Black August Page #7

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...and remembered his last name

as Burroughs.

Court clerk Frank Kirby tells

what happen next.

I am leaving the case.

You wanna see what I got in the mail?

Look, there's a razor blade

and then this note. Look.

"For a chicken who betrays,

a red necklace. " I'm out.

- I'm out. I'm out.

- Fay.

- I gotta go.

- Why would anyone wanna kill you?

I don't know.

They're accusing me of stealing

money from the defense fund.

Me.

It's crazy. No one would believe that.

You don't understand.

Eleven people have died

around this case so far.

Eleven people. I can't be one of them.

I just can't. I'm sorry.

I can't do it.

You have to tell George what...

It's okay, it's okay.

We have no visiting rooms.

You'll have to visit with Mr. Jackson

at the Adjustment Center.

Guard Williams will escort you. Let's go.

Push.

Come on. Come on, push.

Get that money. Push.

Get the money.

Get that money. Get that money.

Sidle the rec room.

Sidle Jackson.

Mr. Jackson.

I'm sorry about you brother.

Because of updated security,

the chains do not come off.

- It's good to see you, man.

- It's good to see you too.

So they got my little brother, huh?

None of us have slept back there

since it happened.

We've all been listening to the radio.

Oh, you see,

I really loved that boy, man.

I need something to take my mind

off things, man. What you got?

Oh, I recognize that, yeah.

Did you have to fix it up a lot, man?

Because you know I ain't no writer.

At least I never thought I was.

Did they shoot him up real bad, man?

No.

You know, it was supposed to be

a non-violent action, man.

No one was supposed to get hurt.

You know, I sent him in there, right?

I mean, to think that all that I have done

and he was the one who...

I mean, I have not shed a tear

because I am so proud.

They were on their way to the airport,

man. That's why they used the yellow van.

So they would know exactly

where they were.

No one was supposed to get hurt, man.

They needed those hostages

to be kept alive...

...to trade them in for our freedom.

Was someone else

supposed to go in there with him?

No, man. You got it all wrong.

There were supposed to be 11 others.

Our intelligence confirms

that the play had gotten compromised.

And when he found out that they weren't

coming, he went ahead and did it anyway.

Did you read what he said, man?

"Okay, gentlemen, hands up.

We are taking over. "

Man, that's so beautiful.

That's just so beautiful.

My brother and a Chinese

AK-47. That is just too much.

They will live to regret it.

I'll see to that.

I guess it must be hard for you

to understand...

...how I haven't shed a tear.

But I know...

...that, you know,

he'll never end up like this.

He's going down in history.

A true revolutionary.

In his highest stage of development.

Hi, David.

- You got a minute?

- Are you following me?

I wanna show you something.

- Is that me?

- Well, it's not Bob Hope.

In 1957, you were close friends

with two men...

...who were later indicted

on conspiracy to commit espionage.

I barely knew those guys.

We were in the same fraternity.

What the hell is this anyway?

You've had a history of contact with men

who were threats to national security.

No, they were just beat writers, okay?

They were unfairly blacklisted.

Yeah. Lucky you didn't end up

in the same hole.

Who are you?

Hey, I'm sorry.

Maybe we got off

on the wrong foot here.

We wanna help you, Mr. Dryer.

We could take you in right now

for masquerading...

...as a member of Jackson's legal team.

But we're not gonna do that.

I'd say this will all blow over...

...if a certain book's publication

is scrapped.

I won't do that.

- You won't?

- No, I won't.

I'd say you have way too much to lose

to pass up this opportunity.

I'll talk to you real soon.

Dryer, what in the hell is going on?

The feds just came through here,

scared the crap out of everybody.

They can get the judge to order a cease

and desist before Soledad goes to print.

Yeah.

Because they're bullshiting, okay?

Seriously, no, just... Don't.

Just don't do anything, okay?

We're hours from going to press. You...

Goddamn it.

Look.

If you f***ing cancel printing...

...okay, I swear to God, I'm gonna

spend every last f***ing penny, okay?

Every last shred of energy suing you...

...and smearing

your goddamn f***ing name.

You understand that?

You piece of sh*t. Sh*t!

You like the cover?

- Yeah.

- It's great, huh?

- Yeah, it's good.

- Yeah.

Okay, the reviews

are just starting to come in.

I got one right here

from the Sunday Times.

"One of the finest pieces

of black writing printed.

Summarizes 300 years of rage

for untold millions of blacks alive or dead. "

What do you think of that?

Who's this girl drinking champagne here?

You didn't get to meet her?

No, I didn't.

All these fine hippie chicks running around,

what's the matter?

You ain't taking care of business?

No, I guess not.

I'll try better next time.

- Good, huh?

- Yeah.

Congratulations.

Thank you, man.

Sidle Jackson.

Warden says you have to give up that book.

It is not authorized.

If you don't surrender it,

we will have to take it from you.

Come on in and get it.

There are claims

that someone else wrote it.

How do you respond to that?

Well, I mean, you folks seem to wanna

believe that every black man is illiterate.

- No, I wrote every word.

- Have you been able to read the reviews?

Some people are comparing you

to Eldridge Cleaver, Richard Wright, DuBois.

Your book is being translated

into German, Japanese.

And more translations are on the way.

How does your fame affect you

when you're locked up all day?

I have no concern for personal fame.

I reserve it for my people.

Man, my book is a weapon.

It's not a work of literature.

I'm just gonna continue

to keep writing and fighting...

...until there's some real freedom

in this country...

...and until dungeons like the one

we are in now are a thing of the past.

Have you heard that Angela Davis

was arrested in New York?

And a man was arrested

with her for harboring a fugitive?

This interview is over.

Take me back.

Take me back.

Sidle Jackson.

Where's my picture?

Where's my typewriter?

You f***ing bastards.

Give me back my sh*t.

- You had no right.

- Warden's orders.

Give me my typewriter back, man.

You had no right.

What's wrong with you, man?

Motherf***er.

The major obstacle to a united left

in this country is white racism.

Racism is still alive.

There are three categories

of white racists:

The overt, self-satisfied racist

who doesn't attempt to hide his antipathy...

...the self-interdicting racist

who harbors and nurtures racism...

...in spite of his best efforts...

...and the unconscious racist, who has

no awareness of his racist preconceptions.

Too much black blood has flowed

and continues to flow...

...between the chasm

that separates the races.

It's fundamentally unfair to expect

the black man to differentiate at a glance...

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