Black Like Me

Ma'am?

What you looking like that at me for?

Excuse me. I'm sorry. I meant no harm.

They get sassier every day.

You give them an inch and they take miles.

Don't you know better, man, than to show them manners.

They is more comfortable standing.

5-minute stop.

Hey, boy, where you going?

Hey, you boy! I'm talking to you!

- Where do you think you're going? - Restroom.

- What stop are you getting off at? - Birmingham.

Then you can get back in your seat and don't you move till we get there.

I can't be bothered rounding all you people up when we get ready to go.

Some of them got off.

Are you arguing with me?

There ain't no call for him to act like that.

They usually lets us off here.

Did you hear me call you?

No, sir, I sure didn't.

- You deaf? - No, sir, I ain't deaf.

You mean to stand there and tell me you didn't hear me call you?

No, sir. Were you calling me?

I heard you calling "boy",

but I didn't think you were calling me.

Hey, you.

I thought I told you to get back to -

I'm getting off here.

Say, excuse me, could you tell me where I could find a room?

You know anybody here?

Not a soul. I'm just hitchhiking through town.

- Oh, a stranger. - Yeah.

Well, that's bad.

In this town you just can't go out and get a room just like that.

What about a hotel or a Y?

This is a mean place. I got a married sister I stay with.

I'd ask you along, only she's got 6 kids and no room at all.

- I'm Bill Mason. - John Horton's my name.

Look, Mr Mason, all I want to do is a rent a room.

Oh, you ever been in this state before?

- No, I haven't. - Oh, that's bad again.

You see, you...

You got to watch yourself pretty close, until you catch on.

They claim this is the most lied-about state in the union, and that's a fact!

Only it's them right here that does all the lying!

Well, I'm from Texas.

Oh, now that's a million to one, Texas and this place.

I'd better take care of you.

See, there's been some trouble here.

Now, let me see, where can I put you?

Well, I know, let's go to Doc Collins'.

He'll find you a place.

Well, I don't want to cause you any trouble.

Oh, this is one place you don't want to be found walking alone.

Plenty of people in this town, white and colored,

knock you in the head if they think you got any money on you.

- Don't do that. - What?

In this town you can't even look at a picture of a white woman.

Somebody will sure say,

"Hey, boy, who do you think you are, looking at a white gal like that?"

Then wham, you in a mess of trouble.

I surely appreciate your putting me wise.

Well, any time I get over to your county you do the same for me.

I sure will.

- Have you eaten? - No.

We can get a bite at Doc Collins'.

Oh, fine.

Well, now you seen them.

That's still going strong, eh?

Yeah, nearly caught us out there.

Evening, all.

- Evening, Mrs Hodges. - Good evening, Mr Mason.

This is Mr Horton from Texas.

- Oh? - How do you do? Nice to know you.

Doc Collins thought maybe you could put him up for the night,

being that he's a stranger in town.

Fine. Welcome.

Been trouble ever since we started signing up to vote.

The other night they caught a young boy out there alone,

beat him up and was gone before he knew what happened.

Uh, I guess I can put you up.

It'll cost you $2.75 a night, all right?

That's all right.

Thank you.

Well, take care, Mr Horton.

Yes. See you around.

Thank you, Mr Mason. Thanks for your trouble.

- Sure thing. - I'll see you to your room.

- Good night, ladies. - Good night.

I'll get you some water.

Thank you.

You're perfectly safe here.

We got us a rifle club.

Practise every Sunday.

They know about it, too.

I say, let them play around all they want,

if they stay away from me.

I guess I'm not used to this kind of thing.

You'll get a good sound sleep here.

They know better to mess around with this black man.

Good night.

Good night.

Well?

It's a crazy idea.

It's a hell of a crazy idea.

I thought you'd see it my way.

But it's out of the question.

I want to do a series of articles, diary fashion.

They way I did on the school integration in Shelby.

I've got to do it, Eli.

I was perfect for black and tan.

Will you carry?

- Nope. - But it's timely.

This whole situation's exploding right in our faces.

You go through with this damn fool thing

and your little old hometown of Shelby, Texas,

is going to explode right in your face.

Fairfax, bring us a couple of bourbons.

Johnny, just because you got away with it once.

This is different. This is different.

That was an assignment. I was neutral, a reporter.

But this has got me hooked personally.

I got to live it from the inside.

You lost a lot of friends then.

This time they're going to go after your wife, your mother, your kids.

Your neighbors won't know you. Your name will be mud.

You can't get away with it twice, Johnny.

I don't expect to "get away" with anything.

Weren't you the man, the first man in this state,

to run a magazine with a Negro staff?

I'm an eccentric millionaire.

A character.

It's a scoop, but it's much too dangerous.

You've got to forget it.

You'd be in the worst kind of neighborhoods,

fist fights... knifings.

- I ain't even worried about that. - Oh, thank you, friend.

It's those rednecks that bother me. I know that ignorant bunch.

They catch you just once in that disguise and...

Well, it looks as though I'm going to have to get somebody else

to run these articles.

You ain't going to forget this, are you?

I figured you wouldn't. You know you're a damn fool.

I know.

It'll make a great story. When do you start?

You'll get the first installment in a couple of months.

I plan to start right away.

- Johnny, will you do me one favor? - Yeah.

Don't get yourself killed.

I'll do my best.

Why can't you stay home and write?

I feel as though my whole life has led up to this,

growing up here in Texas.

You know what that means, Lucy.

Things never mentioned, but always there.

That deep undercurrent always there.

And then France and studying there, and a whole new world opening up.

Then the war, seeing the Nazis in action.

Seeing the ultimate consequences of hatred.

Then being blinded, changing worlds again.

Lucy, I've got to do this.

Please try and understand.

It frightens me.

These things that other people do,

at least they have each other.

My way is not the way of others.

How will I know you're safe?

I'll write to you and I'll phone.

There's nothing to worry about.

I guess I can handle it.

This coffee stinks!

Damn punk niggers!

Look at you all! You don't know how to act!

You don't know how to dress!

You don't deserve any better!

"Mein kampf."

- Do you speak German? - No.

No!

You're ignorant!

You make me sick.

You!

You know where Juarez is?

Not really.

Juarez, is it in old Mexico or New Mexico?

- Hmm? - Old Mexico.

- I've been there many times. - Don't lie to Christophe.

Christophe's got brains.

You never have been to Juarez.

Sit down, man! Sit down!

I'm glad you hit him.

I'd have to take his part.

Are you threatening me?

Look here, why don't you two just agree not to talk, huh?

He don't say another word to me, you promise?

He won't.

Will you?

- I guess not. - Don't speak!

- Don't speak! - All right.

Ok.

You don't dig the blues, do you, daddy?