Original subtitles

♪ I am the stone The builder refused ♪

♪ I am the visual The inspiration ♪

♪ That made lady Sing the blues ♪

♪ I'm the spark That makes your idea bright ♪

♪ The same spark That lights the dark ♪

♪ So that you can know Your left from your right ♪

♪ I am the ballot in your box The bullet in the gun ♪

♪ The inner glow That lets you know ♪

♪ To call your brother sun The story that just begun ♪

♪ The promise Of what's to come ♪

♪ And I'm-a remain a soldier ♪

♪ Till the war is won ♪

♪ Chop, chop, chop Judo flip ♪

♪ Chop, chop, chop Judo flip ♪

♪ Chop, chop, chop Judo flip ♪

♪ Chop, chop, chop ♪

[♪♪♪]

HUEY: Martin Luther King Jr.

was shot in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.

[GUNSHOT]

He was critically injured.

Dr. King fell into a coma.

The world waited for news of his fate.

There were no riots.

Time passed.

King faded into memory.

There was no national holiday.

Then on October 27, 2000,

32 years after he was shot,

Martin Luther King Jr. came back.

King amazed the world when, on November 2,

seven days after awaking from a 30-year coma,

he showed up to vote in the 2000 presidential election.

He was turned away due to voting irregularities.

People took to the streets to celebrate

the return of their king.

Oh, shit! My nigga MLK! Ha-ha!

Hey, what's up, folks?

Hey, that "got a dream" shit was off the chain, nigga.

Okay... Thank you very much.

[GUNSHOTS]

HUEY: He learned that streets named after him

weren't the very safest.

King inked a seven-figure deal to write his autobiography

called Dream Deferred.

Columbia Pictures green-lit a $100 million biopic

of Dr. King, starring Cuba Gooding Jr.

Oliver Stone was attached to direct.

Spike Lee was pissed.

King mania was at a fever pitch when on August 1, 2001,

Martin Luther King presented Video of the Year

with Puffy at the MTV Video Music Awards.

MAN: I love you, MLK!

Well, you know, Puffy, like you, I can't stop.

I won't stop.

I don't eeeeven know how to stop.

[ALL CHEERING]

MAN 2: My nigga.

That's right. Take that, take that.

MAN: Whoo!

[CHEERING STOPS]

[MAN COUGHS]

And now the nominees for Video of the Year.

HUEY: King was released

the week of September 21, 2001.

One week after 9/11.

[CRICKET CHIRPING]

Then on October 15,

during an appearance on Politically Incorrect,

King shocked the country.

Dr. King, okay...

You're an advocate of nonviolence, but guess what,

how do you think the United States should respond

to the terror attacks of 9/11?

Well, as a Christian,

we are taught that you should love thy enemy,

and if attacked, you should turn the other cheek.

Wh-what?

HUEY: America was outraged.

The president was very concerned by some comments made

by some "ex-civil rights leaders,"

and those people in question should, uh...

watch their goddamn, fuckin' mouths.

Of course, an al Qaeda lover like Martin Luther King

wants us to just roll over and let the terrorists win

because he hates America.

My suggestion:

heh, go take another 30-year nap, Commie bastard.

HUEY: In December 2001, MAN: Jack-off.

CNN named Martin Luther King

one of the ten most unpatriotic Americans.

WOMAN: Pansy faggot.

His book was canned. ■ Asshole.

His house was vandalized.

King renamed his book Dream Deterred,

and it was finally released by a small publisher.

It was called "unimpressive" ■ [SNORING]

by the Woodcrest Post Gazette.

[COUGHING]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Okay...now.

And who am I making this out to? Huey Freeman.

GRANDDAD: Son of a bitch tried to take

my parking spot.

I should have whupped his ass!

Robert Freeman?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I never thought I'd see you again.

How you been?

Well, I was shot

and had a bit of a coma for a few decades.

Yeah, I heard.

I sent you a card. Did you get it?

Well...uh-- I-I don't remember.

Oh, you remember this one.

It was a get-well card

especially for people who got shot,

and I thought this would be perfect for Martin Luther King,

but they didn't sell 'em separately.

I had to buy the whole pack.

You know, I've been thinking about starting

my own greeting card line.

Hey.

You should come over for dinner.

I live right down the road.

Well, I believe I'm supposed to be signing books

for a couple of more hours.

[CRICKET CHIRPING]

Dude, just go.

GRANDDAD: Where they got you stayin'?

KING: I'm staying at a Holiday Inn Express.

I feel smarter already.

Oh, that's nonsense--

RUCKUS: You boycottin' baboon!

[GRUNTS]

Dance there, you goddamn chunky cheat monkey!

Ruckus, what the hell is wrong with you?

Don't interfere, Robert.

This here's between me and Martin Luther so-called King.

Only king I know is Elvis Presley,

God rest his soul.

Oh, oh, you don't remember me.

Well, I've been throwin' bricks at your marchin' ass since 1959.

And so, brothers and sisters,

you know why--

RUCKUS: Hey, shut the hell up,

you black son of a bitch!

What's wrong with y'all?

Thank God for the white man's infinite mercy,

Martin Luther King.

'Cause if it was up to me,

I'd unleash the hound and turn y'all niggas into puppy chow!

I was happy at the back of the bus.

[GRUNTS]

MAN: Ow! My eyeball!

[CROWD CLAMORING]

Just wait till I get me another brick

or maybe a large rock

or, you know, one of them teeny, tiny, little cement blocks.

Why'd you have to go mess with the natural order of things?

I'd have shot you myself,

but I realized the white man got better aim.

GRANDDAD: Stop acting crazy.

We're going back to my house for dinner.

[♪♪♪]

Turn the other cheek and take me with you.

I'm hungry.

You know, Robert,

I spoke to sister Rosa before she passed.

She said you were prank-calling her again.

She was lying.

She had the caller ID, Robert.

You prank-called Rosa Parks?

She stole my thunder.

Robert, you got to let it go.

What did Rosa Parks do to you?

KING: Robert was a member of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Strategic Planning Committee in 1955.

He was on that bus with Sister Rosa that fateful day.

[GASPS] No.

Okay, this is it, brother.

Remember, no matter what they do,

nobody gives up their seat.

Ya dig?

We shall not be moved.

Mm-hm.

Y'all can go ahead on to the back.

[♪♪♪]

We's movin', Mr. Bossman.

We's movin'.

Lord, sure do wish

these here feets could move faster for you, Mr. Bossman...

Move, boy.

MAN: Had some roller skates on,

I could get back there real quick.

This here far enough for you...

No. Mr. Bossman?

I can press myself up against the cold glass window.

MAN: This good? You.

Go ahead to the back.

No.

I am not going to move.

[ALL GASP]

Uh-- Uh-- Uh-- M-Mr. Bus Driver, sir?

She-- She-- She ain't move.

How dare you refuse to give up your seat, woman!

What are you, some kind of history-making crusader

for justice? Yes, we are!

You think you're gonna change history on your own?

Is that it, woman? All by yourself?

That lady sure has courage.

Hey! What--? What about me?

I got courage.

MAN: You wants me to fetch the police

for you, Mr. Bus Driver, sir? Get me the sheriff.

I got a colored woman who don't wanna give up her seat.

MAN: Stay strong, Sister Rosa!

MAN 2: She's so brave!

WOMAN: We'll love you forever!

That's right. Take us to jail.

We're not afraid.

Stay out of trouble, nigger.

Robert, you didn't.

They laid her in state.

They ain't gonna lay my black ass in state.

They gonna lay me at the Johnson fuckin' Mortuary

down the damn street.

Mm-mm. Yeah.

Hm!

[GIGGLING] Well, anyway, Dr. King,

I just wanted to say that even though

you've been catching a lot of flak recently,

we're very honored to meet you, really.

Get off his dick.

[THUD] Ow!

Man, I'm just sayin',

Mr. DuBois riding Dr. King like a rodeo show.

[THUD] Ow!

Stop it!

You don't look famous.

What are you, an actor?

Is you Morgan Freeman?

Ow! Boy, stop acting crazy.

You know that's Martin Luther King.

Now, go clear the dishes.

Why can't this Morgan Freeman King dude

clear the dishes?

Shoot, the nigga just had a free meal.

Riley, come here.

Get over here. No.

How can you embarrass me

in front of Martin Luther King? Stop, Granddad!

What is wrong with you? Ow!

I hate Morgan Freeman King!

I wish he never came here!

[FUNKY RAP MUSIC PLAYING OVER TV]

[SCREAMS]

♪ Move them butt cheeks ♪

♪ Move them butt Move them butt ♪

♪ Move them butt cheeks ♪ Oh, Lord.

[LAUGHTER]

Hm.

♪ I got that thugin' luv ♪ Hm.

What happened, Huey?

What happened to our people?

I think... everyone was waiting

for Martin Luther King to come back.

The Martin Luther King they're waiting for, Huey,

is gone forever.

HUEY: Dr. King?

[KNOCKING AT DOOR] Dr. King?

It's time to get up.

You got an interview today.

KING: I'm not going.

I quit.

Dr. King!

KING: I don't wanna. Mm-mm.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,

you get out of that room and continue to fight

for freedom and justice this instant!

Come on.

Think about it, Dr. King,

you missed out on four decades of media evolution.

[MAN ROARS]

Oh, God!

Sorry, Mr. White Man, sir--

[SCREAMS]

What the people need is the truth.

And not the pretty truth.

The horrible, awful, terrible truth

that hurts people's feelings.

The truth that makes people get angry

and get up and do somethin'.

Huey, I just don't think I belong in this new world.

I don't know if I need

the 20-gig iPod or the 40-gig.

I tried to download some Mahalia Jackson,

but I lost my iTunes password.

I really should have approvals over this kind of thing.

A political party?

Not just any political party,

a black revolutionary political party.

But why me?

You should ask Oprah to do it.

She's more popular, and if you ask me,

a darn pretty lady.

Oh, snap. No, they didn't.

A boneless rib sandwich.

What will they think of next?

I know I shouldn't eat these,

but they're for a limited time only.

Oh...

I really should have approvals over this kind of thing.

And so the philosophy of this new political party

might be considered extremely leftist by some--

Do you love America?

I'm sorry?

You sure as hell are, buddy.

Why can't liberals ever answer that question

with a simple yes, huh?

If you ask me if I love America, I say yes!

Why can't you say yes? Say you love America right now.

Say it.

The party's basic philosophy is--

Say it!

Sir, I will not be--

Say it or shut up!

We'll be back with more fair and balanced coverage after--

Oh! MAN: He just hit him! He--

[BEEPING]

HUEY: I thought that went well.

You know, Huey, those of us who do adhere

to the philosophy of nonviolence,

frown upon the throwing of furniture

to resolve our political differences.

Where did people go for information before cable news?

We can do it like we did back in the day.

We'll go into the streets and tell the people.

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I wish the president Would stop lyin' ♪

♪ Black babies'd stop cryin' ♪

♪ And young brothers'd Stop dyin' ♪

♪ I wish the police'd Stop killin' ♪

♪ Politicians stop stealin' ♪

♪ And actin' like They not dealin' ♪

♪ When they know they got Bricks in the street ♪

[HORNS HONKING] ♪ At the country club ♪

♪ Fixin' to eat ♪ ■ [RUCKUS ROARS]

[HORNS HONKING]

DJ: What up, y'all?

You got it locked on WFRK, The Freak.

That was my main man Gangstalicious

with "Thugin' Luv."

We goin' to the phones.

WFRK?

WOMAN: Hello? Am I caller 13?

DJ: You sure are. And you know what that means?

WOMAN: What? DJ: It means you're going

to the Martin Luther King emergency action partay!

[WOMAN SCREAMS]

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God! I can't believe it!

I can't believe it!

DJ: It's gonna be all the way live,

and, baby girl, you're gonna be in the building.

Tell me the station that's helping you

shake your stankin' ass with Martin Luther King.

WOMAN: WFRK, The Freak!

Dr. King, why are they giving away tickets

to our emergency action planning meeting

on 95.5, WFRK, The Freak?

Well, Huey, I thought about what you said

about not having enough experience with modern media,

so I hired an urban promotions firm to help get the word out.

Uh-oh. Was that bad?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Huey, are you sure we're in the right place?

MAN: I'm on Ray-Ray's list. Check the list for Ray-Ray.

Excuse me, bro.

MAN: Awww!

What's up?

My name is Huey--

I'll tell you right now,

y'all ain't gettin' in without no female.

What? Sir, we need to get in 'cause I--

I'll tell you right now,

you ain't gettin' in with them shoes.

What's wrong with my shoes?

Excuse me, sir.

I'm Martin Luther King.

And I'm Malcolm X, nigga.

You still ain't gettin' in here with them shoes.

Sir, please? Young man, I...

Mm...50 bucks.

What?

Fifty bucks each.

You want to get in or not?

[MURMURING]

[WILD HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

MAN: Aw, yeah. Come on.

Yeah, uh-huh.

Oh, hell nah!

Come on.

[MAN CLEARS THROAT]

Yo, we gotta get back there.

I tell you right now,

You ain't gettin' back here without a wristband.

A what? A wristband.

Hey.

This is Martin Luther King.

I'm surprised they let you in here with those shoes.

MAN: I'm just sayin',

I'm just sayin' it's only right if you recognize all the kings.

The Kings of Comedy, the king of rap,

Rodney King, the king of beer, King Kong, Don King.

MAN: All right! [CROWD CHEERING]

Whoo! That nigga was deep.

Okay, we all got to stop and give thanks to my nigga God.

[THROATS CLEARING]

[ORGAN PLAYING SOLEMN MELODY]

Thank you, white Jesus,

for making all this positive black shit possible. Amen.

Okay. Let's keep this motherfucker movin'!

Ha-ho!

HUEY: While we waited,

the first black political party

was everything you expected it would be.

There were the hustler preachers.

And that's why you have to go buy my new book,

so God can help you lose weight

and get a husband with the benefits.

HUEY: The rapper truce.

[BOTH SMOOCH]

HUEY: Oh, yeah, and there was also the inevitable fight.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, security!

Come get these ghetto-ass niggas!

Niggas always gotta mess some shit up! Damn!

BOUNCER: Out of the club!

[FUNKY HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

Excuse me.

Brothers and sisters, please.

If someone could just turn off--

HUEY: King looked out on his people

and saw they were in great need.

So he did what all great leaders do.

He told them the truth.

Will you ignorant niggas please shut the hell up?!

[ALL GASP]

He just said what I think he said?

Is this it?

This is what I got all those ass-whuppings for?

I had a dream once.

It was a dream that little black boys

and little black girls

would drink from the river of prosperity,

freed from the thirst of oppression.

But lo and behold, some four decades later,

what have I found but a bunch of trifling,

shiftless, good-for-nothing niggas?

And I know some of you don't want to hear me say that word.

It's the ugliest word in the English language,

but that's what I see now: niggas.

And you don't want to be a nigga

'cause niggas are living contradictions.

Niggas are full of unfulfilled ambitions.

Niggas wax and wane.

Niggas love to complain.

Niggas love to hear themselves talk, but hate to explain.

Niggas love being another man's judge and jury.

Niggas procrastinate until it's time to worry.

Niggas love to be late.

Niggas hate to hurry!

Black Entertainment Television

is the worst thing I've ever seen in my life.

Usher, Michael Jackson is not a genre of music!

And now I'd like to talk about Soul Plane.

I've seen what's around the corner.

I've seen what's over the horizon,

and I promise you, you niggas have nothing to celebrate.

I know I won't get there with you.

I'm going to Canada.

Thank you, Huey.

Thank you, Dr. King.

Do what you can.

HUEY: That was the last time I saw Dr. King,

but the story doesn't end there.

King's speech was replayed the entire next day

on the cable news channels.

Then something unexpected happened.

People got angry.

Nobody knows exactly what to attribute

to the sharp decline in African American dropout rates.

ANNOUNCER: --that is every African American player

in the NBA refusing to play

until there is a full troop withdrawal--

--billionaire Bob Johnson apologizing to black America

for the network he founded--

--the White House and Congress

are receiving an unprecedented amount of calls

from irate African Americans.

HUEY: And the revolution finally came.

REPORTER: The mob is refusing to disperse.

The president is urging everyone

to stay calm and obey the curfew.

[ALL CLAMORING] You're horrible!

You liar!

MAN: Murderer! SOLDIER: Fire!

MAN 2: Come on! Go, go, go, go, go!

[CROWD SCREAMING]

HUEY: It's fun to dream.

[♪♪♪]