Everyday Black Man

1

I just can't call it out

That goes on all the time

I know what's going to happen

It's like I pressed ''rewind''

A battle goin' on

Just never seems to cease

And I can't lose again

It's stressing to that beast

in Harlem

Now look at what she's become

One with no respect for anyone

She tells me

that I drove her there

Down that one-way street

that leads nowhere

See, I've started to compromise

I tried to make everything right

So I can sleep at night

But she lives in the past

so this won't last

From home

I choose to stay away

To clear my head from all this

stress that's got me

Got me drinking again

Drinking

Got me drinking again

Ooh

Got me drinking again

Drinking

Got me drinking again

You got me drinking again

Drinking

The good times in the dry

Are few and far between

Every word that comes out

of her mouth

Makes me feel like I'm nothing

She sits and drinks again

Bartenders know my name

All of this is an effect

from her driving me insane

You got me drinking

Yeah

You got me, you got me

Got me drinking again

You got me drinking, yeah

Baby

[ Sirens wail ]

[ Blues plays ]

l'm sorry, Moses,

there's no way l can get you

a loan with what you got here.

What are you talking about, William?

You have to show a profit.

Small store, man.

Which you've had for almost

ten years, now.

And you don't have anything

to show for it.

lt's growing.

Where?

You've got one worker,

who you can't even pay.

And you give him

free room and board.

Sonny's a good kid.

And you give people free groceries.

lt says all that

on the application, huh?

Moses, l know what you do

with that store.

You barely make enough

to pay your mortgage.

When was l last late

on my mortgage?

You were never late.

Okay.

Moses, in order to expand,

you have to show a profit.

William Campbell. Personal banker.

You know what l've been doing, man.

Our store is small.

But as long as l've been there has not

been any drug dealers on the corner.

l can do more.

You got me before,

you can help me again.

l need it now. A little help.

That's all l'm asking.

Then stop giving people free food.

Or get yourself a partner.

l got a partner.

Sonny.

Get yourself a partner

that can help you.

Sonny helps me.

Someone that's already got

some capital built up.

Or maybe got

some political backing.

The new principal

at Horizons School.

She's pretty community-minded.

Talk to her.

See if you guys can get

some programs going together.

l think her name is Gloria--

That's got nothing to do

with my store.

Moses, l want to help you.

-You do?

-Uh-uh.

But you don't have any collateral.

Moses!

Sh*t!

l will make you proud.

Okay.

l'll take these outside.

Okay.

Careful with those.

You bruise them, l can't use them.

Good morning. Hey.

-Good morning.

-Well, look who's here.

Yeah, l got your message

about the groceries.

l figured l'd just come by

and pick them up.

Yeah, well,

you didn't have to come for them.

l'd have brought them to you.

Excuse to see you, girls.

No, l figured that.

But, you know,

l haven't really been home much

with grandma in the hospital.

-l just--

-What?

What happened?

Oh, it's her heart again.

The doctors want to do surgery

this time,

but they say she's too weak,

so, for now, we wait.

She'll be okay.

How come you didn't call me?

l really didn't think about it.

l've been so busy with work

and school,

and going to see her, it just,

l didn't think about it.

Slipped my mind. l'm sorry.

She's okay, though.

Uh, Sonny. Sonny.

Sonny!

Why don't you

get a bag of the groceries

that l got in the refrigerator

for Claire?

Hi, Claire.

-Hi, Sonny.

-You want to do that today, Sonny?

She's got stuff to do.

No.

l think when he--

When you come in here, he just--

Sweet kid, but--

Anyway, so you're working?

-Yeah, yeah.

-That's a good thing, right?

lt is good.

l got a job working full-time

at the school.

Great.

Yeah, there's a new principal,

named Gloria Johnson.

-Ah, a lady principal.

-A lady principal, yeah.

She's real cool, she wants to do

some cool stuff in the community,

and she hired

a bunch of young people,

and she said

that when l'm done with school,

l can maybe have my own classroom.

Sure, and you will.

-Okay, is this everything?

-Thank you, Sonny.

All here.

Thank you.

How much do l owe you, Moses?

Let's see.

Nothing from nothing

leaves nothing.

Same price your grandma paid,

you get the same deal.

Moses!

-Come on, please, let me--

-l can't do it.

You always say that.

You should listen to him.

The man is offering you something,

young lady.

You should take it.

Can l help you?

Oh, good morning, brother.

Sister.

CLAlRE:

Good morning.

Something we can do for you?

Oh, l'm sorry.

l come bearing gifts.

''Black Muslim Bakery.''

l'm considering becoming a fellow

business owner in the neighborhood.

Been talking to old man Johnson.

You know, the one who runs

the Laundromat and the barber shop.

Well, anyway, he claims

that a place is about to be vacant.

lt is not about to be.

lt is vacant.

But he's never going

to let you rent it.

The only one who runs businesses

in Mr. Johnson's place

is Mr. Johnson.

And if you'd know him,

that's just yakking.

Well, l think we can work

something out,

but, in any event, l just wanted

to leave some pies with you,

for the business owners

in the neighborhood,

hoping we can work together.

Oh, that's nice,

but l'm really not looking for--

What kind of dessert is it?

Sweet potato pie is today's special.

l love sweet potato pie.

Yeah, most black people do.

Can l have a slice?

Of course. You can have

anything you like, sister.

-Moses, do you have a knife?

-l'll get a knife.

-Ah, still warm!

-Fresh out of the oven.

Easy!

You'd think it was the first time

she saw a sweet potato pie.

Mmmm!

Good, right?

Wow.

Perhaps you should have a taste, too.

Uh. . .

He doesn't like sweets.

Ah, not my thing.

You taste one, you taste them all.

l don't know about that, brother.

That's a good recipe -- special.

They say it's better

than your grandma's.

Claire, you know

that's not my thing.

Just try it, Moses.

You know l'm not into this,

but l can tell by Claire's look

l'm going to have to try this.

Huh?

-Good pie.

-Good pie, right?

-lt's great.

-lt is good.

Moses, you should think about letting

him sell some of them in the store.

What?

This is a fruit and vegetable store.

All right?

l know, but you're always telling

grandma how you want to expand.

You two related?

No, l'm just raised

on his fruits and vegetables.

Oh.

Well, anyway, l've taken

probably too much of your time,

so here's my card, and, uh--

Good day, brother.

Sister.

-Okay, man.

-All right.

Malik Mohammed.

You're a part

of Minister Khan's Mosque?

-So, you've attended before?

-Oh, no, l--

l used to work with his daughter

Aisha before she quit

and started working full-time

there at the mosque.

How's she doing?

Sister Khan is well.

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