"Dre they scream along to."
when they party."
873
01:34:34,937 --> 01:34:38,874
“And Aretha the last thing they hear
before they die."
874
01:34:42,945 --> 01:34:46,173
"We've created something down here."
875
01:34:46,240 --> 01:34:52,012
"We have taken the one-drop of dreams
rule and turned it upside down."
876
01:34:52,079 --> 01:34:59,227
"They made us a race,
we made ourselves a people."
877
01:36:01,940 --> 01:36:05,168
85 YEARS LATER, APOLLO CONTINUES
BRING NEW TALENT-
878
01:36:05,235 --> 01:36:09,423
- AND BE A HOME
FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS.
879
01:36:09,489 --> 01:36:14,928
THE AMATEUR NIGHT AT APOLLO IS THE MOST
THE WORLD'S LONGEST TALENT HUNT.
880
01:36:14,995 --> 01:36:16,722
Come, come!
881
01:36:16,788 --> 01:36:20,976
Here's to 30 years of autographs
of stars who appeared here.
882
01:36:21,043 --> 01:36:25,772
We got Snoop Dogg,
John Legend, Beyoncé.
883
01:36:25,839 --> 01:36:30,402
There we have Prince, Whoopi Goldberg,
Stevie Wonder.
884
01:36:30,469 --> 01:36:36,325
And here we have Barack Obama
and Michelle Obama.
885
01:36:40,521 --> 01:36:44,791
Text: Helena Lindén
www.sdimedia.com