Respect

- -

Ree?

Ree?

Wake up, baby.

They wanna hear you sing.

You wanna sing?

Yes, please.

All right.

[indistinct chatter and laughter]

Clarence, Ella's looking for you.

Wait here, Ree.

-I'll be right back. -Okay.

They butchered my essay.

Took all the politics out.

Can you believe that?

Communism is absolutely for the Negro.

How else are we gonna have everything we ever wanted?

Now, how does a man with one eye

play like he has four hands?

You been practicing?

Yes, Mr. Tatum.

She could hit three octaves easy.

You know, you the finest looking cat here, right?

Nigga, I know that.

What else you got?

Hey, Ree.

Hey, Uncle Sam.

No more segregated clubs for me.

I'm not walking through no one's kitchen

to get to the stage.

I said to them, "I'm so happy to be performing in England,

but just remember

there's only one Heaven, one Earth,

and one queen.

Me. Dinah Washington."

"That Elizabeth on y'alls throne is an imposter."

-You didn't. -Oh, yes, I did.

-And I made 'em bow before me. -

Well, look out, y'all.

The entertainer is here.

Hi.

He said he wanted a race novel.

Sure, he desegregated the army.

But he didn't do a damn thing after that.

-Hi, Aunt Ella. Uncle Duke. -Hey.

You ready, Ree? Come on.

Excuse me? Everyone.

Everyone.

For those of you visiting my home for the first time,

this is my daughter, Aretha.

She'd like to sing a little something for you.

What would you like to sing, Ree?

How old is she?

She's 10,

but her voice's going on 30, honey.

Aretha would like to perform

My Baby Likes to Bebop.

Damn!

I was gonna record that on my next album.

Can we do a duet?

Sing, baby!

Back to bed with you.

Those white folks don't know what to do with her.

Sock it to 'em, Clara!

Yeah, Grandma!

Sock it to 'em! Sock it to 'em!

Momma's here!

- Momma! -

God! Babe, I missed you so much.

Hi! Momma!

Mommy!

My babies!

My precious!

Come on, let's go! Let's go!

-Let's go! - Bye, Grandma!

Come on, baby!

Let's go in the car!

Sing another one, Momma!

Oh, Ree, that's the third song now.

Please?

No, I want to talk.

- Please? -Oh, God.

Oh, all right.

What if I sing-talk, hmm?

You still singing at the Saturday night parties?

Yeah.

Mmm. Don't say "yeah".

"Yeah" is common. Say "yes".

Yes.

You enjoy it?

-Yeah. Yes. -Uh-uh.

Look at me, Ree.

If you ever don't want to sing, don't.

I love singing.

No, I know. I know.

Your daddy doesn't own your voice, Ree.

Nobody does but God.

And you don't ever have to fear any man.

You understand?

You are so worthy, Ree.

Don't you ever let anybody tell you otherwise.

Yes, Momma.

Oh, Ree, don't cry.

Come on, I'll see you for your birthday.

Three weeks is a long time.

I know, but I am always with you.

Even when I'm not there.

Okay?

Go.

Ree, get back here!

Ree!

Goodbye!

Bye, Momma!

Ree?

Ree?

I'm the oldest. I should be in the front of the line.

Hush.

We have nothing to fear, church.

'Cause what is the white man compared to God?

What is any law, any injustice

compared to the power of our Lord?

'Cause He will deliver us from the den like Daniel.

And Daniel went into that lion's den.

Daniel went into that lion's den.

-Yes, Jesus! -Not yelling,

nor fussing.

Not crying!

-Not complaining! -No!

Praising the Lord!

-Yeah! -'Cause he knew

the Lord was with him.

He feared no man!

Can you hear me, church?

I wish somebody would pray with me

-'cause He will! -He will!

- He will! -He will!

He will shut the jaws of segregation,

and any man, person,

or institution that would dare

stand against us.

He took us from slavery,

he took us from the valley of reconstruction.

- - Freedom!

-Freedom! - Freedom!

Freedom!

-Freedom! - Freedom!

Freedom now! Praise Him! Praise Him!

-Preach, Daddy, preach! - Hallelujah.

Hey? Ree?

Ree!

How come you're not singing tonight?

Daddy didn't ask me to.

What's your doll's name?

Dee.