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1
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-You gonna be a movie star
one of these days?
2
00:00:06,083 --> 00:00:08,292
-Well, we're making
a lot of plans on it.
3
00:00:08,292 --> 00:00:11,167
I hope so. I hope I'll be able
to do my life story.
4
00:00:11,167 --> 00:00:13,167
-I think the James Brown story
5
00:00:13,167 --> 00:00:15,208
has got to be one of
the biggest winners of all time.
6
00:00:15,208 --> 00:00:17,500
♪ Everybody right there
-♪ Get into it
7
00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,625
-♪ Everybody right there
-♪ Get involved
8
00:00:19,625 --> 00:00:21,708
-♪ Everybody hit it
[ Music plays ]
9
00:00:21,708 --> 00:00:23,667
Come on, now.
10
00:00:23,667 --> 00:00:25,000
Good God.
11
00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,708
-Nobody expected James
to be anything.
12
00:00:27,708 --> 00:00:30,208
-Come on! Hey!
13
00:00:30,208 --> 00:00:33,542
-Abandoned at birth, prison,
dropping out of school.
14
00:00:33,542 --> 00:00:37,042
There's a level of genius there
that is amazing.
15
00:00:37,042 --> 00:00:38,375
-♪ Now, look
-♪ Hey
16
00:00:38,375 --> 00:00:40,792
-♪ I want you to hit me
-♪ Yeah
17
00:00:40,792 --> 00:00:43,042
-♪ Fellas
-♪ Yeah
18
00:00:43,042 --> 00:00:45,250
-♪ Don't miss me
-♪ No
19
00:00:45,250 --> 00:00:48,208
-People don't talk enough
about James for his writing
20
00:00:48,208 --> 00:00:49,625
and producing skills.
21
00:00:49,625 --> 00:00:51,333
He was an entrepreneur.
22
00:00:51,333 --> 00:00:53,500
-I mean, he changed
the way music was.
23
00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:54,875
He created funk.
24
00:00:54,875 --> 00:00:56,083
-♪ Hit me
25
00:00:56,083 --> 00:00:58,208
-He was a risk-taker.
26
00:00:58,208 --> 00:01:01,917
He gave you sex and protest
at the same time.
27
00:01:01,917 --> 00:01:03,917
-♪ Soul power
-♪ Soul power
28
00:01:03,917 --> 00:01:05,833
-♪ Soul power
-♪ Soul power
29
00:01:05,833 --> 00:01:07,083
-We need black people
30
00:01:07,083 --> 00:01:08,417
in the power structure
to speak for us.
31
00:01:08,417 --> 00:01:10,125
-♪ Soul power
-♪ Hit me
32
00:01:10,125 --> 00:01:11,958
-James Brown "Say It Loud --
I'm Black and I'm Proud"
33
00:01:11,958 --> 00:01:13,625
was the jump-off point.
34
00:01:13,625 --> 00:01:16,500
-The power to move people,
to mobilize people,
35
00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:18,792
to make them feel and think
about what's happening,
36
00:01:18,792 --> 00:01:22,167
James Brown was able to do that.
37
00:01:22,167 --> 00:01:24,167
-♪ Put it there
38
00:01:24,167 --> 00:01:26,292
-You really couldn't
voice your opinion
39
00:01:26,292 --> 00:01:28,250
a lot of times with Mr. Brown.
40
00:01:28,250 --> 00:01:31,208
A lot of things
that Mr. Brown would do,
41
00:01:31,208 --> 00:01:34,417
sometimes I didn't
agree with him.
42
00:01:34,417 --> 00:01:37,333
-Black folks had the right
to be angry at him
43
00:01:37,333 --> 00:01:40,917
for aligning himself with a
politician like Richard Nixon.
44
00:01:40,917 --> 00:01:45,083
♪
45
00:01:45,083 --> 00:01:47,792
[ Cheers and applause ]
46
00:01:47,792 --> 00:01:51,208
-We all got our problems and
we're going to work them out.
47
00:01:53,167 --> 00:01:56,167
-"I Feel Good." That was done
in a movie, wasn't it?
48
00:01:56,167 --> 00:01:58,625
-Yes, we did "Ski Party
along with Frankie Avalon,
49
00:01:58,625 --> 00:02:00,208
Yvonne Craig.
50
00:02:00,208 --> 00:02:03,875
♪ Wow, I feel good
51
00:02:03,875 --> 00:02:06,917
♪ I knew that I would, now
52
00:02:06,917 --> 00:02:09,250
♪ I feel good
53
00:02:09,250 --> 00:02:11,958
♪ I knew that I would, now
54
00:02:11,958 --> 00:02:13,625
♪ So good
55
00:02:13,625 --> 00:02:17,125
♪ So good, I got you
56
00:02:17,125 --> 00:02:19,083
-His music was
incredibly important
57
00:02:19,083 --> 00:02:21,042
to our community, to our people.
58
00:02:21,042 --> 00:02:23,250
His journey
is incredibly important.
59
00:02:23,250 --> 00:02:25,625
There might be places
where he stopped in his journey
60
00:02:25,625 --> 00:02:28,083
that you don't agree with,
but it was a journey.
61
00:02:28,083 --> 00:02:30,500
The development and relationship
of our folks
62
00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,375
and this country's development,
63
00:02:32,375 --> 00:02:34,750
James Brown was
an integral part of that.
64
00:02:34,750 --> 00:02:36,917
-♪ In my arms
65
00:02:36,917 --> 00:02:39,792
♪ I know that
I can do no wrong ♪
66
00:02:39,792 --> 00:02:42,083
The first time I cut "I Feel
Good," it was strictly jazz.
67
00:02:42,083 --> 00:02:44,208
I had to go back and cut it
again so people could follow it.
68
00:02:44,208 --> 00:02:46,292
♪ Dun-a dun-a dun-a dun
69
00:02:46,292 --> 00:02:50,083
-"I Feel Good" is basically
a blues progression.
70
00:02:50,083 --> 00:02:53,333
James took the chord changes
out of it,
71
00:02:53,333 --> 00:02:56,833
and it was just a groove,
and that groove locked in.
72
00:02:56,833 --> 00:02:58,417
-♪ So good
73
00:02:58,417 --> 00:03:01,375
-When we loop a sample nowadays,
74
00:03:01,375 --> 00:03:03,375
James Brown was
sort of doing that,
75
00:03:03,375 --> 00:03:05,167
and that in itself
was different.
76
00:03:05,167 --> 00:03:07,917
-♪ So good
77
00:03:07,917 --> 00:03:11,208
[ Applause ]
78
00:03:11,208 --> 00:03:12,958
♪ Papa's in the swing
79
00:03:12,958 --> 00:03:14,500
[ Both laugh ]
80
00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:16,708
-There's something about it.
I don't know.
81
00:03:16,708 --> 00:03:18,667
Alright. Easy does it.
82
00:03:18,667 --> 00:03:20,708
Now, what was the story?
Why'd you make that record?
83
00:03:20,708 --> 00:03:24,042
-Well, during that time,
I needed a hit record very bad.
84
00:03:24,042 --> 00:03:26,625
And the only thing I said,
I said,
85
00:03:26,625 --> 00:03:29,250
"Well, you know, papa should
get a brand-new bag, you know,
86
00:03:29,250 --> 00:03:31,167
and listen, we got to
come up with a title."
87
00:03:31,167 --> 00:03:33,125
And then I started writing,
you know,
88
00:03:33,125 --> 00:03:36,167
and got a little story together,
and -- and it was together.
89
00:03:36,167 --> 00:03:38,167
♪ Come here, sister
90
00:03:38,167 --> 00:03:40,708
♪
91
00:03:40,708 --> 00:03:43,208
♪ In the swing
92
00:03:43,208 --> 00:03:45,292
-"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
comes out.
93
00:03:45,292 --> 00:03:46,792
That's street slang.
94
00:03:46,792 --> 00:03:50,000
People are like, "Yeah,
I know what this is."
95
00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,250
-♪ He ain't no drag
96
00:03:53,250 --> 00:03:55,583
♪ Papa's got a brand-new bag
97
00:03:55,583 --> 00:03:57,542
♪
98
00:03:57,542 --> 00:03:59,625
-With "Papa's Got
a Brand New Bag,"
99
00:03:59,625 --> 00:04:03,042
as an 11th-hour decision,
they sped the tape up
100
00:04:03,042 --> 00:04:04,875
to make it
just a little bit faster.
101
00:04:04,875 --> 00:04:06,042
-♪ Come on, now
102
00:04:06,042 --> 00:04:07,708
♪ On the horn
103
00:04:07,708 --> 00:04:10,833
-He's realizing that him
and his horn section
104
00:04:10,833 --> 00:04:12,667
are the new Famous Flames.
105
00:04:12,667 --> 00:04:17,792
Like, his entire horn section
answering him at his every whim.
106
00:04:17,792 --> 00:04:20,458
♪ Come on, come on
107
00:04:20,458 --> 00:04:23,792
-You listen to the spontaneity
of his vocals,
108
00:04:23,792 --> 00:04:27,542
and that includes his screams
and his grunts and his groans
109
00:04:27,542 --> 00:04:29,500
and all the things
that people mimic
110
00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:32,500
that are -- that are part
of his identity.
111
00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:34,917
He's using his voice.
He's playing an instrument.
112
00:04:34,917 --> 00:04:36,458
He's one of the band.
113
00:04:36,458 --> 00:04:39,500
-See, soul music is jazz
and -- and gospel mix.
114
00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:42,833
Funk is when
you lay on the vamp.
115
00:04:42,833 --> 00:04:47,917
♪
116
00:04:47,917 --> 00:04:49,083
♪ With your mess
117
00:04:49,083 --> 00:04:51,125
-He's basically announcing
118
00:04:51,125 --> 00:04:53,625
that he's
the aforementioned Papa,
119
00:04:53,625 --> 00:04:58,125
and his brand-new bag
is this level of soul.
120
00:04:58,125 --> 00:04:59,875
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
121
00:04:59,875 --> 00:05:04,750
will start the unprecedented
streak of top 10 hits
122
00:05:04,750 --> 00:05:07,708
for the next 10 years
of James Brown's life.
123
00:05:07,708 --> 00:05:10,542
-Soul is real.
You can't make that up.
124
00:05:10,542 --> 00:05:12,125
You either got it
or you don't have it.
125
00:05:12,125 --> 00:05:15,458
♪
126
00:05:15,458 --> 00:05:19,083
-There was the Motown sound,
the Memphis sound,
127
00:05:19,083 --> 00:05:20,625
the Muscle Shoals sound.
128
00:05:20,625 --> 00:05:23,125
Then there was
the James Brown sound.
129
00:05:23,125 --> 00:05:26,375
It didn't have
a geographic identity.
130
00:05:26,375 --> 00:05:30,250
It had the identity
of a single human being.
131
00:05:30,250 --> 00:05:34,833
-The Motown sound and imagery
was very carefully curated,
132
00:05:34,833 --> 00:05:38,542
and it was really a response
to what we call the white gaze,
133
00:05:38,542 --> 00:05:42,375
the lens in which
white supremacy
134
00:05:42,375 --> 00:05:44,792
is viewing the rest
of the world.
135
00:05:44,792 --> 00:05:47,292
So it's through that lens
that Motown said,
136
00:05:47,292 --> 00:05:50,375
"We want to promote
these positive,
137
00:05:50,375 --> 00:05:53,958
respectable images
of black people."
138
00:05:53,958 --> 00:05:56,208
♪
139
00:05:56,208 --> 00:05:59,208
Mr. Brown also
very well put together,
140
00:05:59,208 --> 00:06:00,375
a perfectionist.
141
00:06:00,375 --> 00:06:02,458
He was curated in his own way.
142
00:06:02,458 --> 00:06:04,542
Wasn't a company behind him
143
00:06:04,542 --> 00:06:06,542
saying, "You need to dress
like this and do this."
144
00:06:06,542 --> 00:06:08,542
He was doing that himself.
145
00:06:08,542 --> 00:06:12,000
-♪ I'm alright tonight
146
00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,125
♪ And I'll do just what I want
147
00:06:15,125 --> 00:06:16,750
I might get on the stage
148
00:06:16,750 --> 00:06:18,583
and normally having to do
an hour and a half.
149
00:06:18,583 --> 00:06:20,583
♪ And do the James Brown
150
00:06:20,583 --> 00:06:23,542
♪ Oh, ohhh, yeah
151
00:06:23,542 --> 00:06:25,875
I may do two hours
and 20 or 30 minutes,
152
00:06:25,875 --> 00:06:27,625
may do an hour extra.
153
00:06:27,625 --> 00:06:31,208
I enjoy what I'm doing and I
enjoy seeing them enjoy it.
154
00:06:31,208 --> 00:06:32,875
-He believed in perfection
155
00:06:32,875 --> 00:06:35,542
and that the audience
should get what they paid for.
156
00:06:35,542 --> 00:06:37,875
He was willing to do
whatever it took
157
00:06:37,875 --> 00:06:40,542
to make sure that
the perfection was there.
158
00:06:40,542 --> 00:06:43,875
He demanded it and he got it.
159
00:06:43,875 --> 00:06:45,083
-♪ Oh
160
00:06:45,083 --> 00:06:47,042
-My daddy was very strict.
161
00:06:47,042 --> 00:06:50,375
He came from a life of struggle.
162
00:06:50,375 --> 00:06:54,125
He knew each time
he did his show
163
00:06:54,125 --> 00:06:58,542
that everything had to be right
before he got to the stage --
164
00:06:58,542 --> 00:07:01,000
people on time,
dressed like they should,
165
00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,042
sound people are where
they supposed to be,
166
00:07:03,042 --> 00:07:04,667
equipment, everything.
167
00:07:04,667 --> 00:07:06,542
-What kind of things
would you have to do to get,
168
00:07:06,542 --> 00:07:08,958
like a $5 or $10 fine in a show?
169
00:07:08,958 --> 00:07:12,542
-Missing notes delivered
and not paying attention.
170
00:07:12,542 --> 00:07:14,125
I demand discipline.
171
00:07:14,125 --> 00:07:17,167
♪
172
00:07:17,167 --> 00:07:19,375
♪ If I ruled the world
173
00:07:19,375 --> 00:07:22,042
[ Crowd shouting ]
174
00:07:22,042 --> 00:07:25,875
-I got fined $50 one time
for one note.
175
00:07:25,875 --> 00:07:28,375
We was playing
"If I Ruled the World,"
176
00:07:28,375 --> 00:07:31,458
and I almost missed
the note, but --
177
00:07:31,458 --> 00:07:34,167
and I just kind of slid into it.
178
00:07:34,167 --> 00:07:35,708
You know what I mean?
179
00:07:35,708 --> 00:07:37,583
You know,
it wasn't a train wreck,
180
00:07:37,583 --> 00:07:40,875
but it was a little rough,
and for that time, I got $50.
181
00:07:40,875 --> 00:07:43,375
I said, "What did I do?"
"You know what you did.
182
00:07:43,375 --> 00:07:46,833
You missed a note."
I said, "One note?"
183
00:07:46,833 --> 00:07:49,542
-If there were too many
mistakes on the stage,
184
00:07:49,542 --> 00:07:51,042
you know,
during the performance,
185
00:07:51,042 --> 00:07:54,208
we had to rehearse right there
after the show.
186
00:07:54,208 --> 00:07:55,458
He didn't care.
187
00:07:55,458 --> 00:07:57,208
-He hated wrong notes.
188
00:07:57,208 --> 00:08:00,042
That's when he would yell,
you know,
189
00:08:00,042 --> 00:08:02,375
and he had to be in control.
190
00:08:02,375 --> 00:08:04,708
We lost a lot of people
behind that.
191
00:08:04,708 --> 00:08:07,125
-This whole band-leader thing
that he had,
192
00:08:07,125 --> 00:08:08,583
that's from another era.
193
00:08:08,583 --> 00:08:10,250
You hit a bum note,
you got fined.
194
00:08:10,250 --> 00:08:12,375
You know, if you turned up
with your shoes not clean,
195
00:08:12,375 --> 00:08:13,833
you were fined.
196
00:08:13,833 --> 00:08:16,250
The complete antithesis
of a rock band.
197
00:08:16,250 --> 00:08:18,000
It's not like a rock band.
198
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,042
Rock band is late,
rock band is dirty,
199
00:08:20,042 --> 00:08:24,417
rock band is not dressing right,
and they play bum notes.
200
00:08:24,417 --> 00:08:28,042
-♪ Told me, darling,
that you had to go ♪
201
00:08:28,042 --> 00:08:31,000
♪ Done take your money,
I don't care no more ♪
202
00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,958
-I could read his eyes.
It was like, "I heard that."
203
00:08:34,958 --> 00:08:38,042
And I think that Mr. Brown
could hear every instrument,
204
00:08:38,042 --> 00:08:41,000
every voice that was
singing behind him.
205
00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,792
He just knew
who would make a mistake.
206
00:08:43,792 --> 00:08:46,542
♪
207
00:08:46,542 --> 00:08:50,750
-Style and presence
was very important to Dad.
208
00:08:50,750 --> 00:08:53,708
-He had a valet that brought
his clothes to him.
209
00:08:53,708 --> 00:08:57,500
The valet held the -- the pants
out for him, you know,
210
00:08:57,500 --> 00:08:58,792
and he'd talk to me.
211
00:08:58,792 --> 00:09:00,542
The valet's still
holding the pants.
212
00:09:00,542 --> 00:09:02,333
I'm going, "When is he
going to take the --
213
00:09:02,333 --> 00:09:04,542
When is he going to
take the pants from the valet?"
214
00:09:04,542 --> 00:09:06,625
Poor guy's got his pants.
215
00:09:06,625 --> 00:09:08,792
-All the uniforms
right now that my band has,
216
00:09:08,792 --> 00:09:10,875
I own them, because
I want them to look decent.
217
00:09:10,875 --> 00:09:14,708
They should be glad to put on a
uniform and belong to something,
218
00:09:14,708 --> 00:09:17,083
as opposed to
belonging to nothing.
219
00:09:17,083 --> 00:09:21,583
-He established
some rules for himself,
220
00:09:21,583 --> 00:09:24,375
and he wanted the people
around him to live by also.
221
00:09:24,375 --> 00:09:27,333
-He strove for perfection.
222
00:09:27,333 --> 00:09:29,083
He's a child of the South,
as well,
223
00:09:29,083 --> 00:09:33,792
so he understood what it was
to have his image out there,
224
00:09:33,792 --> 00:09:35,625
what it was to perform.
225
00:09:35,625 --> 00:09:39,292
He had to project
that image of being perfect.
226
00:09:39,292 --> 00:09:41,167
-Difficult is all relative.
227
00:09:41,167 --> 00:09:43,458
Exacting and having standards,
you know.
228
00:09:43,458 --> 00:09:46,625
You know, if somebody's a little
lazy or wants to slack off
229
00:09:46,625 --> 00:09:49,042
or really wants to fall asleep
in the getaway car,
230
00:09:49,042 --> 00:09:51,875
they're going to think you're
exacting and you're difficult.
231
00:09:51,875 --> 00:09:53,833
-He knew what his mission was,
232
00:09:53,833 --> 00:09:56,417
and that was to show
the world that,
233
00:09:56,417 --> 00:09:58,667
"Look, I'm on this
playing field, too.
234
00:09:58,667 --> 00:09:58,708
"Look, I'm on this
playing field, too.
235
00:09:59,917 --> 00:10:02,833
I'mma show you why I am
the king of this thing."
236
00:10:02,833 --> 00:10:06,667
-My energy is so strong
and my presence is so strong.
237
00:10:06,667 --> 00:10:08,708
I can stay up for 72 hours
and still go do a show.
238
00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:15,708
-There just was no way,
you know,
239
00:10:15,708 --> 00:10:17,417
for me to dream of, uh,
becoming anything
240
00:10:17,417 --> 00:10:21,458
but trying to be just a laborer
trying to work, you know.
241
00:10:21,458 --> 00:10:26,042
Wasn't a chance for me to
imagine nothing too fantastic.
242
00:10:26,042 --> 00:10:27,500
♪
243
00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:29,208
I think your spirit
kind of changes
244
00:10:29,208 --> 00:10:31,708
along with what environment
you're in.
245
00:10:31,708 --> 00:10:34,083
♪ This is a man's world
246
00:10:34,083 --> 00:10:37,375
♪
247
00:10:37,375 --> 00:10:42,417
-In the 1960s, you were
at these cross currents
248
00:10:42,417 --> 00:10:46,917
where folks wanted to show
that folks deserved equality.
249
00:10:46,917 --> 00:10:51,583
At the same time, recognize
some of the raw foundations
250
00:10:51,583 --> 00:10:56,042
of what made you as a people
and as a person.
251
00:10:56,042 --> 00:10:58,083
James Brown could tap into that.
252
00:10:58,083 --> 00:11:02,000
He had all the aspirations
of entertainer,
253
00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,125
and yet he had all
the qualifications
254
00:11:05,125 --> 00:11:08,583
of somebody that came from
the Jim Crow experience,
255
00:11:08,583 --> 00:11:11,375
and he was able
to combine all of that.
256
00:11:11,375 --> 00:11:12,708
-Meredith was the first Negro
257
00:11:12,708 --> 00:11:14,708
to desegregate
Ole Miss University
258
00:11:14,708 --> 00:11:16,083
four years ago.
259
00:11:16,083 --> 00:11:18,208
Today, Meredith
and his small party
260
00:11:18,208 --> 00:11:21,542
began their defiant walk
at the Mississippi state line
261
00:11:21,542 --> 00:11:22,958
to encourage
unregistered Negroes
262
00:11:22,958 --> 00:11:25,708
along the way
to qualify as voters.
263
00:11:25,708 --> 00:11:28,250
[ Gunshots,
indistinct shouting ]
264
00:11:28,250 --> 00:11:31,417
-James Meredith was shot
the second day of his walk,
265
00:11:31,417 --> 00:11:35,708
and the entire civil rights
apparatus stepped in
266
00:11:35,708 --> 00:11:39,125
to finish that march for him,
and Meredith survived.
267
00:11:39,125 --> 00:11:43,125
-The first thing James Brown did
that attracted any notoriety
268
00:11:43,125 --> 00:11:45,708
was his appearance
at Tougaloo College
269
00:11:45,708 --> 00:11:48,042
at the James Meredith rally.
270
00:11:48,042 --> 00:11:50,708
He was in the midst
of Stokely Carmichael.
271
00:11:50,708 --> 00:11:54,417
Dr. King, Dick Gregory,
Sammy Davis,
272
00:11:54,417 --> 00:11:56,875
and Marlon Brando was there.
273
00:11:56,875 --> 00:11:59,917
-The only reason
we're doing this this way,
274
00:11:59,917 --> 00:12:03,625
because James Brown
should be saved for last.
275
00:12:03,625 --> 00:12:07,083
He jumped on his own jet
and flew in.
276
00:12:07,083 --> 00:12:08,875
He's going to perform
for you tonight,
277
00:12:08,875 --> 00:12:10,958
then he's going back
to Cincinnati
278
00:12:10,958 --> 00:12:13,292
to perform for the folks
and take them the message.
279
00:12:13,292 --> 00:12:15,333
[ Cheers and applause ]
280
00:12:15,333 --> 00:12:18,292
-Black media were like,
"Okay, James Brown."
281
00:12:18,292 --> 00:12:22,875
Those of us who knew him
already knew where he stood.
282
00:12:22,875 --> 00:12:25,417
-Meeting with James Meredith
283
00:12:25,417 --> 00:12:29,708
galvanized James Brown's sense
of public service.
284
00:12:29,708 --> 00:12:31,667
-♪ Everybody
285
00:12:31,667 --> 00:12:33,708
♪
286
00:12:33,708 --> 00:12:36,917
♪ You might give out
287
00:12:36,917 --> 00:12:38,417
♪ But don't give up
288
00:12:38,417 --> 00:12:41,542
[ Crowd shouting ]
289
00:12:41,542 --> 00:12:44,917
-How one person
could change the world.
290
00:12:44,917 --> 00:12:47,875
And two weeks later,
his first message song,
291
00:12:47,875 --> 00:12:50,000
"Don't Be a Dropout,"
was recorded.
292
00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:51,792
-Hi. This is James Brown.
293
00:12:51,792 --> 00:12:54,083
This is kind of unusual way
to come into your home.
294
00:12:54,083 --> 00:12:56,875
This record is dedicated
to the kids in school
295
00:12:56,875 --> 00:12:58,208
and also the young adults
296
00:12:58,208 --> 00:12:59,917
that might be able
to go to night school.
297
00:12:59,917 --> 00:13:02,833
As a reminder,
don't be a dropout.
298
00:13:02,833 --> 00:13:04,208
-"Don't Be a Dropout"
299
00:13:04,208 --> 00:13:06,667
was talking to other kids
in the community
300
00:13:06,667 --> 00:13:09,000
that came up in communities
just like him.
301
00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:14,208
He knew that being educated
was a tool, a way out,
302
00:13:14,208 --> 00:13:18,458
a way to get on the same level
with the white man, so to speak.
303
00:13:18,458 --> 00:13:22,417
He really pushed
especially my sister and I
304
00:13:22,417 --> 00:13:25,292
to get as educated as we could.
305
00:13:25,292 --> 00:13:28,792
Got my doctorate in pharmacy,
and Dad was really proud.
306
00:13:28,792 --> 00:13:31,042
-I didn't get a chance
to get a formal education.
307
00:13:31,042 --> 00:13:32,708
I was trying to really survive.
308
00:13:32,708 --> 00:13:35,167
I got a doctor's degree
in the street.
309
00:13:35,167 --> 00:13:38,833
-James Brown went through
what a lot of young black males
310
00:13:38,833 --> 00:13:41,042
are going through, from gangs
311
00:13:41,042 --> 00:13:43,542
to being brought up
in very hostile situations.
312
00:13:43,542 --> 00:13:48,375
But to find his footing
and be able to sit on a stage
313
00:13:48,375 --> 00:13:50,250
and proudly hold his own,
314
00:13:50,250 --> 00:13:54,375
it's really more powerful
than we realize.
315
00:13:54,375 --> 00:13:56,708
-♪ Gotta, gotta listen
now, now ♪
316
00:13:56,708 --> 00:13:59,000
-♪ What he said
317
00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:00,417
-♪ Without an education
318
00:14:00,417 --> 00:14:01,833
-♪ Might as well be dead
319
00:14:01,833 --> 00:14:03,208
-♪ Stay in school
320
00:14:03,208 --> 00:14:05,083
-He was a genius,
and how he come up
321
00:14:05,083 --> 00:14:07,042
with his ideas was amazing.
322
00:14:07,042 --> 00:14:09,167
It could be
in the middle of the night.
323
00:14:09,167 --> 00:14:11,208
[ Telephone rings ]
He would call you.
324
00:14:11,208 --> 00:14:14,667
"Are you asleep?"
"Uh, well, no, not now."
325
00:14:14,667 --> 00:14:18,917
-He didn't go by any of
the classical rules of music,
326
00:14:18,917 --> 00:14:22,542
switching things
and putting chords together
327
00:14:22,542 --> 00:14:24,875
that were making musicians
turn their head and go,
328
00:14:24,875 --> 00:14:26,333
"What was that?"
329
00:14:26,333 --> 00:14:28,583
You know, minors,
the majors and the things.
330
00:14:28,583 --> 00:14:30,125
He was just doing stuff.
331
00:14:30,125 --> 00:14:35,583
♪
332
00:14:35,583 --> 00:14:38,750
-The laws of music were there
telling me not to do it,
333
00:14:38,750 --> 00:14:41,333
but I did it my way.
334
00:14:41,333 --> 00:14:44,167
-It wasn't the music
that we heard in the early '60s.
335
00:14:44,167 --> 00:14:46,292
It was what was to come,
336
00:14:46,292 --> 00:14:49,667
inspiring, like,
the next wave of funk,
337
00:14:49,667 --> 00:14:51,667
the George Clinton
and the Parliament Funkadelics
338
00:14:51,667 --> 00:14:53,917
of the world and the Sly and
the Family Stones of the world.
339
00:14:53,917 --> 00:14:57,458
-♪ I break out
340
00:14:57,458 --> 00:14:59,500
♪ In a cold sweat
341
00:14:59,500 --> 00:15:02,917
♪
342
00:15:02,917 --> 00:15:06,375
-"Cold Sweat" comes out in '67.
343
00:15:06,375 --> 00:15:09,750
Now there's this musical genius
coming into play.
344
00:15:09,750 --> 00:15:12,542
You got this real
jagged drumbeat
345
00:15:12,542 --> 00:15:15,667
which you had really never heard
in popular music before.
346
00:15:15,667 --> 00:15:16,917
-Let's give the drummer some.
347
00:15:16,917 --> 00:15:18,958
-James Brown was
the first person
348
00:15:18,958 --> 00:15:21,500
to let the drummer
really kind of get some...
349
00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:22,750
-Give the drummers some!
350
00:15:22,750 --> 00:15:26,375
-...and then ride it
and rock it.
351
00:15:26,375 --> 00:15:33,833
♪
352
00:15:33,833 --> 00:15:36,542
-I created funk.
God and me.
353
00:15:36,542 --> 00:15:41,125
-That "Cold Sweat" record
is literally the blueprint.
354
00:15:41,125 --> 00:15:43,333
-I loved "Cold Sweat."
355
00:15:43,333 --> 00:15:48,417
It was a testimony
in all its blackness,
356
00:15:48,417 --> 00:15:52,250
in all its sexuality,
in all its extravagance.
357
00:15:52,250 --> 00:15:54,875
-Soul music sensation
James Brown
358
00:15:54,875 --> 00:15:56,708
was recently banned
by the Parks Department
359
00:15:56,708 --> 00:15:59,667
from appearing at the Mosque
Amphitheater in Richmond.
360
00:15:59,667 --> 00:16:02,583
Authorities said that Brown
was likely to cause a problem
361
00:16:02,583 --> 00:16:05,583
by his habit of hugging and
kissing women in the audience.
362
00:16:05,583 --> 00:16:10,708
♪
363
00:16:10,708 --> 00:16:12,292
-My mother and my father met
364
00:16:12,292 --> 00:16:16,375
at Carr's Beach
in Annapolis, Maryland.
365
00:16:16,375 --> 00:16:21,375
My mom was sitting at the bar
talking to one of the Flames,
366
00:16:21,375 --> 00:16:25,667
and my dad walked past
and, you know, double take.
367
00:16:25,667 --> 00:16:28,375
-And he's like, "Is that you?"
368
00:16:28,375 --> 00:16:30,042
That's how people used to do it
back then.
369
00:16:30,042 --> 00:16:31,583
"Is that you?"
370
00:16:31,583 --> 00:16:33,208
-"Tell her to follow me."
371
00:16:33,208 --> 00:16:36,542
-♪ Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa
372
00:16:36,542 --> 00:16:39,375
♪ Men have named you
373
00:16:39,375 --> 00:16:42,250
-My mom is 14 years
younger than my dad.
374
00:16:42,250 --> 00:16:44,708
He was already
this big superstar,
375
00:16:44,708 --> 00:16:46,250
and he was coming to perform.
376
00:16:46,250 --> 00:16:47,917
-They exchanged numbers,
and she's like,
377
00:16:47,917 --> 00:16:49,542
"He's never gonna call."
378
00:16:49,542 --> 00:16:52,250
-February of 1968,
379
00:16:52,250 --> 00:16:55,625
my mother went to New York
to stay the weekend with Dad.
380
00:16:55,625 --> 00:16:58,000
You know, a little fun weekend.
381
00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,292
She never went back home.
382
00:17:00,292 --> 00:17:02,750
A month later, I was conceived,
383
00:17:02,750 --> 00:17:04,542
and it was only a few weeks
384
00:17:04,542 --> 00:17:06,333
before the assassination
of Martin Luther King Jr.
385
00:17:06,333 --> 00:17:09,417
before the assassination
of Martin Luther King Jr.
386
00:17:09,417 --> 00:17:11,625
-Mr. Martin Luther King,
he's dead.
387
00:17:11,625 --> 00:17:12,875
I don't know.
388
00:17:12,875 --> 00:17:14,500
I hope it don't cost
no more lives.
389
00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:16,792
I hope everybody can understand
what's happening now,
390
00:17:16,792 --> 00:17:18,375
because now is the time
to understand.
391
00:17:24,333 --> 00:17:25,292
-We all loved
Dr. Martin Luther King.
392
00:17:25,292 --> 00:17:27,292
I knowed him personally.
393
00:17:27,292 --> 00:17:30,042
And he was a fine man.
394
00:17:30,042 --> 00:17:32,667
♪ Nobody knows
395
00:17:32,667 --> 00:17:35,125
♪ When you leave me
396
00:17:35,125 --> 00:17:37,375
♪ It makes me cry
397
00:17:37,375 --> 00:17:39,042
♪
398
00:17:39,042 --> 00:17:43,333
♪ Ohhhh, oh
399
00:17:43,333 --> 00:17:47,208
-1968, the chaos of that year
400
00:17:47,208 --> 00:17:50,292
created a lot of damage,
destruction,
401
00:17:50,292 --> 00:17:52,375
and, in some cases, opportunity.
402
00:17:52,375 --> 00:17:55,250
James Brown found himself
403
00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:58,875
as the most popular
black entertainer
404
00:17:58,875 --> 00:18:01,333
with credibility
in the community.
405
00:18:01,333 --> 00:18:03,667
That was tested
when Martin Luther King
406
00:18:03,667 --> 00:18:06,333
was murdered on April 4th.
407
00:18:06,333 --> 00:18:10,083
-By April 5th,
many of the cities in America
408
00:18:10,083 --> 00:18:13,250
were blowing up with anger
and frustration
409
00:18:13,250 --> 00:18:17,375
that had peaked with
that gunshot in Memphis.
410
00:18:17,375 --> 00:18:20,917
-I was thinking about the day
when we filmed, um, at the park,
411
00:18:20,917 --> 00:18:22,625
standing there,
and I was looking out.
412
00:18:22,625 --> 00:18:25,250
I guess I'm real concerned
about people.
413
00:18:25,250 --> 00:18:27,042
I went from black America
414
00:18:27,042 --> 00:18:28,750
and I started talking
to white America,
415
00:18:28,750 --> 00:18:32,375
and I was saying, "These are
the things that has to be done."
416
00:18:32,375 --> 00:18:34,708
-A curfew is now in effect.
417
00:18:34,708 --> 00:18:38,167
Please keep off the streets.
418
00:18:38,167 --> 00:18:42,250
-Dad was already ready
to perform in Boston
419
00:18:42,250 --> 00:18:44,250
at the Boston Gardens
that night.
420
00:18:44,250 --> 00:18:46,208
-It was very questionable
421
00:18:46,208 --> 00:18:48,708
whether there should be
a concert on April 5th
422
00:18:48,708 --> 00:18:50,500
in Boston or anywhere else.
423
00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:53,417
Events all over the country
had been canceled.
424
00:18:53,417 --> 00:18:55,500
There were frantic phone calls
425
00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:59,458
between James Brown's people
and the mayor's office.
426
00:18:59,458 --> 00:19:02,375
It was decided,
somewhat reluctantly
427
00:19:02,375 --> 00:19:05,417
on the part of some
of the officials in Boston,
428
00:19:05,417 --> 00:19:09,833
that the show should continue,
but it should be televised.
429
00:19:09,833 --> 00:19:13,125
-While James was -- was happy
to be able to perform
430
00:19:13,125 --> 00:19:15,042
and have that impact on people,
431
00:19:15,042 --> 00:19:17,833
there were elements of,
"Wait a second.
432
00:19:17,833 --> 00:19:21,750
I didn't sign up for
a free TV broadcast of my show."
433
00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:24,458
-They wanted it to go on TV
434
00:19:24,458 --> 00:19:27,458
so that more people
would stay home,
435
00:19:27,458 --> 00:19:31,000
watch it on TV instead
of being out in the streets.
436
00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:38,042
-People were in their feelings,
ready to react on-camera, riot.
437
00:19:38,042 --> 00:19:41,125
-♪ Can't stand it
438
00:19:41,125 --> 00:19:43,000
♪ Can't stand your love
439
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,375
♪ Good God
440
00:19:44,375 --> 00:19:47,667
♪
441
00:19:47,667 --> 00:19:49,417
Wait a minute.
442
00:19:49,417 --> 00:19:51,958
Step away. Wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
443
00:19:51,958 --> 00:19:55,208
They alright. It's alright.
It's alright. It's alright.
444
00:19:55,208 --> 00:19:56,708
Let me finish the show --
Wait a minute.
445
00:19:56,708 --> 00:19:58,667
Let me finish the show
for everybody else, alright?
446
00:19:58,667 --> 00:20:00,833
Okay, let me finish it
for everybody else now.
447
00:20:00,833 --> 00:20:02,958
Okay? Hold on.
Let me finish the show now.
448
00:20:02,958 --> 00:20:04,375
Come on.
449
00:20:04,375 --> 00:20:06,042
Now, I asked the police
to step back
450
00:20:06,042 --> 00:20:08,292
because I figured I could get
some respect from my own people.
451
00:20:08,292 --> 00:20:11,333
[ Crowd cheering ]
452
00:20:11,333 --> 00:20:14,375
Hit them things.
453
00:20:14,375 --> 00:20:16,333
[ Song resumes ]
454
00:20:16,333 --> 00:20:18,583
-And he defused all of it.
455
00:20:18,583 --> 00:20:21,167
He basically broke up something
456
00:20:21,167 --> 00:20:23,875
that could have been
very catastrophic.
457
00:20:23,875 --> 00:20:25,750
-That was a big deal.
458
00:20:25,750 --> 00:20:28,250
And it saved Boston.
459
00:20:28,250 --> 00:20:30,583
There was no fighting
and no looting
460
00:20:30,583 --> 00:20:32,542
and all of that going on
like it was going on
461
00:20:32,542 --> 00:20:37,083
in the other major cities like
L.A. and Chicago and New York.
462
00:20:37,083 --> 00:20:40,208
In Boston,
everybody was in the groove.
463
00:20:40,208 --> 00:20:41,958
-♪ Sometimes I call
464
00:20:41,958 --> 00:20:43,875
♪ Sometimes I ring
465
00:20:43,875 --> 00:20:46,958
♪ Sometimes I ring so hard
466
00:20:46,958 --> 00:20:49,042
♪ Oh, can't stand it
467
00:20:49,042 --> 00:20:51,250
♪ Good God
468
00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:56,542
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah
469
00:20:56,542 --> 00:20:58,208
Oh!
470
00:20:58,208 --> 00:21:00,625
-The very fact that
white public officials
471
00:21:00,625 --> 00:21:04,292
asked Mr. Brown to speak
to some of these communities
472
00:21:04,292 --> 00:21:07,375
in the wake of the murder
of Martin Luther King,
473
00:21:07,375 --> 00:21:09,375
that was fraught
with contradiction.
474
00:21:09,375 --> 00:21:11,167
Mr. Brown had credibility.
475
00:21:11,167 --> 00:21:12,917
He could get people to cool out,
476
00:21:12,917 --> 00:21:16,375
understand that black power
meant building your community,
477
00:21:16,375 --> 00:21:18,333
not tearing it down.
478
00:21:18,333 --> 00:21:20,583
But at the same time,
there were whispers
479
00:21:20,583 --> 00:21:24,000
that, "You're operating
with the establishment."
480
00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,958
James Brown in 1968
481
00:21:25,958 --> 00:21:31,417
was looking for who he could
connect with that was in charge.
482
00:21:31,417 --> 00:21:33,042
-♪ So good
-♪ So good
483
00:21:33,042 --> 00:21:36,417
-Mellow.
[ Laughter ]
484
00:21:36,417 --> 00:21:40,083
-You just returned from Vietnam,
a USO tour.
485
00:21:40,083 --> 00:21:42,042
What did you find there?
486
00:21:42,042 --> 00:21:43,917
-It was hard.
487
00:21:43,917 --> 00:21:47,542
It was one of the hardest things
I've ever done.
488
00:21:47,542 --> 00:21:51,875
I find myself, in some
instances, fighting two wars.
489
00:21:51,875 --> 00:21:55,375
Uh, we have a war there.
490
00:21:55,375 --> 00:21:58,125
Well, three wars --
war against poverty
491
00:21:58,125 --> 00:22:01,583
and, uh, segregation
in certain parts.
492
00:22:01,583 --> 00:22:05,208
-James Brown's appeal
cut across class lines
493
00:22:05,208 --> 00:22:06,708
in the black community
494
00:22:06,708 --> 00:22:09,542
and across political lines
in the black community.
495
00:22:09,542 --> 00:22:13,500
So people that had
bourgeois aspirations,
496
00:22:13,500 --> 00:22:16,208
people that had
revolutionary aspirations,
497
00:22:16,208 --> 00:22:17,875
James Brown affected everyone.
498
00:22:17,875 --> 00:22:19,208
-♪ Unh
499
00:22:19,208 --> 00:22:21,167
♪ With your bad self
500
00:22:21,167 --> 00:22:22,958
♪ Say it loud
501
00:22:22,958 --> 00:22:25,750
♪
502
00:22:25,750 --> 00:22:27,458
♪ Some people say
we've got a lot of malice ♪
503
00:22:27,458 --> 00:22:29,667
♪ Some say it's a lot of nerve
504
00:22:29,667 --> 00:22:32,667
♪ But I say we won't quit moving
till we get what we deserve ♪
505
00:22:32,667 --> 00:22:35,500
-The Black Panthers
pressured James Brown.
506
00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:37,292
If you soul brother number one
507
00:22:37,292 --> 00:22:39,208
and you're the most
influential person
508
00:22:39,208 --> 00:22:41,750
in the black community
in terms of music,
509
00:22:41,750 --> 00:22:45,375
then you need to do something
that's a little more clear
510
00:22:45,375 --> 00:22:48,750
in standing for what
we're talking about.
511
00:22:48,750 --> 00:22:50,583
-♪ Say it loud
512
00:22:50,583 --> 00:22:52,667
♪
513
00:22:52,667 --> 00:22:55,042
-You're not gonna tell
James Brown what to do.
514
00:22:55,042 --> 00:22:58,792
But Stokely Carmichael told me,
Kwame Ture told me,
515
00:22:58,792 --> 00:23:01,875
he said, "Yo, we was on him
left and right, man.
516
00:23:01,875 --> 00:23:05,000
Yo, yo. What's up?
This is what's going down."
517
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,833
-I'm militant, but I'm militant
individually, you know?
518
00:23:08,833 --> 00:23:10,542
-To get ahead.
-That's right.
519
00:23:10,542 --> 00:23:14,583
I'll fight. I won't pull you
or some of my people in.
520
00:23:14,583 --> 00:23:17,167
If I figure that
I'm getting a raw deal,
521
00:23:17,167 --> 00:23:18,958
then I'll reassign myself.
522
00:23:18,958 --> 00:23:22,417
-That was his signal
to the black radical movement,
523
00:23:22,417 --> 00:23:24,125
"I'm down with y'all."
524
00:23:24,125 --> 00:23:25,667
-The black people in America
525
00:23:25,667 --> 00:23:27,667
wanted to be called
anything but black.
526
00:23:27,667 --> 00:23:29,125
So I said,
"I'm gonna write something
527
00:23:29,125 --> 00:23:31,375
that will take that stigma
out of their mind."
528
00:23:31,375 --> 00:23:32,583
♪ Say it loud
529
00:23:32,583 --> 00:23:34,000
-♪ I'm black and I'm proud
530
00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,250
-Aah!
531
00:23:35,250 --> 00:23:36,542
This is the things
that I can do,
532
00:23:36,542 --> 00:23:38,000
'cause people believe in me.
533
00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:39,542
-There was this notion
534
00:23:39,542 --> 00:23:44,000
that this term "black power"
was scary to people.
535
00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,708
And then you have a song.
536
00:23:45,708 --> 00:23:48,208
You have people being affirmed.
537
00:23:48,208 --> 00:23:50,042
-♪ Say it loud
538
00:23:50,042 --> 00:23:51,917
♪ I'm black and I'm proud
539
00:23:51,917 --> 00:23:55,875
-I was born in 1960, Chuck D,
Carlton Ridenhour, right?
540
00:23:55,875 --> 00:23:58,708
I got "Negro"
on my birth certificate.
541
00:23:58,708 --> 00:24:00,333
Born in Queens, New York.
542
00:24:00,333 --> 00:24:02,583
-"Say it loud,
I'm black and I'm proud."
543
00:24:02,583 --> 00:24:04,750
Overnight, from Negro to black.
544
00:24:04,750 --> 00:24:08,708
He changed our self-identity.
He changed the culture.
545
00:24:08,708 --> 00:24:10,375
And he changed
how white America looked at us,
546
00:24:10,375 --> 00:24:14,542
because it's different when your
chest is out and you're proud,
547
00:24:14,542 --> 00:24:16,542
'cause now you got to
handle me differently.
548
00:24:16,542 --> 00:24:18,958
I'm a black man. I've got to
take part in my cause.
549
00:24:18,958 --> 00:24:21,083
I got to take part
in my fight for freedom,
550
00:24:21,083 --> 00:24:24,542
for equality, and take a stand
where it's needed.
551
00:24:24,542 --> 00:24:27,458
-That song was dangerous,
aggressive, and political.
552
00:24:27,458 --> 00:24:29,042
But I'm 8 years old.
553
00:24:29,042 --> 00:24:31,875
How do I give a damn?
All I know, it's funky.
554
00:24:31,875 --> 00:24:33,750
I'm saying the word "black."
555
00:24:33,750 --> 00:24:35,750
And we ain't "colored" no more.
556
00:24:35,750 --> 00:24:37,875
-James Brown was willing
to go against
557
00:24:37,875 --> 00:24:40,917
all of the teachings
of Western civilization
558
00:24:40,917 --> 00:24:44,625
that demeans blackness
and valorizes whiteness,
559
00:24:44,625 --> 00:24:46,625
and to take the medium
that you're in
560
00:24:46,625 --> 00:24:48,750
and to turn that upside down,
561
00:24:48,750 --> 00:24:50,958
all of a sudden
everyone had permission
562
00:24:50,958 --> 00:24:53,667
because of James Brown,
because of that song.
563
00:24:53,667 --> 00:24:55,208
-"Say It Loud --
I'm Black and I'm Proud,"
564
00:24:55,208 --> 00:24:58,083
he was prophesying a future
that hadn't yet existed.
565
00:24:58,083 --> 00:24:58,500
he was prophesying a future
that hadn't yet existed.
566
00:24:59,250 --> 00:25:01,667
To start in this country
as (bleep)
567
00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:02,125
To start in this country
as (bleep)
568
00:25:03,208 --> 00:25:06,042
To start in this country
and then to be called colored,
569
00:25:06,042 --> 00:25:08,375
and then there was
a new way of thinking.
570
00:25:08,375 --> 00:25:11,958
-♪ I'm black and I'm proud
571
00:25:11,958 --> 00:25:12,250
-That's probably one of
the most bravest things
572
00:25:13,125 --> 00:25:15,083
-That's probably one of
the most bravest things
573
00:25:15,083 --> 00:25:19,917
and the most political thing
that James Brown has ever done.
574
00:25:19,917 --> 00:25:22,000
It's the original
Black Lives Matter.
575
00:25:27,667 --> 00:25:28,625
-As important as
"Say It Loud" was,
576
00:25:28,625 --> 00:25:30,083
the next record he made
577
00:25:30,083 --> 00:25:32,125
that had any specific reference
to politics
578
00:25:32,125 --> 00:25:35,417
was, "I don't want nobody
to give me nothing.
579
00:25:35,417 --> 00:25:38,167
Open up the door,
and I'll get it myself."
580
00:25:38,167 --> 00:25:41,542
-♪ I don't want nobody
to give me nothing ♪
581
00:25:41,542 --> 00:25:43,458
♪ Open up the door
582
00:25:43,458 --> 00:25:45,042
♪ I'll get it myself
583
00:25:45,042 --> 00:25:48,125
-He was the only one
who had the freedom
584
00:25:48,125 --> 00:25:52,000
and the common sense
to manage himself.
585
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,083
His manager, Ben Bart,
passed away in 1968.
586
00:25:56,083 --> 00:25:59,875
The head of King Records
passed away in 1968.
587
00:25:59,875 --> 00:26:02,500
James was in complete control
of himself.
588
00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:04,333
-♪ Don't give me integration
589
00:26:04,333 --> 00:26:06,417
♪ Give me true communication
590
00:26:06,417 --> 00:26:08,542
♪ Don't give me sorrow
591
00:26:08,542 --> 00:26:10,750
♪ I want equal opportunity
592
00:26:10,750 --> 00:26:12,500
♪ To live tomorrow
593
00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:13,875
♪ Give me schools
594
00:26:13,875 --> 00:26:15,708
-We're going to start
the press conference.
595
00:26:15,708 --> 00:26:20,708
And for your convenience,
we have prepared a proposal
596
00:26:20,708 --> 00:26:22,958
that sets forth all the details
and mechanics
597
00:26:22,958 --> 00:26:25,333
of the Black and Brown
Trading Stamp.
598
00:26:25,333 --> 00:26:27,708
-The James Brown
trading stamp idea
599
00:26:27,708 --> 00:26:30,542
was with Art Powell
of the Oakland Raiders.
600
00:26:30,542 --> 00:26:32,583
It was with Donald Warden,
601
00:26:32,583 --> 00:26:35,875
who had this whole
black nationalist organization.
602
00:26:35,875 --> 00:26:39,208
And in essence, you could pay
for some of your means
603
00:26:39,208 --> 00:26:43,708
with a currency that was
developed by your own people.
604
00:26:43,708 --> 00:26:45,833
-This is the idea
of us getting together,
605
00:26:45,833 --> 00:26:49,542
an idea of keeping the money
in the black community.
606
00:26:49,542 --> 00:26:52,500
-There were roughly 700
black-owned businesses.
607
00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,042
Customers could really
take these stamps
608
00:26:54,042 --> 00:26:55,667
and go redeem it
for a loaf of bread
609
00:26:55,667 --> 00:26:57,792
or a haircut or get gas.
610
00:26:57,792 --> 00:26:59,625
So one of the things
about those stamps
611
00:26:59,625 --> 00:27:02,042
is the community building,
black ownership,
612
00:27:02,042 --> 00:27:04,167
but also keeping wealth
in the community.
613
00:27:04,167 --> 00:27:06,208
-If we can keep
the turnover going,
614
00:27:06,208 --> 00:27:11,208
then we shall overcome,
only if we all come over.
615
00:27:11,208 --> 00:27:12,833
-Yow!
616
00:27:12,833 --> 00:27:14,875
♪
617
00:27:14,875 --> 00:27:17,208
-Get your James Brown program.
618
00:27:17,208 --> 00:27:19,375
-Most people
in the black community
619
00:27:19,375 --> 00:27:22,292
believe in financial power,
620
00:27:22,292 --> 00:27:25,208
and James Brown does have
that financial power,
621
00:27:25,208 --> 00:27:28,708
from little babies
on up to the businessmen.
622
00:27:28,708 --> 00:27:33,292
-James Brown is
the original entrepreneur mogul.
623
00:27:33,292 --> 00:27:34,875
He got a private jet.
624
00:27:34,875 --> 00:27:37,750
There was nobody with
private jets that was black.
625
00:27:37,750 --> 00:27:42,375
Restaurants, 500 suits,
mansions,
626
00:27:42,375 --> 00:27:45,708
and on three radio stations.
627
00:27:45,708 --> 00:27:47,792
-This is Tony Scott
reporting Pulse Beat news
628
00:27:47,792 --> 00:27:51,125
from WRDW Augusta,
a James Brown station.
629
00:27:51,125 --> 00:27:53,833
♪
630
00:27:53,833 --> 00:27:56,208
-It wasn't just about the music.
631
00:27:56,208 --> 00:28:00,542
It was about, "What can I do
for my community
632
00:28:00,542 --> 00:28:03,208
and put in my community
to bring them up?"
633
00:28:03,208 --> 00:28:06,708
-James Brown was probably
at the peak of his popularity,
634
00:28:06,708 --> 00:28:08,208
certainly in black America.
635
00:28:08,208 --> 00:28:11,042
His influence was starting
to cross over
636
00:28:11,042 --> 00:28:14,333
because, you know, he had played
at Nixon's inauguration.
637
00:28:18,042 --> 00:28:19,583
-♪ Oh, yeah
638
00:28:19,583 --> 00:28:22,292
♪ You're kidding me
639
00:28:22,292 --> 00:28:23,583
♪ Alright
640
00:28:23,583 --> 00:28:25,125
♪ You're outta sight
641
00:28:25,125 --> 00:28:28,250
-For James Brown to sing
that song at the White House
642
00:28:28,250 --> 00:28:30,917
to affirm that black people
were a large part
643
00:28:30,917 --> 00:28:32,583
of the fabric of this country,
644
00:28:32,583 --> 00:28:34,875
he was really speaking
to them to show,
645
00:28:34,875 --> 00:28:37,125
like, "Now that we have Nixon
in the White House,
646
00:28:37,125 --> 00:28:38,667
we have to hold him
accountable,"
647
00:28:38,667 --> 00:28:41,208
and that was a brave thing
for him to do.
648
00:28:41,208 --> 00:28:43,917
-He never lost sight
of the fact
649
00:28:43,917 --> 00:28:46,375
that this ancillary role,
650
00:28:46,375 --> 00:28:49,958
as the spokesperson
for the black community,
651
00:28:49,958 --> 00:28:54,833
had a very delicate pro
and con on his business model.
652
00:28:54,833 --> 00:28:57,958
But by the same token,
it was like, "Okay,
653
00:28:57,958 --> 00:29:00,417
I'm going to make a song
called 'Mother Popcorn'
654
00:29:00,417 --> 00:29:02,625
and just get people to dance."
655
00:29:02,625 --> 00:29:04,417
-♪ I like 'em tall
656
00:29:04,417 --> 00:29:06,500
♪ I like 'em proud
657
00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:08,500
♪ And when they walk
658
00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:09,875
♪ You know they draw a crowd
659
00:29:09,875 --> 00:29:14,833
♪ See, you gotta
have a mutha for me ♪
660
00:29:14,833 --> 00:29:17,375
-"Mother "Popcorn" says "you got
to have a mutha for me",
661
00:29:17,375 --> 00:29:20,500
and "mother" meant a woman
with a substantial behind.
662
00:29:20,500 --> 00:29:22,333
[ Laughs ]
663
00:29:22,333 --> 00:29:25,833
-His treatment towards women,
the baggage that he brought,
664
00:29:25,833 --> 00:29:29,083
you know, is there ever
a context for that?
665
00:29:29,083 --> 00:29:31,875
We love to take
from our entertainers,
666
00:29:31,875 --> 00:29:34,708
and we love to take so much,
667
00:29:34,708 --> 00:29:38,292
we ignore the B-side
of the record.
668
00:29:38,292 --> 00:29:40,375
-There's a lot of people
who have asked me,
669
00:29:40,375 --> 00:29:42,542
"How could you have worked
for such a guy
670
00:29:42,542 --> 00:29:48,125
who was narcissistic and unfair
and mistreated his women?"
671
00:29:48,125 --> 00:29:52,000
He physically abused several of
the musicians in his band,
672
00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:57,542
background singers on tour, and
the women in his personal life.
673
00:29:57,542 --> 00:30:03,333
He could be sweet one day
and violent the next.
674
00:30:03,333 --> 00:30:06,167
-There's a lot
of contradictions going on
675
00:30:06,167 --> 00:30:07,708
with James Brown's life
right now
676
00:30:07,708 --> 00:30:09,542
and during this time period.
677
00:30:09,542 --> 00:30:12,292
Velma, James's wife,
divorces him
678
00:30:12,292 --> 00:30:17,375
because he gets Deedee pregnant
with Dee Brown, his daughter.
679
00:30:17,375 --> 00:30:22,000
To really complicate matters,
he's about to lose the best band
680
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,708
he's ever had in his life.
681
00:30:25,708 --> 00:30:28,625
-The band,
they wanted more money.
682
00:30:28,625 --> 00:30:30,750
They wanted separate rooms.
683
00:30:30,750 --> 00:30:30,792
They saw all that money.
They said,
684
00:30:31,750 --> 00:30:32,583
They saw all that money.
They said,
685
00:30:32,583 --> 00:30:34,708
"If you don't pay us tonight,"
686
00:30:34,708 --> 00:30:36,458
they said,
"We're going to walk."
687
00:30:36,458 --> 00:30:41,083
-James Brown calls his band's
bluff and they abruptly leave.
688
00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:48,042
-I try to build an image
of a black man to do anything,
689
00:30:48,042 --> 00:30:50,208
any major move on his own,
690
00:30:50,208 --> 00:30:51,417
and that's one of the reasons
I'm out here,
691
00:30:51,417 --> 00:30:54,000
because I try to prove every day
that a black man
692
00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:58,958
can run a multi-million-dollar
operation.
693
00:30:58,958 --> 00:31:03,000
-We had some of the best
musicians in the world,
694
00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,458
but he had his own way
of doing things.
695
00:31:06,458 --> 00:31:09,042
-I had just turned 19.
696
00:31:09,042 --> 00:31:12,958
We did this gig at this
place called The Wine Bar,
697
00:31:12,958 --> 00:31:16,000
and the bartender said,
698
00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,750
"Bootsy,
Bobby Byrd's on the phone."
699
00:31:19,750 --> 00:31:22,375
And I'm like,
"No. No way.
700
00:31:22,375 --> 00:31:24,750
No way
Bobby Byrd on the phone."
701
00:31:24,750 --> 00:31:26,167
He's like, "Yeah, yeah."
702
00:31:26,167 --> 00:31:29,625
And I was like, "Bobby,
what's going on?"
703
00:31:29,625 --> 00:31:33,875
"Mr. Brown -- Mr. Brown want you
all to come down here and play."
704
00:31:33,875 --> 00:31:36,667
I'm like,
"He want us to what?"
705
00:31:36,667 --> 00:31:38,375
-One, two, three, four.
706
00:31:41,667 --> 00:31:43,375
Make them ones. Yeah.
707
00:31:43,375 --> 00:31:47,208
-Probably the most important
move in James Brown's career
708
00:31:47,208 --> 00:31:51,042
is bringing
in Bootsy Collins,
709
00:31:51,042 --> 00:31:54,375
his slightly older
brother, Catfish.
710
00:31:54,375 --> 00:31:57,875
-The song "Sex Machine"
came about on a bus.
711
00:31:57,875 --> 00:32:00,208
On the bus.
We were traveling down the road.
712
00:32:00,208 --> 00:32:01,792
-And make sure
you get that phrase
713
00:32:01,792 --> 00:32:03,083
because this is it, you know?
714
00:32:03,083 --> 00:32:04,667
-James and I was doing the song.
715
00:32:04,667 --> 00:32:09,458
Bootsy was there, and they
recorded the song with us.
716
00:32:09,458 --> 00:32:13,292
-Him and Bobby Byrd
sitting in the chairs here.
717
00:32:13,292 --> 00:32:16,208
Me and Catfish
right behind him.
718
00:32:16,208 --> 00:32:21,708
"Bobby. Right to Danny.
Get up! Right there.
719
00:32:21,708 --> 00:32:24,833
I feel like a sex machine."
720
00:32:24,833 --> 00:32:26,750
They started writing, alright?
721
00:32:26,750 --> 00:32:27,958
And "What kind of
what kind of groove
722
00:32:27,958 --> 00:32:29,833
you got there?
Somewhere around here."
723
00:32:29,833 --> 00:32:31,125
-One, two, three, four.
724
00:32:32,875 --> 00:32:34,708
♪ Get up,
get on up ♪
725
00:32:34,708 --> 00:32:36,708
♪ Get up, get on up
726
00:32:36,708 --> 00:32:38,708
♪ Stay on the scene,
get on up ♪
727
00:32:38,708 --> 00:32:40,708
♪ Like a sex machine,
get on up ♪
728
00:32:40,708 --> 00:32:42,500
-That was my brother's band,
729
00:32:42,500 --> 00:32:46,458
and all the rest of us was
the one that became The J.B.'s.
730
00:32:46,458 --> 00:32:48,375
-That band was probably
the most important
731
00:32:48,375 --> 00:32:52,083
because James Brown needed
that band more
732
00:32:52,083 --> 00:32:54,125
than that band needed
James Brown,
733
00:32:54,125 --> 00:32:56,958
even though that band
needed James Brown
734
00:32:56,958 --> 00:32:58,958
to start
their own careers.
735
00:32:58,958 --> 00:33:02,833
-Clyde Stubblefield,
Bootsy Catfish,
736
00:33:02,833 --> 00:33:05,125
Bobby Byrd, Fred Wesley.
737
00:33:05,125 --> 00:33:08,792
That was the rhythm section
that defined funk.
738
00:33:08,792 --> 00:33:10,250
-♪ I got to, I got to
739
00:33:10,250 --> 00:33:12,167
♪ I said give me a place
to rest ♪
740
00:33:12,167 --> 00:33:14,458
♪ I said give me
a place to rest ♪
741
00:33:14,458 --> 00:33:16,292
♪ I said give me that,
give me that ♪
742
00:33:16,292 --> 00:33:19,542
-There's nothing like James
Brown interacting with the band.
743
00:33:19,542 --> 00:33:24,250
That's part of that whole
jazz/improvization thing
744
00:33:24,250 --> 00:33:27,250
that separates him
from his peers.
745
00:33:27,250 --> 00:33:28,542
-Hit it and quit it.
746
00:33:28,542 --> 00:33:32,500
♪
747
00:33:32,500 --> 00:33:35,375
[ Cheers and applause ]
748
00:33:35,375 --> 00:33:37,375
-If you got into James's band
749
00:33:37,375 --> 00:33:40,042
and you learn how to play like
James wanted you to play
750
00:33:40,042 --> 00:33:41,875
and you were precise,
751
00:33:41,875 --> 00:33:43,708
it could only make you better.
752
00:33:43,708 --> 00:33:47,750
Now, if you took those things
somewhere else as Bootsy did,
753
00:33:47,750 --> 00:33:50,083
you become
Bootsy the artist,
754
00:33:50,083 --> 00:33:52,333
you become
Parliament-Funkadelic.
755
00:33:52,333 --> 00:33:54,042
You become all of those things
756
00:33:54,042 --> 00:33:57,250
because that's what
you learn from James.
757
00:33:59,667 --> 00:34:01,083
-♪ Bring it up now
758
00:34:01,083 --> 00:34:03,500
-It's very rare
when you have someone
759
00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:06,792
who can be both
a pioneer and understand
760
00:34:06,792 --> 00:34:11,000
how to capture a business model
and monetize a business model
761
00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:12,542
that they pioneered.
762
00:34:12,542 --> 00:34:15,375
-♪ Fade it on out,
I'm gone ♪
763
00:34:15,375 --> 00:34:17,083
Luckily, I'm with the biggest
company in the world.
764
00:34:17,083 --> 00:34:18,708
I was their first artist,
765
00:34:18,708 --> 00:34:21,917
R&B Polydor,
and I thought it was a bad deal,
766
00:34:21,917 --> 00:34:24,083
and now it's the best thing
I've ever had in my life.
767
00:34:24,083 --> 00:34:25,417
-It actually speaks, I think,
768
00:34:25,417 --> 00:34:30,375
to the acumen of Polydor,
to sign James,
769
00:34:30,375 --> 00:34:33,500
which I think did wonderful
things for Polydor as a label.
770
00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:36,708
-People Records was
the James Brown label
771
00:34:36,708 --> 00:34:38,542
distributed by Polydor.
772
00:34:38,542 --> 00:34:43,583
So all of his artists
were put out on People Records.
773
00:34:43,583 --> 00:34:47,417
-♪ Yeah, whoo
774
00:34:47,417 --> 00:34:50,542
-♪ It takes two to make
a thing go right ♪
775
00:34:50,542 --> 00:34:52,083
-♪ Come on
776
00:34:52,083 --> 00:34:53,500
-♪ It takes two
to make it out of sight ♪
777
00:34:53,500 --> 00:34:56,375
-When you listen to the music
for, like,
778
00:34:56,375 --> 00:34:58,208
"Think",
for example, Lyn Collins,
779
00:34:58,208 --> 00:35:00,333
you hear the attitude on wax.
780
00:35:00,333 --> 00:35:03,208
You hear her yell,
just like James would yell.
781
00:35:03,208 --> 00:35:05,708
-James was totally prolific
as a producer.
782
00:35:05,708 --> 00:35:09,542
They would go in the studio
and just crank out grooves.
783
00:35:09,542 --> 00:35:13,833
-He believed that if you
worked hard, you'll be rewarded.
784
00:35:13,833 --> 00:35:15,708
He was a true capitalist.
785
00:35:16,750 --> 00:35:18,875
-♪ Ooh
786
00:35:18,875 --> 00:35:22,708
-James Brown was almost
a political figure in many ways.
787
00:35:22,708 --> 00:35:24,417
1960s and 1970s.
788
00:35:24,417 --> 00:35:28,125
What he was
primarily interested in
789
00:35:28,125 --> 00:35:30,333
was black self-empowerment.
790
00:35:30,333 --> 00:35:34,292
In 1972, for him,
that was Richard Nixon.
791
00:35:34,292 --> 00:35:37,083
He discarded
all of the racist stuff,
792
00:35:37,083 --> 00:35:39,542
and he just zeroed in
793
00:35:39,542 --> 00:35:42,375
on that message
of entrepreneurship.
794
00:35:42,375 --> 00:35:44,833
-And so, when Nixon
was espousing --
795
00:35:44,833 --> 00:35:49,208
may not necessarily be following
through with these promises --
796
00:35:49,208 --> 00:35:53,417
Mr. Brown saw it
as a way to free black people.
797
00:35:53,417 --> 00:35:56,458
-In my community,
the ghetto where I'm from,
798
00:35:56,458 --> 00:35:59,583
one of the things
that has taken advantage of us
799
00:35:59,583 --> 00:36:01,250
and that we haven't
taken advantage of it,
800
00:36:01,250 --> 00:36:03,042
was the politics.
801
00:36:03,042 --> 00:36:05,542
-Can you tell us
specifically
802
00:36:05,542 --> 00:36:07,625
what you're doing to deal
with what some consider
803
00:36:07,625 --> 00:36:09,625
to be this distrust
among the blacks?
804
00:36:09,625 --> 00:36:12,208
-My task force on
education pointed out
805
00:36:12,208 --> 00:36:14,542
that I was not considered --
806
00:36:14,542 --> 00:36:17,375
I think the words
they used -- as a friend
807
00:36:17,375 --> 00:36:22,500
by many of our black citizens
in America.
808
00:36:24,625 --> 00:36:26,750
-Well, I'm endorsing
President Nixon
809
00:36:26,750 --> 00:36:29,292
because I believe
the future of the country
810
00:36:29,292 --> 00:36:31,875
lies with Mr. Nixon.
811
00:36:31,875 --> 00:36:34,208
Some of the things he's done
have been very close
812
00:36:34,208 --> 00:36:36,375
to my heart
as a minority, as a black man.
813
00:36:36,375 --> 00:36:38,625
It's happening
in private black colleges
814
00:36:38,625 --> 00:36:41,417
so we can maintain our culture
as well as get an education.
815
00:36:41,417 --> 00:36:43,000
He's the man for the job.
816
00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,958
-♪ Like a dull knife
817
00:36:44,958 --> 00:36:47,708
♪ Just ain't cuttin'
818
00:36:47,708 --> 00:36:50,125
♪ Just talking loud
819
00:36:50,125 --> 00:36:51,458
♪ And saying nothing
820
00:36:51,458 --> 00:36:54,875
-James Brown was going
with the top dog.
821
00:36:54,875 --> 00:36:57,333
-He wasn't the only one.
Sammy Davis did the same thing.
822
00:36:57,333 --> 00:36:59,625
There were a lot of brothers
who thought that
823
00:36:59,625 --> 00:37:02,667
once you get
to a certain bracket,
824
00:37:02,667 --> 00:37:06,375
that you can be a part of this
party, the Republican Party.
825
00:37:06,375 --> 00:37:09,958
-When James Brown
cosigned Nixon,
826
00:37:09,958 --> 00:37:12,500
my parents went crazy.
827
00:37:12,500 --> 00:37:15,375
Like, "How could you?
How could you?"
828
00:37:15,375 --> 00:37:15,458
I don't know
what his thinking was.
829
00:37:16,375 --> 00:37:17,500
I don't know
what his thinking was.
830
00:37:17,792 --> 00:37:19,833
Like, I was talking to
a gentleman the other day.
831
00:37:19,833 --> 00:37:21,875
He said, "Well, you know,
saying these kind of things,
832
00:37:21,875 --> 00:37:23,333
you'd be called a tom."
833
00:37:23,333 --> 00:37:25,333
I'm an American,
so I've got to think patriotic.
834
00:37:30,125 --> 00:37:31,750
-Me, you, your friend,
835
00:37:31,750 --> 00:37:34,125
your mother, your dad,
836
00:37:34,125 --> 00:37:35,375
President of the United States.
837
00:37:35,375 --> 00:37:40,500
Nobody
is as great as the country.
838
00:37:40,500 --> 00:37:43,250
♪ Hey, country,
you didn't say what you mean ♪
839
00:37:43,250 --> 00:37:47,750
♪ You just changed, a brand new,
funky president ♪
840
00:37:47,750 --> 00:37:49,500
-You've been called to
the White House
841
00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:51,750
and you've been before many,
many leaders
842
00:37:51,750 --> 00:37:53,375
throughout the country.
843
00:37:53,375 --> 00:37:55,708
Do you feel that whites,
844
00:37:55,708 --> 00:37:59,208
basically, have
accepted you?
845
00:37:59,208 --> 00:38:01,708
-I don't like
the word "accept", you know?
846
00:38:01,708 --> 00:38:03,500
You're a beautiful
young man,
847
00:38:03,500 --> 00:38:05,250
but I think you're
interviewing me a little wrong.
848
00:38:05,250 --> 00:38:06,542
-How's that, sir?
849
00:38:06,542 --> 00:38:08,542
-I don't think
you understand me.
850
00:38:08,542 --> 00:38:11,583
Number one, I'm not trying
to prove nothing to the whites,
851
00:38:11,583 --> 00:38:13,917
that I can be a head (bleep).
852
00:38:13,917 --> 00:38:15,542
See, that's not my bag.
853
00:38:15,542 --> 00:38:18,500
-♪ And this is what
you rap to 'em ♪
854
00:38:18,500 --> 00:38:20,417
♪ I mean, come on,
like you should ♪
855
00:38:20,417 --> 00:38:21,875
♪ Come on with you,
come on ♪
856
00:38:21,875 --> 00:38:24,125
-♪ Yeah
857
00:38:24,125 --> 00:38:27,625
-He was very clear about his
place in the context of history
858
00:38:27,625 --> 00:38:31,375
and very clear about being
connected to the people.
859
00:38:31,375 --> 00:38:33,417
One of the things
that you don't hear associated
860
00:38:33,417 --> 00:38:36,417
with James Brown is clarity.
861
00:38:36,417 --> 00:38:38,250
People listen to that voice,
862
00:38:38,250 --> 00:38:39,542
and when they think
of James Brown,
863
00:38:39,542 --> 00:38:41,625
they think blurry,
hard to understand,
864
00:38:41,625 --> 00:38:46,208
kind of, you know,
"inarticulate", if you will.
865
00:38:46,208 --> 00:38:50,167
He was clear, man.
Very clear.
866
00:38:50,167 --> 00:38:51,708
-There's been so many negroes
867
00:38:51,708 --> 00:38:53,792
that sold
the black people out.
868
00:38:56,375 --> 00:38:57,958
I'm saying --
This is what I mean.
869
00:38:57,958 --> 00:39:00,167
You know, just like I said it.
870
00:39:00,167 --> 00:39:03,042
[ Cheers and applause ]
871
00:39:03,042 --> 00:39:05,208
♪ Funky, down
872
00:39:05,208 --> 00:39:07,458
-He and Nixon had talked.
873
00:39:07,458 --> 00:39:09,042
A lot of promises were made.
874
00:39:09,042 --> 00:39:12,292
A lot of things were said
that didn't never happen.
875
00:39:12,292 --> 00:39:15,333
-And did he really think
that Richard Nixon
876
00:39:15,333 --> 00:39:17,292
or some of these other people
were going to do what they said?
877
00:39:17,292 --> 00:39:20,250
Probably. Did they?
No. Absolutely not.
878
00:39:20,250 --> 00:39:22,000
They were using him for votes.
879
00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:23,833
It's obvious to us now,
880
00:39:23,833 --> 00:39:26,542
but when you really think
you can make a difference
881
00:39:26,542 --> 00:39:28,542
for your community
by talking to people
882
00:39:28,542 --> 00:39:30,667
that can make a difference,
883
00:39:30,667 --> 00:39:33,250
that's what his mindset was on.
884
00:39:33,250 --> 00:39:36,917
-Was endorsing Richard Nixon
during that time
885
00:39:36,917 --> 00:39:39,375
equivalent to selling
your community out?
886
00:39:39,375 --> 00:39:40,875
Absolutely. It was.
887
00:39:40,875 --> 00:39:43,625
-♪ It ain't no funky job
to be found ♪
888
00:39:43,625 --> 00:39:45,375
-Well, I think that
him endorsing Nixon
889
00:39:45,375 --> 00:39:46,917
was really --
890
00:39:46,917 --> 00:39:48,542
you know, you don't know
what agreement they had.
891
00:39:48,542 --> 00:39:52,083
You can say, "Okay, well,
I'll endorse you for this
892
00:39:52,083 --> 00:39:53,750
if you're going
to give me that."
893
00:39:53,750 --> 00:39:55,875
It's always been that way
in politics and music.
894
00:39:55,875 --> 00:39:57,708
You know,
to this day, it's that way.
895
00:39:57,708 --> 00:40:00,542
You have to figure out,
"Hey, how can I get in there,
896
00:40:00,542 --> 00:40:02,667
and then how can I get
what I need done?"
897
00:40:02,667 --> 00:40:04,458
-♪ Tell him, godfather
898
00:40:04,458 --> 00:40:06,083
♪ Hey, oh
899
00:40:06,083 --> 00:40:07,583
♪ Whooo
900
00:40:07,583 --> 00:40:09,542
-Now, Nixon was
telling him one thing,
901
00:40:09,542 --> 00:40:11,292
but when it was time to do
902
00:40:11,292 --> 00:40:13,375
what he supposed to do,
903
00:40:13,375 --> 00:40:15,625
none of that was mentioned.
904
00:40:15,625 --> 00:40:17,958
-James Brown endorsing Nixon
905
00:40:17,958 --> 00:40:21,333
was really more so
to push the black agenda,
906
00:40:21,333 --> 00:40:24,583
but unfortunately, it backfired
and it cost him record sales
907
00:40:24,583 --> 00:40:26,208
and, you know, just cost him,
908
00:40:26,208 --> 00:40:28,083
you know, just fandom
in many cases,
909
00:40:28,083 --> 00:40:31,542
and his hits really stopped
coming around that time.
910
00:40:31,542 --> 00:40:33,542
-Everything tanked.
911
00:40:33,542 --> 00:40:37,208
You know, people were like,
"Have you lost your mind?"
912
00:40:37,208 --> 00:40:39,375
-And what's important
for us to do
913
00:40:39,375 --> 00:40:41,875
as individuals who are
part of community,
914
00:40:41,875 --> 00:40:44,583
is you hold your artists
accountable.
915
00:40:44,583 --> 00:40:46,375
-They had picketed him
at the Apollo,
916
00:40:46,375 --> 00:40:48,958
-Mr. Brown's endorsement
of Richard Nixon --
917
00:40:48,958 --> 00:40:50,542
it was a misstep.
918
00:40:50,542 --> 00:40:53,042
-When the going got rough,
a lot of people backed up
919
00:40:53,042 --> 00:40:54,208
and walked away from me.
920
00:40:54,208 --> 00:40:56,042
-♪ Hey, listen to the man
921
00:40:56,042 --> 00:40:57,458
♪ Whoo
922
00:40:57,458 --> 00:40:59,750
-♪ I need to be the mayor
923
00:40:59,750 --> 00:41:03,583
♪ So I can
change the things around here ♪
924
00:41:03,583 --> 00:41:07,208
-He wrote the song "Papa
Don't Take No Mess". I lived it.
925
00:41:07,208 --> 00:41:08,625
-James Brown was never taught
926
00:41:08,625 --> 00:41:11,667
how to be a son, a father,
or a husband.
927
00:41:11,667 --> 00:41:15,375
He didn't have those examples
to fall back on.
928
00:41:15,375 --> 00:41:17,875
-The violence --
I remember it clear as day.
929
00:41:17,875 --> 00:41:21,083
The last time I ever
saw him abuse my mom --
930
00:41:21,083 --> 00:41:22,542
I just remember going over there
931
00:41:22,542 --> 00:41:25,583
and trying to pull him
off of her,
932
00:41:25,583 --> 00:41:29,542
and the look that
he gave me was like...
933
00:41:29,542 --> 00:41:31,375
-I don't want
to bad-mouth Adrienne,
934
00:41:31,375 --> 00:41:34,208
but things started to get crazy
about the time she came around.
935
00:41:34,208 --> 00:41:35,375
-I was there when they met.
936
00:41:35,375 --> 00:41:36,875
He said, "Reverend,
get her number."
937
00:41:36,875 --> 00:41:39,042
-That was the beginning
of a different Mr. Brown.
938
00:41:39,042 --> 00:41:40,583
-Almost every week,
939
00:41:40,583 --> 00:41:42,667
something was happening
to put them in the news.
940
00:41:42,667 --> 00:41:44,458
-I mean, he got
into some drug problems,
941
00:41:44,458 --> 00:41:46,375
I think also.
942
00:41:46,375 --> 00:41:48,625
Didn't we all?
943
00:41:48,625 --> 00:41:50,375
-He used to get high
in what he called "gorilla".
944
00:41:50,375 --> 00:41:52,583
Gorilla is a version of PCP.
945
00:41:52,583 --> 00:41:53,958
-They got into those drugs
946
00:41:53,958 --> 00:41:55,625
and it would turn them
into something
947
00:41:55,625 --> 00:41:57,500
that they really
shouldn't have been.
948
00:41:57,500 --> 00:41:59,208
-So I'm on the air,
and I get the news
949
00:41:59,208 --> 00:42:02,792
that Mr. Brown was in
a two-state car chase.
950
00:42:02,792 --> 00:42:04,708
It's like, "What is going on?"
951
00:42:04,708 --> 00:42:07,875
-Someone was using my
facilities without my consent.
952
00:42:07,875 --> 00:42:10,125
-He did get his shotgun
out of the pickup,
953
00:42:10,125 --> 00:42:11,875
but he did not fire it.
954
00:42:11,875 --> 00:42:15,542
-Four white policemen came up
and shot the truck up
955
00:42:15,542 --> 00:42:17,708
and almost shot
the black deputy sheriff.
956
00:42:17,708 --> 00:42:19,417
I wasn't afraid of them.
957
00:42:19,417 --> 00:42:22,167
-If James Brown was not
who he was,
958
00:42:22,167 --> 00:42:24,000
was not of the race
he is,
959
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:26,000
there's no question
that he would not have been
960
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:27,417
given this sentence.
961
00:42:27,417 --> 00:42:29,042
-He was public enemy number one.
962
00:42:29,042 --> 00:42:32,792
-I'm doing the time,
and somebody else did the crime.
69716
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