Queen Sugar

Previously on "Queen Sugar"...

Maybe we should just split the time.

50-50?

I sold Queen Sugar to the Landrys.

You're doing business with the devil, Charley.

I did it so we could all live to fight another day.

But this prison, if they build it, that day will never come.

I remember you said

"always fight for what you believe, no matter who it scares."

I'm seeing Remy.

When did that ever start?

I thought it was something real,

otherwise I never would have done it.

First it's the story about your daddy, now it's this.

*QUEEN SUGAR* Season 03 Episode 13

Regardless of what I did...

regardless of the time being spent in here...

I had to get straight.

For my little man.

For myself.

When I first got out,

it wasn't easy on the outside.

I ain't lying.

Most mornings I just stand there

in the shower...

crying.

Still felt institutionalized.

Isolated.

Felt like nobody could see me.

My family kept me straight.

And I know a lot of y'all ain't got that.

That's why we got each other.

And it's our job to make sure we all straight all the time.

Feel me?

I mean, that's why I'm here.

You know one thing my daddy gave me when he died?

Purpose.

Left me his land.

Boy, I tell you...

my hands milling that soil,

harvesting them stalks...

man, that gave me worth.

Real work gave me life.

I can sit back at night and just...

I can say I did that.

That's mine.

Man, a year and a half later,

back in here with y'all.

But I ain't all my old ways, though.

Running my own farm.

Hiring guys like yourself.

Teach them the land.

Hoping they see a future for themselves.

Bigger than all this.

It's life, you know what I'm saying?

Freedom.

It's precious, man.

Here one day, gone tomorrow.

You're worth something.

You're worth something.

You're worth something.

You're worth something. You're worth something.

You're worth something.

Now look at y'all.

I see new beginnings.

Choices.

I see hope.

Want to y'all get out of here...

go live your life.

When you find something good and you wrap your heart around it.

Don't let it go.

It's all we got.

I appreciate y'all hearing me out.

I appreciate your time.

What you said was real inspiring.

Hmm!

And they seemed to take it to heart.

Felt good trying to reach them.

Man, I'd love to talk about what you're already doing out there,

with Emmanuel and Benny.

Look, I got a friend,

woman runs a re-entry program just right outside Baton Rouge.

I'd love for you to just sit down.

The two of you.

- Some type of collaboration. - I don't know, Kev.

Just got a lot going on now.

Just barely hanging on as it is, man.

Hold on, I've been waiting on this phone call.

Don't leave, all right?

Hello?

Been waiting on this call.

Well, I got some good news.

That was a rep from headquarters.

Your early request just got approved.

Don't lie to me, Kev.

You're going to be a free man in a month.

- I don't even... - You earned it, brother.

I don't even know what to say right now.

You earned it.

I'll see you.

Appreciate it, Kev.

You did it.

Emails have gone out, fliers are up around town.

Your mama's been the queen of PR.

We should talk about your lineup of speakers.

So Council Member Isabel Barrera.

You okay?

Hmm?

Sorry. Um... Isabel Barrera.

- Yeah. - What's going on?

Umm...

None of my friends showed.

We haven't really been talking since everything went down,

but... I thought at least they'd show up to this.

It's good to have your friends in your corner,

but sometimes being a leader means walking alone.

Look at all this.

This is you.

You did this.

- Hey. - Hey.

Ready to take the lead?

Want to run the schedule down with everyone?

- Aah, sure. - Okay. Go get them.

Um...

excuse me, everybody.

- Micah! - Hey, Blue.

Um...

can everybody hear me?

Yeah, okay.

Um. Okay, well, thank you all for coming out today.

I just want to go over the schedule a little bit.

Okay, we're going to meet at St. Jo Park at 8:00 a.m.

And then we're going to march to the courthouse.

It's actually a couple blocks away

from where the rally'll take place.

Uh...

we'll have signs up...

Son, you got to speak up.

- We can't hear you. - I'm sorry.

I was just saying that we're going to meet up

at the St. Jo Park,

and then we're going to march to the courthouse.

And then...

um, sorry.

Charley, what is he saying?

Uh, yeah, he's saying we'll meet at the St. Jo Park at 8:00 a.m.,

and then we'll move to the courthouse from there.

Y'all want to explain these fliers you're handing out?

Yes. Um... Thank you, Mr. Prosper.

So it's actually really critical that everyone stays on message.

And the fliers that Prosper has,

they're actually talking points for social media,

with reference to community members and council members,

you know, contrary to the continued lies

that MPTE keeps regurgitating.

We all know this jail will ruin this community.

All of this reminds me of the old days.

Us out there in our anti-Bush T-shirts and signs.

Standing on the steps of the Union

with a bullhorn about the lead poisoning in the Mississippi.

Mm. Those were the days.

I talked to some colleagues at the firm,

and they're willing to volunteer legal services

if it comes down to it.

I appreciate that.

Okay, so just hit me.

I can take it.

It's stirring,

provocative,

heartbreaking,

and it's going to mean so much to so many people.

I mean Nova, it's...

it's your best work.

No question.

But with that said,

this lays everything bare.

I mean, does your family know?

Did they give you permission for all of this?

It's from their interviews. Interviews they gave willingly.

But, no...

- they haven't read it. - Girl...

Everyone's telling me, write your own story,

speak your truth, raw, unflinching.

This is what I want to say.

These words are who I am,

even as painful as some were to write.

Well, this is a whole lot of truth.

And it's a very fine line claiming other people's stories.

Just based off what you told me about Vi's reaction so far,

if you decide to publish this as is...

People need to be having these conversations.

The black community needs to be having these conversations.

True, but this is a lot, Nova.

This could be explosive.

You're playing with fire.

That was James Beard-worthy.

I have a few more up my sleeve.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

Thank you.