Original subtitles

Uhh! Screwdriver.

Screwdriver.

Pliers. Pliers.

Lollipop.

Lollipop.

Okay, richie, We're finished.

Now let's see How our patient is doing.

[coughing]

It's a goner, Uncle carl.

* it's a rare condition *

* in this day and age *

* to read any good news On the newspaper page *

* and love and tradition Of the grand design *

* some people say Is even harder to find *

* well, then, there must be Some magic clue *

* inside these gentle walls *

* 'cause all I see Is a tower of dreams *

* real love burstin' Out of every seam *

* as days go by *

* we're gonna fill our house With happiness *

* the moon may cry *

* we're gonna smother the blues With tenderness *

* as days go by *

* there's room for you, Room for me *

* for gentle hearts An opportunity *

* as days go by *

* it's the bigger love Of the family *

You've had your head In those books all morning.

You got a big test Coming up?

No, this is Black history month.

Did you know An african-american

Helped design the blueprint For washington, d.C.?

Yup. Benjamin banneker.

Hey, not bad.

Hey, your old man Has read a book or two.

Now for the championship And the toaster oven,

Who made the first patented Shoe-sewing machine?

Uh...Uh...

Buzz!

Grandma.

It was jan maslinger In 1883.

Yeah, that's right. How did you know?

Who do you think bought His first pair of shoes?

Hey, look. Here's Something I didn't know.

Alexandre dumas Was black.

The guy that wrote The three musketeers?

Yeah. Most people don't know that.

Why? Don't they teach Black history at your school?

Yeah, but only for one month.

That's one month longer Than they taught it to me.

You know, That really bugs me.

I mean, we've made Important contributions

To this country For over 300 years.

You wouldn't know it looking At history books, it's not fair.

Well, sweetheart, If you feel that strongly,

Maybe you should Do something about it.

Maybe I will.

Uh, okay.

Now let's give This baby another shot.

Ha ha ha!

[coughing]

Way to go, Mr. Fix-it.

Ugh! What is this?

If you have to ask, pass.

Oh, hi, My little jell-o mold.

Oh, so, ms. Steuben, What looks good?

Summer.

Oh, ms. Steuben, You're a joke a year.

Ahh, principal Shimata-san.

Urkel.

Steve, I'm saving this seat.

Oh. Why, how thoughtful.

* oh, it's lunchtime In the school cafe *

* doo-dah doo-dah *

* gonna set my place And feed my face *

* all the doo-dah day Gonna set my place *

Steve.

* then I'll Feed my face *

Steve!

Steven...

Do we have to go Through this every day?

Well, ms. Ms. Steuben, It's a well-known fact

That a pleasant dining Environment aids digestion.

Try it. It may brighten Your complexion.

Which truth be told, Is a smidge on the sallow side.

Um, listen, everybody. I have an Idea that I want to run by you.

This the idea I heard you telling maxine

As I trailed behind At the mutually agreed upon

Distance of 20 feet?

Yeah. Uh, now What I'd like--

It's a humdinger of an idea, But tell it, my little crouton.

Thank you.

Now, as I was trying to say

Every february We study black history,

But only during That month, so--

Oh, oh, oh, I love this part.

I'm not trying To criticize you, ms. Steuben.

You're a great History teacher.

Well, thank you, laura. You know, I always try to--

Ms. Steuben, please.

Don't interrupt. It's very rude.

So, anyway I thought why not

Add a black history class To the curriculum,

That way we could Study it all year.

Isn't that A great idea?

Oh, it's a pearl of wisdom From my little oyster.

Clam up.

So, I thought if everyone Signed these petitions,

We'd have a better chance Of getting a class.

This is terrific, laura. Let me be the first to sign.

Well, I'll be The second to sign

As soon as miss Grabby pen finishes.

Thanks for signing.

Hold it. Hold it. Hold it.

That's my pen. Thank you very much.

Hey! Hi, guys. Got a sec?

Urkel, go away. We don't Wanna have to dunk you, again.

As long as you don't Bank me in, it's fine.

Hey, let me Show you a few moves.

Ooh, don't mess with me. Don't mess with me.

Oh, oh.

Hey, check it Out, man.

Heh heh heh!

Okay, guys, Show time's over.

I have vital information To share with you.

Urkel, I've said A thousand times.

I refuse to Take polka lessons.

Believe it or not, guys, This even tops polka.

We're trying to get a black History class here at school.

It'll help us Appreciate the past,

Thereby contributing To the present

And preparing us For the future.

So, I'd like your John hancock's right here.

Sounds good to me.

Oh, thanks a lot, Guys. Well, that was easy.

It's right there. Okey-doke.

Thanks.

Good toots, dudes. Thanks.

Steve. Hey, laura.

Look at all The signatures I got.

Ooh, good work. I got a bunch, too.

Well, I got most of The basketball team.

It's on to the swim team next.

I can't wait to show off My backstroke.

Oh!

Oh! Oh!

Aah!

Aah!

Did I do that?

Uh, steve...

No more Demonstrations, okay.

Good idea.

But I appreciate All your help.

Oh, well, anytime, My cute little crusader.

I believe in you And I believe in your cause.

Well, I appreciate that, steve.

Hey, my locker's open.

Oh, my god.

Laura, what's wrong?

"If you want black history, Go back to africa."

What?

Well, How's she doing?

She's still pretty upset.

She didn't Touch her dinner.

Well, harriette, What are those people teaching

Down at that school?

Their version Of the three rs--

Reading, writing, And racism?

Carl, calm down. It's not the school's fault.

Well, is she still crying?

Every time she stops, She starts again.

Damn it!

Carl.

Harriette, I just Feel so helpless.

My daughter's been hurt, And I can't do a thing about it.

I can't tell her It won't happen again.

I know.

You know, I was exposed To this sort of thing

When I was growing up.

But I always hoped it would be Different for my kids.

Come on, harriette. The people that did this to us

Are teaching that same Garbage to their kids.

Carl...

I'm up in laura's room And she looks at me...

And she asks, "Why, mom?"

Why would somebody Do this to me?"

And I hear myself Telling her

The same things My mother told me.

"Some people Are ignorant.

"They're afraid.

"They hate anybody

And anything That's different."

And what'd she say?

She looked at me With tears in her eyes

And she said, "But why, mom?"

Laura?

What happened?

Daddy, everything's a mess.

Laura, did somebody Do something to you?

No, it's the whole school. Black Kids won't talk to white kids.

People calling Each other names,

Taking sides. And it's all my fault.

Your fault?

If I didn't start that petition This wouldn't have happened.

I wanted to make things better, I ended up making them worse.

That's not true. None of this is your fault.

That's right. That petition was a great idea.

No, it wasn't.

I wish I had Never done it.

I wish it would All go away, daddy.

Would you two Excuse us?

I'd like to speak to My granddaughter alone.

We got-- But, mom--

Scoot, honey. Scoot.

Laura...

Do you mind if Your old grandmother

Tells you a story?

Grandma, you're not old.

Good answer.

No wonder you're My favorite grandchild.

Sit down, honey.

Laura, when I was About your age,

I loved to read.

Just like you.

But our little town Only had one library,

And it was For whites only.

You couldn't Check out a book?

I couldn't Even go in.

And even then, I knew it wasn't right.

So one day, I decided to do Something about it.

So I walked In the library.

Sugar, I couldn't Believe my eyes.

There were Thousands of books

Just sitting there Waiting to be read.

Did they Let you take one?

The librarian,

A white man that I had Known all my life,

Pushed me out Into the street

And told me Never to come back.

Did you cry?

All the way home.

And the next day, I cried all The way back to the library.

You went back?

Every day For six months.

People stopped And stared,

Called me names,

And some Even spat at me.

Weren't you scared?

Was I ever.

And sometimes

I was sorry I ever started The whole thing.

But I didn't quit.

Finally...

One rainy day

I walked in Dripping wet.

And that same man That pushed me out

Shook his head

And gave me A library card.

Oh, wow.

And from that day on, everybody Could use that library.

Sugar...

I realize you're Having a hard time.

But you've Got to stand up

For whatever You believe in,

Or things Will never change.

This library card

Is proof that one person Can make a difference.

You understand?

Come here. Let me Give you some sugar.

Love you.

Love you too.

Guys, look at all these Important black men and women.

We've got so many posters, We're running out of walls.

Dr. George f. Grant

Patented the first Wooden golf tee in 1899.

Now, gee, that's ironic.

Here it is 92 years later

And we still can't tee off At some country clubs.

All done.

Wow.

It looks great.

It sure does.

I'll get it.

Steve, I couldn't have Done this without you.

Oh, please, laura, You're making me blush.

I just don't get why are people So afraid of our history?

Well, because It's different.

And believe you me, I know what Being different is all about.

It's not so much That you're different.

It's just, you know,

Well, you know, You're kind of...

Different.

I'm a square peg In a round world.

An argyle in a world Of tubes sock's.

A zipper in A world of velcro.

But you know what? That's okay.

I don't mind being different

I like who I am and I'm not Changing for anybody.

Well I admire you for that.

Oh, pshaw!

You're making me Blush again.

Oh, laura, This looks great!

You've done A wonderful job.

Wha...

Bu...

Ohh...

Ooh...

Is there a problem, Principal shimata?

Yes. A big one.

Mr. Shimata, if you'd Just let me explain.

Those posters-- Highly inflammatory.

We have a serious Situation at this school.

Racial tension.

These posters can Only fan the flames.

As principal I will not allow

My flames to be fanned.

Easy, edgar. Don't get Your shorts in a knot.

These posters must be Removed immediately.

[bell rings]

Garrett a. Morgan Invented the stoplight?

That's right.

I didn't know there were So many black inventors.

Me neither.

Dr. Daniel l. Wells performed The first open-heart surgery?

I thought it Was christian barnard.

No, he did The first heart transplant.

Mr. Shimata, The posters seem to be

Bringing The kids together.

Hmm. Just As I predicted.

All this information Can be found in these books.

I mean, these would Make great textbooks

For a black history course.

Oh, well, I don't know.

Edgar, a black history course Would only serve to enhance

Your otherwise drab And predictable curriculum.

And it would Undoubtedly prevent

The unfortunate Rabble-rousing

That has taken place In these hallowed halls

The past few days. And furthermore--

Mr. Shimata, I've spoken To several teachers,

And we would all welcome The opportunity

To present a more balanced View of history.

Way to go, Stooby-doo.

Laura, there is a school Committee meeting next month.

Maybe you could come and Recommend a black history class

Be made part Of the curriculum?

I'll be there!

Ohh...

Screwdriver.

Screwdriver

Pliers. Pliers.

Tootsie roll.

Tootsie roll

Okay, rich.

Now let's see if This operation was a success.

Hey, rich, We did it.

[cough cough]

Better pop For a new one.

Fat chance.

Hi.

How'd the committee Meeting go?

Yeah, did you give them The ol' winslow 1-2 punch?

Well, I hate to brag...

But I knocked 'em dead.

I think we have a good chance Of getting the class.

That's my girl!

Grandma...

Yes, honey. You were right.

One person can Make a difference.

Oh, sweetheart.