Alemanji (2021) Movie Script

1
(children playing)
Just wanna lay up in my bed
Body rising, ready to go
Why we rushing to be on our own
Just wanna kick it with my friends
- Alem?
(hip-hop music continues)
(pan simmering)
(footsteps)
No, I wasn't ready to be grown up
Be-ee-ee
Fully grown
Be-ee-ee
Grown
Be-ee-ee
- Alemanji?
(blankets rustling)
(footsteps)
This boy won't kill me.
What is this, huh?
Alem?
He wants to act like he doesn't hear me
calling him.
Hm?
Don't let me call your name again!
Do you hear me?
Don't let me call you again.
It's like I'm everybody's
maid inside this house.
Hm?
(alarm blares)
Alemanji?
- I'm up!
(alarm continues)
(Alem sighs, grunts)
(phone clicks)
(upbeat hip-hop music)
No, go, mo, way
Listen, listen
(steam brush hisses)
Listen, listen
Ree-ree, voice in
Listen, it's in
My crib
So be it
Listen, listen
Ree-ree, voice in
Listen, it's in
My crib
So be it
My house in the hills
This view give you chills
Aw, that ass, let me in
Want your toes on the table
(phone ringing)
- [Man] Webby, I need you
to go into the studio and drop
for the breakfast club, man.
(ringing continues)
(weights clink)
(song continues)
- Yo, yo.
Oh, so sorry.
Let me introduce myself.
My name is Femi.
But everybody call me Gold Medal because,
(chuckles) as you can see,
I'm always in first place.
- Bro, my set for tonight,
I'm really the greatest.
Well, they be busting it all night.
I can't wait, bro.
You wanna lead with something?
I'm telling you.
Hey, I gotta call you back.
- (clears throat) Mm-hm.
- What?
- Busting what?
Busting who?
- Ma.
- Don't be busting nobody
up in this house, Julius.
- [Gold Medal] Oh, and this
is my other boy, Julius.
But we call him Turk.
'Cause he a hot boy.
(scoffs) See what I mean?
- Listen, listen.
Don't come tonight, stinking a'ight?
Fellas, bring your Dior.
Ladies, your Bath & Body Works.
You know what I'm saying?
Come smelling good.
Come catch a vibe, man.
We outside man.
Straight up.
- Like this.
Just like that, just like that.
- You hear me.
- Just like that.
Gimme my phone, man.
- What you doing, man?
I'm not even done.
- Ladies, you heard the man.
Make sure you're there.
Be there or be square.
(funk music)
(Alem exhales)
- Find my sexy word.
What's up, boo?
(mumbles), babe, how you doin'?
Nah, that ain't it.
- [Gold Medal] This is my boy, Alemanji.
AKA Alem.
- Big Alem, I know I
can think of something.
- [Gold Medal] As you can see.
- I-I-I can.
- [Gold Medal] These boys
are very unserious somebody.
- I mean, she, obviously, she ain't there.
I know the word.
Ha, it Alem she playing with.
Yeah, ha, ha, Alemanji, ha, ha!
- [Gold Medal] (chuckles)
But hey, that's my boy.
- Trip. (claps)
- This should do it right now.
Ain't brush your teeth all week.
Won't be me.
I know she gonna check a brother.
She ain't text me, let me check again.
- Bro, why you always
messing with the volume, bro?
- But I wanna hear the music, bro.
- Bro, when you get your own car,
you can listen to that.
But when you in my car,
don't touch my system, man.
- You don't care about this car, bro.
With this silk shirt you got on.
You strong as hell in that silk shirt.
You can't even fit that shirt.
- And you're weak as hell
with that Baby Gap shirt on.
(funky music continues)
Ha
Whoo, whoo
I know
(pan sizzles)
- Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Mariama, baby!
You a icy girl.
I am your glacier boy!
Ha, ha!
- Take forever.
- God, man!
Dude always taking forever, man.
- Bro.
(phone buzzes)
- Hey, yeah, yeah, what's up, bro?
- We outside.
Where you at, bro?
You always taking forever.
We don't got all day.
- Take forever.
- Gosh, man.
- We're leaving.
(phone disconnect tones)
(Alem sighs)
- You gonna see-
- Who you gonna now-
knows how to leave for you?
'Cause you know they're
coming after me tonight.
- Leave for me?
- Leave for you.
- Hey, bro.
You don't get no women Turk!
Big, I'm big in girls!
- Turk, Turk.
You're the most non-girl-getting
dude I know, bro.
- Know all the girls I got.
- Who?
I got Brenda, Latisha, Linda, Felicia.
- Dawn, La Shawn, Aniaz and who?
Cap, you don't gotta lie to me, man.
- [Turk] Brian James looking at a boy.
- [Gold Medal] 'Cause you bone.
You look like a Slim Jim.
(slow hip-hop music)
- Good morning, Ma.
- Good morning.
- How you doing?
- Didn't I tell you to take
out the trash last night?
(record scratch)
- Instead, I find more trash
in your room this morning.
- (sighs) Alem be taking all day!
- I'm about to be upset with your boy.
- Goddamn, man.
- What's up with your boy?
- Man.
His dad probably in there
trippin' again, bro.
- You know he trippin'.
- Bro, all the time.
(imitates David) Where are you going?
Why, why, why do you want to leave here?
Did you clean your room?
Did you clean the house?
- What is wrong with that man?
- Why you, didda, didda, didda?
- Probably walking outside
with them dry-ass feet
on bare ground like he did in the village
in Africa somewhere.
He's in America now.
He be all yelling at us
like we did something wrong,
but he be trippin', bro.
(high-pitched chatter)
(hand slap)
Mr. Fuka, I didn't, I
didn't see you right there.
Good morning, sir.
- Good morning, sir.
What up, sir?
- Are you people lost?
- We ain't lost.
- It's me, Femi.
Uncle, it's me now.
It's Femi.
- Yeah, I'm now pissed.
I'm not your uncle.
Okay, I'm not your uncle.
And whom are you here to
see in this stolen car?
- Your boy.
- Stolen?
- I can tell, I can
tell this car is stolen.
- Here we go.
- (sniffs) I can smell the,
I can smell the thievery in this car, eh?
- He smells what?
- Whom are you here to see?
Whom are you here to see?
- Your son.
Alem, our best friend.
Come on, Mr. Fuka, why you
always trying to play us, man?
Why you act like you don't know us?
- Mm-mm.
- Why you playing us?
- No, no, Alemanji is not here.
And just continue as you
were, as you, as you came.
Hm?
But he is.
- And I, hey, hey, shout your mouth.
Continue as you came, and I
will tell him to call you.
When he returns.
- We already got-
Uncle, we just got off the phone with him.
He said he was here.
- We just talked to him.
- What's your name again?
Stop calling me uncle.
There's no relations, okay?
Their absolutely are no relations.
- All y'all are related.
- We are not related.
- You know all y'all related.
I don't know what you talking about.
- You keep your mouth shut, huh?
And this is a stolen car, I can tell.
You people look like thieves.
You look like thieves,
and I need you to remove this
car from this neighborhood.
This is a very good neighborhood.
Our neighborhood is very quiet.
- [Turk] Right.
- Remove this stolen vehicle
from our premises, please.
I urge you to leave this
place before I'm forced to
thrash both of you here.
- [Both] Thrash?
- He say thrash us?
- Pause.
- No, pause.
- Wait, then push play and
exit the neighborhood, please.
Before I call the police.
- Man, let's get outta here, man.
Push play, and before I call the police.
- I will call the cops.
- Okay.
- I know people.
- Okay.
Well, listen.
- I know people.
- We are leaving.
- Understand?
- No, I believe you.
Heh? Crooks.
It smells like, it smells like corruption!
Hah?
Crooks.
Nah, it ain't give a ho
Nah, it ain't give a ho
Nah, it ain't give a ho
Yeah, it ain't give a ho
Nah, it ain't give a ho
Yeah, it ain't give a ho
Yeah, what it giving, though
Nah, it ain't giving that
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ma
- I'm just tired.
You know, homework, school, I be sleepy.
- Mm-hm.
- Hey, boy.
Is it only your mother you see here?
Are you legally blind or something?
- Good morning, Dad.
(sucks) And what did I
tell you about those things
in your ears, heh?
How many times must I repeat myself,
repeat myself over and over and over?
Heh?
I'm not a parrot, hm?
And always gyrating and
(footfalls)
dancing all the damn place,
all the damn time, huh?
Your life must be a challenge, hm?
I'll ask you, "Was this a challenge?"
Your life is a challenge, huh?
You look mentally challenged
doing that nonsense.
(Esther laughs)
Esther, you are just laughing.
You know I have to go to work now.
What's up, what's up with the food?
My intestines are eating themselves.
If they now eat themselves,
what would I now shit?
(scoffs) Please, I'm hungry, I beg.
Hm? (sucks)
(dog barks)
- One second, one second, hm?
(phone chimes)
- Mm.
- What is it, Alem?
- [Phone Voice] Sup, baby?
Take me out to dinner.
- Alem, I'm listening.
- Hey, yo, this is Dakim.
- I'm sorry.
Um, Gold-
Femi is having a small
get together tonight.
- A get together?
- Small, you know, like
me, Femi, couple friends.
You know, Bible study and homework.
- I hope you guys have
been paying attention
to Femi's older brother, Wale.
Last time I heard, he's
planning to be a medical doctor.
- We know, Ma, we know.
So can I go?
- Go and ask your father?
- Eh?
Ask your father what?
- What? Ma.
- Come on, ask me anything now.
(bottle rattles)
- He wants to go to a
party tonight. (chuckles)
- No, it's not a party, Dad.
It's, it's, it's just,
I just wanna go to Femi's house tonight.
I just wanna know if I
can go to Femi's house.
- Who's that?
- You know him now, it's Mrs. Ade's son.
- Femi.
- Oh, that, that Naija boy.
- Yes.
- Yeah, Femi, Dad.
- (sucks) Come on, eat your food.
- I'm not hungry.
And my ride is outside.
And I'm runnin' late.
So you are still hanging
around those Akata boys, eh?
- Julius and Femi?
- (laughs) Hey, hey.
Alemanji, after I've told
you not to be consulting
with those type of boys,
you still find a way to
sneak yourself around
and gallivant the city with them?
- Those are my friends.
- Alem, Alem, Alem.
Alemanji, how many times did I-
I told you, show me your friends, eh?
On a piece of paper.
And I will show you who you are, hm?
These, your Akata friends, (claps)
they are going nowhere in this life.
Hm?
- But Dad, I-
(bottle rattles)
- Don't, don't, don't,
don't "But Daddy" me.
Don't don't you dare "But Daddy" me.
Man, lock your mouth.
I will send you to Amazonia.
Right today, today, today, hm?
Have you not learned
from your brother, Atay?
He used to hang around with foolish boys.
Just like those, your stupid friends, hm?
And you see what happened to him?
Look, not even in our last family picture.
You wanna be missing like him?
(sucks, sighs) Alemanji,
when I was your age,
5:00 AM in the morning, sharp.
Every day, 365 days a year.
365 in Alipier.
I will clean the compound, spic and span.
Spic and, they will call me Mr. Clean.
Junior Mr. Clean, in the yard.
They would, me and me.
Entrepreneurial spirit, me, hm?
(Esther chuckles)
Straight A student.
And you want to go to a party
with Cs, (chuckles) for fun.
- C exaggeration. (chuckles)
Alem, please, just focus on
your books and your studies, mm?
Why are you running
off to parties for now?
Just please, study your books.
- You guys never let me do anything!
Can I not have fun, too?
(David laughs)
- Fun?
Fun.
F dot U dot N.
Fun.
And who are you calling you guys?
Guy, so now you're
calling your mother a guy.
What are you saying about me now?
Alemanji, huh?
- David, stop now.
Ah, you gonna make this a whole big thing.
Let's not start the day
without this walla, huh?
We'll talk later.
(David sighs)
Alem, hurry up and go to
school before you're late, hm?
I don't want to hear about
you in detention again.
Alem, mm, small baba, come, come, come.
I will talk to your father, okay?
- Esther, continue to
spoil that boy, okay?
When he becomes a failure,
don't come and blame me.
It will be your fault.
Don't come and blame me, okay?
- It will always be your fault
'cause he favors you, so.
- It is your father that he favors.
(both chuckle)
It's your father.
Okay, lemme get some small (mumbles).
A little vitamin C.
(both laugh)
Vitamin C, hee, hee.
Mm.
Mm.
(upbeat hip-hop music)
Whoo-ooh
Yay
Check it
Yah, no, yo
Fie, fie
Whoo
Why
(school bell rings)
I ain't trying to make
you fall in love with me
Just some good dick in you, Beverly
(students gather books)
She gotta taste for it
Now she got a part of me
What is that about
Baby, you showin' out
B-Baby you showin' out
What is that about
Baby, you sowin' out
B-Baby you showin' out.
- How you got it?
See how these people are driving?
Look how they're driving.
They, some people should
not even be on the road.
- [Girl] Oh my gosh.
- Some people should not-
- [Girl] It is on repeat
- They give a license
to anybody.
- [Girl] in my car.
- [Woman] Damn!
(boys chanting, pounding)
(boys chanting, pounding)
(muffled chatter)
- Your dad was trippin' earlier.
- Really?
- Yeah, man, acting like he ain't know us.
- You know how he is as
soon as you fuck with him.
(Alem scoffs)
- Like, forget all-
What you need to be doing is
go ahead and spray this, man.
'Cause I don't know why your
hair smelling like stock fish.
It's the morning.
(Turk laughs)
- Nigga, why your moms
frying fish in the morning?
Why don't you try eating
Frosted Flakes for-
- Your moms never made
fish in the morning?
- In the morning?
- Guys, party tonight then.
Everybody they talk about the amazing.
People they talk, they say,
"Geez, this going to be
the party of the year."
And, Alem.
(record scratch)
Hey, man.
Alem, none of that dirty
dancing that you do.
- (scoffs) Come on, man, I'm a fox.
Yeah, you know, mm.
(slow hip-hop music)
- This what we need to be
worried about, here. (chuckles)
Please, baby, don't move
anywhere, stop here.
(girls laugh)
Um, y'all coming to the party tonight?
- Of course, we might pull up, but-
Who the DJ now?
- It's me!
It's always me!
(Camille laughs)
- We just keep hoping that it's never you.
- Boy, you know what you doing?
- More than you know what
you're doing with them edges.
- Uh-uh, hold on, hold on.
- Your friend need to get
you some edge control.
- Okay.
- Control them edges.
- Okay, now you got funny.
What the edges of your shoes doing, huh?
- What?
- 'Cause they looking
like you single-handedly
running (indistinct) marathon.
- What?
- Okay?
- Nah, she said you got on
a marathon continues, baby.
(girls laugh)
- I'm going (indistinct).
- You need to mind your business, sir.
Now back to you, Mr. DMC, ha!
- Back to me.
- Now, if walk a mile in someone's shoes
was a person, sir, you won.
- What?
- Them shoes did it.
- What?
- But you won.
(laughter)
- Hey, oh!
You win, Joe.
Don't let them go like that, sir.
Don't let them (indistinct).
- I'm just saying, you
need to change those up.
- Man, shoes.
- So, you going the party tonight?
- Yeah, you know I'm
gonna be there, player.
- I'm gonna be there, too.
- Mm, for real?
- Mm-hm.
- Okay.
Gonna wait?
- (laughs) No, I ain't
think you was gonna show up,
'cause I don't be seeing you out.
I'm starting to think your parents
don't let you out the house.
- Come on, stop it.
- (laughs) I seen you
dancing last year and
(slow inhale) I don't
know about it. (laughs)
- Listen, I got new moves, man.
Last year, I was just-
- Have you been practicing?
- Mari, baby!
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!
My goodness!
Look at you.
You fresh like tomato, hm?
Sweet potato.
Hello!
Oh my god!
How far a runner?
How far, how far?
Eh? Mm.
Shoot!
I know you heard about party tonight.
- I did.
- So, how you going act
when, uh, what's his name?
- [Turk] Nigga, Turk.
- Turk.
How you gonna act when he plays the song?
- What song?
- Our song, now.
The song we got to get to.
Um (snaps), what was that song?
Oh!
Don't mind me
I'm tryin' to give it to
You know that? (screeches)
- Stop.
Boy, you don't, stop.
You're embarrassing me.
- How?
How?
Eh?
How can I embarrass you?
Mm, my goodness!
Yes, you fine like mommy wha-tah!
My God, y'all see this?
- Come on (indistinct),
I did see you chase
them short skirts (mumbles).
- Me, chasing short skirts?
- You.
- It's not possible now.
I'm Big Shug (mutters).
See, Alem, tell her that it be true.
- Don't say it, bro.
(Alem mumbles)
- Alem, say this thing
with your chest now.
Get the fuck off, tell how say the-
(imitates mumbled speech)
Tell her with your chest!
- You don't speak (indistinct)?
- This guy, nope.
- Not really.
- (scoffs) This guy.
- Memey, Alemey.
- Guys, I bet, um.
Let me see her off to class, eh?
I'll holler at y'all later, a'ight?
- What's up, baby?
- Hey.
- I been texting you, you
ain't been texting me back.
- Um, I just had a lot of homework, sorry.
- Oh, a lot of homework, okay.
- Yeah.
- So you going to that party tonight?
- Mm-hm, you?
- Yeah, I'm trying to see you, though.
- Cool, well then, I should see you there.
- Yeah.
- But I gotta get to class.
- Yeah, you look good, though.
- Thanks.
- Damn, girl, bye.
- Alem, let's go.
Be late to class again.
And carry my books.
- Your books?
- Yes.
- You know I got asthma.
(coughs) Oh, where's my inhaler?
Can't wait for this party tonight.
- Yeah, it should be fun.
I'm excited.
- You know, put some fly stuff on.
- Are you gonna get dressed?
- Got some new dance moves.
You know, you all gotta stop sneaking on-
- Oh!
No, 'cause last year, I
dunno what you were doing.
(chuckles) That was not it.
- You wanna know something
this year, I'm telling you.
- Okay.
Show me something, 'cause
you know I'ma bring it.
I'm gonna say goodbye to that, uh, uh.
- You want your books back?
- (laughs) No.
- 'Cause that's what it
sounds like you saying.
- [Mr. Fomengia] If
anyone has any questions
about the quiz, ask now.
- Mr. F?
- Wait, wait, Miya, no, no.
- What's up, boo?
- Remember.
- This for me?
- The highest rule of respect
is learning one's name.
- Still take it, though.
- But your name is hard
to say, Mr. Fomeguchi.
(students laugh)
No, Fomengia.
Miya, Fomengia.
- Okay.
- Your question.
- What Africans were the first
to be enslaved, and by whom?
- Thank you, Miya.
Did anyone get that question right?
- Camille.
Camille.
- Alem.
- Um.
Uh, yeah, Nigerian and European.
(laughter)
- Nigga, what?
- Man, how you African,
but don't know anything about Africa?
Like, your mom ain't teach you
about life back at the hut?
- Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa, boo, chill.
- I was born here, dumb ass!
- But you African.
That's like me not knowing
Harriet Tubman freed the slaves.
You stupid, boy.
(African drum music)
- Shut up, man.
- I'm just saying.
- Nigga, what are you talking about?!
- Whoa, whoa, fellas, relax.
- I'm just saying.
He needs to take his back home
and learn about his people.
- Chill, chill, chill, chill.
(students chatter)
- Ah, ah!
- Hey, hey, hey, back up.
- Fight!
Fight, fight, fight, fight.
- Hey!
- Fight here.
Hey, yo, sit down.
(students continue chattering)
- Yo, I'm not one of you, sit down!
- What's up?
- Have a seat.
- Have a seat.
- Yeah.
- Alem, sit down.
- Yeah!
- Julius.
Julius!
Switch seats with Alem.
- Mr. Fomengia, Alem at the fights.
Alem, over there.
Hey, hey, sit down.
Switch seats!
Switch.
- Okay, I am.
- Switch seats.
- Switch seats.
- I had your back.
You seen I had your back.
- Get outta my face.
- They gonna break your rules.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey.
(chattering continues)
- [Mr. Fomengia] Put the
phones away before I take 'em.
- My God!
- My phone, boy.
- [Mr. Fomengia] All right,
settle down, settle down.
- My phone like that, boy.
- All right, all right, it's
over, it's over, it's over.
Come on.
Dude.
(class quiets)
(gentle music)
You know what?
Everybody close your books.
Yep, close your books.
We're gonna have a little discussion.
By show of hands, how many
people think they're from Africa?
Ah, I won't take it.
If you believe you're from
Africa, lemme see your hand.
Okay.
Miya and Joe.
Can you tell me why I
didn't see your hands?
- I don't know what
country I'm from in Africa.
All I know is America.
I mean, like, I know my
ancestors or whatever
come from Africa, but I ain't African.
On period.
- [Girls] Period.
- But do you even want to be African?
- No.
- Why?
- I mean, like, I have my culture here.
They have theirs over there.
Why would I wanna be them?
Like, Africans don't even
fuck with us, for real.
- Miya.
- Lies.
- Language.
- My bad, Mr. F.
- All right, Joe.
- (chuckles) I'm from DC.
How can I be from a place
I never even been to?
I mean, I fu-
I mean, I mess with Africans.
We all black, but we're
not the same, though.
- Well, you better watch
how you talk about us, dude.
- Okay, but wait, wait.
Y'all really don't think we're the same.
Like, our cultures really
aren't that different.
We probably have more
in common than anything.
- Girl, no we don't.
She be doing the most.
Just cause she hang around Africans,
do not make her African.
Like, okay, sing that
African commercial with me.
In the arms of an angel
(girls laugh)
- Hey, ladies.
- Are you serious?
- Come on, wait.
No, no, no, ladies,
come on, that's enough.
- Y'all know y'all wrong.
- Too much side chatter, let's move on.
- Come on, you sound ignorant.
- All right, that's good.
- What you talking about?
Are you gonna sit here and say
you never seen those
commercials with the babies,
with the bees flying around they head?
And telling us we can
send 'em 10 cents a day
to feed they whole village?
- Come on, babe.
- Just dumb.
You really believe that?
That's like me saying,
"All black Americans are
on drugs and welfare."
- Exactly.
- Not us.
(class chattering)
- All right, all right,
wait, we need a break.
All right, let's settle down.
Settle down, all right?
We are going to have a mature
conversation here, today.
Or we gonna have lunch detention.
- What?
(class groans)
- It's a simple decision.
Sit, wait, wait.
Simple decision.
Okay, all right, all right.
All right.
(class quiets)
Hm.
- Mr. F be trippin'.
- Mm-hm.
- I
d e n
t i t y.
- He's a dentist?
(laughter)
- Might be detention?
- [Class] Ohh, uh-oh.
- Got him.
- Whoo-whoo.
- Identity.
Determining characteristics which define
what and who a person or thing is.
So Joe, what's your identity?
- My identity?
- I mean, I'm black, you
know what I'm saying?
Yo, blackity-black. (laughs)
- Alem, how 'bout you?
- (exhales) I mean, I dunno.
I was born here.
My parents from Africa.
So I guess I'm African American.
- Okay.
- Wait, wait, shh.
Joe, back to you.
Why aren't you African American?
- I am.
I was born here.
I'm not African, though.
- Okay, so, by that definition,
if both of you were born in China,
that make you Chinese?
- What?
- [Girl] Now he Chinese.
- No.
- That's a valid question, right?
And don't get me wrong, I
understand the confusion.
I mean, typically, when
we talk about "American,"
we speak of it as if it's an ethnicity.
But the truth is, both of
you are indigenous to Africa.
And, therefore, you're
Africans living in America.
- We don't even know where we from.
So what are you really claiming here?
The whole continent?
- Wait, gimme a second.
I'm gonna get to that.
Have any of you guys ever
heard of the word "Akata?"
- Hey, don't call me Akatist.
- That sound like a disease.
That's like calling me a nigga,
but with an "er" on the end.
- Julius.
- I'm just saying.
- Dude.
- All right, all right, my fault.
- All right?
"Akata" comes from the
Yoruba people, from Nigeria.
In short, it means "a cat
that has lost its way home."
It's actually pretty
endearing to the diaspora
when you think about it.
- Okay, but we still don't
know where we're from, like.
- Okay, what if I tell you most Africans
don't know where they're from?
- Man, that's cap!
That's cap!
They know where they from.
Africa!
- All right, everybody
settle down, settle down.
Seriously, look.
- [Girl] Hello.
- Let's walk through this, all right?
Now, the truth of the matter is,
those countries we know of,
Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon,
none of that existed when
our ancestors were taken.
None of it.
All that happened because
the colonization of Africa.
Millions, millions of people displaced.
Now, unfortunately, in our own ignorance,
we started to claim those lands.
The lands that Europe sculpted.
Not us, Europe.
Sculpted by Europe.
I mean, when you really look at it,
we're all from West Africa, all of us.
I mean, our cultures aren't
really that different.
It's a lot of similarities in there.
I mean, the next time you really,
really take a chance
and, like, take some time
and look at Africa, look at that coast.
Look at that region.
Understand that's you.
That is yours, that belongs to you.
I mean, don't get it twisted.
Being from Africa has no
bearing on where you're from,
or where you live right now.
I mean, look at your features.
Look at 'em.
Where do you think that comes from?
- Yeah, this ass is definitely
from the mother land.
(class chatters)
- That's my friend, for real.
(bell rings)
- Okay, all right.
Everybody, don't forget,
reports due on Monday.
Have a great weekend.
My Akata people.
- [Girl #1] Y'all going
to the party tonight?
- [Girl #2] Yeah, that's where I'm going.
- Hey, whoa, you two.
Alem, Joe, have a seat.
- [Girl #1] They gonna be
playing them Afro leaks.
- [Girl #2] I hope not, not all night.
(students murmur)
- So, y'all really were trying
to fight in my class today.
- Man, he came at me, man.
What the f-
- No.
Really.
Look, I'm not gonna suspend you.
But you're both getting
detention for a week,
starting Monday, and I'm
calling your parents.
- Oh, come on, man!
(Alem exhales)
- Are we clear?
Gentlemen, I need to hear you say it.
Are we clear?
- Yes.
- Yes, sir.
- Armstrong is shady.
Guy, you should absolutely see
Giota and Joe, they were
just fighting in class.
- What?
- You see Giota and Joe, they
just beat, beat, beat, beat.
- Bruh.
- Day, bah.
You know when Joe put a forearm
to the neck and like this.
Like on this.
- What?
- I'm telling you! (laughs)
- What?
Never believe a nigga with no sleeves.
They always up to something.
- No sleeve?
Boy, you like an assistant pastor
and a gym teacher at
the same time. (claps)
(all laugh)
- Bruh.
Man, why you let Joe
embarrass you like that?
- Man, shut up!
(laughter continues)
- So now you are just raising sugar now.
Because Joe is not here, and
obviously you feel like da he.
I will call Joe now, and he will hold you
and slap living daylight out of you.
He will beat (indistinct),
come on your body.
- Right, you know we just
playing with you, man.
Come on, man.
Why you let Joe get you
outta character like that?
- Man, fuckin' with Joe,
I probably can't even go to party tonight.
- What?
(phone ringing)
(hip-hop music)
(phone ringing)
- Yeah, hello?
- Hello?
Mr. Fuka, hey, hi.
This is Mr. Fomengia from
Anthony Johnson High School.
- Bro, he on the phone again.
- Um, just calling to let you know
that Alem had a bit of a
dispute in my class today.
- Bro, there's no reason why anybody
should get you outta
character like that, bro.
No reason!
You, you are Alem.
- Straight up.
- Alem clock, I am for you.
Uh, ha, ha.
Whoa.
- Hi, guys.
- Hey, Mariama.
- "Hi, guys."
- Hey, y'all.
- Look at this guy.
(Turk laughs)
"Hey Mariama."
- Man, leave that nigga alone.
- "Hey, Mariama."
It sound like you talk this.
This guy.
- What's wrong with you, man?
- This guy, a lover boy, dawg.
I'm still in love
Mr. Lover Man
Shabba
(boys laugh)
- Hey, you is a saving ass nigga.
- Bro.
(Shug sequels)
(girls laugh)
(Alem mumbles)
- Yo.
- Bro, why do you even like her, son?
Nigga, she only post to get
attention on Instagram, bro.
- Nigga, what?
- Yeah, dude.
- Nigga, I be seeing
you all under her post,
commenting and liking all that all day.
What you talking about right now?
- Yeah, so, nigga, she
bad, bro, what do you mean?
Honestly, man, it's not about that.
It's really the type of
attention she be seeking, bro.
I'm not with that.
I don't like that type of attention.
I mean, not from my shorty.
- What do you mean?
What do you talking about?
- Yeah, what you mean?
- What you mean by she's
looking for attention?
What type of attention
are you talking about?
- I mean, she putting it out
there for everybody to see.
Like, why wouldn't I like it?
- Hey, hey, you know I like it.
But you sound like a whole
hypocrite right now, bruh.
- That one is for the
streets, you know what I mean?
But look at Camille.
- Camille, that's a wife.
- No, bro.
She is not like that, bro.
She really not like that.
- How do you know that?
- How you know?
- [Turk] Yeah, nigga, how you know?
- Whoa, listen, I'm Big Shug.
All right?
There are things that I have
access to that both of you,
one plus one, join together,
minus two cannot access.
So, you know what I'm saying?
Give my credit, bro!
- Oh, shut up!
- Come on, man.
- Hey, look, man.
- Look guys, look.
Hey, man.
See, we already gotta a set
up for the party tonight.
I got food in the crib.
- [Shug] What kinda food you got?
- Mad, fat boy.
- You got love for the food.
- Your dad is already trippin'.
(fun hip-hop music rises)
- All right, let's do it.
I love high school!
I love school.
(boys continue banter)
- Hi Mariama!
- Hi.
(Mariama laughs)
- [Mr. Fomengia] The issue was resolved,
but he will be required to do
a week's worth of
detention, starting Monday.
- Hey.
So please tell me why was he fighting?
- [Irvin] Oh, this man on the phone again?
- No, no, no, not a fight.
He, he wasn't fighting, it wasn't a fight.
He just had a bit of a disagreement
with another student in the class.
But, like I said, it was resolved.
- Hm, I promise you,
I don't know what to do
with this boy again, though.
Ever since he's been
associating with those,
(finger snaps) with those Akata boys, hm?
He's been getting in trouble.
- Wait, excuse me.
- The fuck is "Akata?"
- Irvin, will you sit
back on that seat, please?
- Yo, will you look at the road?
- Irvin, will you sit back
before I get a ticket?
Come on, man.
- Damn, man.
- No, sorry, Mr. Fomengia.
Sorry, oh, no, no.
You ever seen the people on the street?
You might be driving, and you
just see people on the street
up to no good, acting wild
on, you know, street people?
You know, street people?
- Yeah, Mr. Fuka, I'm a little bit lost.
I don't know what you
mean by "Akata boys."
- To clarify for you, Aka, Aka-
You know us, we.
We come to America to work
and make money, period.
They, they are born here, okay?
They are born here with
opportunities of a lifetime.
But yet they do not
wanna work hard like us.
- Us?
- Truly, on my way to work?
- Yes, us Africans now.
- And what about African Americans?
What are they?
Are they Africans here?
- Listen, I did not say
they are not Africans.
All right, Mr. Fomengia.
I did not say
they are not Africans.
- I'm not African.
- But you see them.
Can you put on your seatbelt, please?
- Yo!
The road, man!
- Wait, hello, Mr. Fuka.
- The road!
- Your seatbelt on your
belt, on your belt.
- Your eyes, man.
Why you watching me and not the road?
Man.
- On your seatbelt, please.
- Bro, just let me out.
- We are three blocks away.
I will get you there safely.
- Mr. Fuka, Mr. Fuka?
- Ah, yes.
- Do you need me to call-
- Hey, do I need to call you back?
- Yes, please.
- No, no, no.
I don't need you to call me back.
I'm, I'm, you know, I'm at work.
Listen, Mr-
Ever since my son has
been hanging with those,
the kids in his school,
they're up to no good.
They might be doing drugs,
gang related type of things.
Hey, I've seen so many mugshots of people
that look just like my son's friends.
I can swear, it might even be them.
Those type of Akata boys
is what I'm talking about.
- So the news?
Okay, all right.
So, you believe everything you
hear on the news, Mr. Fuka?
- (scoffs) It's the news.
Of course, it's the news.
- Yeah, this is the same country
whose President said that we
come from shithole countries.
And that's who you're listening to?
You're listening to them?
Since when do we believe
everything the news tells us?
Especially, with the history of the media,
and how they perpetuate, you
know, negative stereotypes
of Africans in America
and across the diaspora.
(turn signal clicking)
Alem has every right, and should be proud
to be African American.
There's nothing else he
should be teaching his friends
about where he's from.
(light guitar music)
(woman vocalizing)
- Mr., okay, Mr. Fomengia,
it's not like I was-
I wasn't belit-
- Mr. Fuka, Mr. Fuka,
Mr. Fuka, you know what?
Maybe we should just talk another time.
- Yeah, that'd be good.
- Um, quiet.
Okay, I mean.
Oh God, okay.
Thanks for, you know, taking
your time and calling me.
I really appreciate-
I'll be sure to talk to Alem tonight.
- [Mr. Fomengia] I appreciate that.
- No problem.
You see, we are here.
I told you a few blocks away,
you have no issues, so you-
- Yeah, why is the door locked?
- Because you've been
behaving like an infant.
- You've been driving like an infant.
- You can't exit, please,
and don't slam my door.
Don't slam my door.
(door slams)
Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Please wait, sir.
Sorry for the misunderstanding here.
But please make sure I
get my five stars, please.
I will give you five stars, you give me-
We can reciprocate.
- [Irvin] Man, I'm five
minutes late for work.
I ain't giving you no stars, man.
Go on outta here.
- We can't be
a 10 out of 10 now.
It's a good point.
- [Irvin] Report your ass.
Get this ride refunded.
- Man, these people.
Oh, I'm having a hell of a time
It's a quarter to nine
Will you get my butt on a flight
Won't you fill up my gas for the night
- Girl, these are so cute.
Where'd you get these from?
- Uh, you know, you know. (laughs)
- Okay, okrrr.
Um, I think I might wear the green one.
- Oh, I was gonna wear the green.
- Oh, okay, well I'll wear the pink one.
- (chuckles) Okay.
Hey, so you gonna be with Shug all night?
- I mean, yeah, I like him.
But it's not giving all that.
- Oh?
Then what is it giving?
It's giving
Spin it for a bad bitch
Get it for bad bitch
If you got some money
Make it trick on a bad bitch
(all laugh)
- No, no, no, no, okay,
but for real, stop playing.
'Cause I see how you be looking at him.
And I'm just trying to let you know,
he be all up in Brie face.
And I saw him at lunch talking to Domo,
and I'm not about to let
my friend go out like that.
- Come on, friend.
- Yes.
- I know that's right.
- So, hello?
- Look, ain't nobody worry
about all that, okay?
When he's with me, it's
always about me, okay?
I mean, he might be talking to them, but
girl, he ain't entertaining nobody else.
I mean, how could he with all this?
(girls laugh)
- Mari.
Now, these dudes just want one thing.
And especially dudes like Shug.
Just be careful, okay?
'Cause he out here.
Still got feelings that's true for you
(Shug screeches)
- Get off the floor.
What are y'all in here talking about, man?
I'd do anything but
play the fool for you
I'd do anything but
play the fool for you
(Shug laughs)
- Yah!
Somebody must have got whooped again.
You mad or no?
- Bro, why you always
going in my pantry, bro?
- I'm hungry!
I'm eating your food
'cause I'm in your house.
- Why you always eating something?
- Real food.
- Dawg, that's all I got.
You know my parents are outta town, man.
- Bro, maybe some Jollof rice?
Aren't you African?
Hee-hee, you look a little sad, bro.
You not still mad about what
happened earlier, are you?
- I mean, nah, you know.
It is what it is, at this point, bro.
- I'm letting you know, I
was gonna help you, bro.
- Shut up, bro!
You were not gonna (murmurs).
- I was gonna help him!
- You was not about to do shit, bro.
- I was about to help him.
- You don't never help.
Man, shut the fuck up!
- Come on, man. (murmurs)
- Hey, but look, though.
See, I know y'all seen
'em choosing me earlier,
you know what I mean?
- Ain't nobody-
Bro, nobody was choosing you, bro.
- Yeah, okay.
But, um, who would y'all choose, though?
Mm, Mariama?
Damn.
Or Camille?
Nigga, hey, (indistinct) or a guy.
- Hey yo, you know me. (chuckles)
Y'all know me.
All y'all know me.
I take both of 'em.
I'm gonna take the two,
not the one, you hear me.
(Shug laughs loudly)
What you laughing at?
- Yeah, not me, bro.
It's Mariama for me, bro.
I mean, Camille bad and all.
But she, like, she be doing too much.
She wanna talk on the phone all
night, you know what I mean?
Look, I don't got time for that.
Bro, I got a full roster, a
whole lineup to attend to.
- Facts.
That's facts.
Bro, I hate when girls gonna call you,
talk to you all night, wrap you up.
This ain't no TED talk.
I ain't your therapist.
- Right.
- It's not an intervention.
- Right.
- And I ain't your mama.
- Mm.
- Call your best friend for that.
I only want one thing.
- Listen, dudes be having
the baddest shorties at home
and still be out wallin it.
- Right.
- Right, come on.
- Mm-mm.
- Whatever.
Anyways, what's up with
you and Joe, though?
- [Adina] Joe?
- Joe who?
- Mm.
- Joe.
- Joe?
- Uh-uh, uh-uh, don't do that.
Your ex, cut it out.
- Uh-uh.
- I seen him flirting with you today.
And you was smiling with
all your little teeth.
So what's a given?
- No, we are done, okay?
That's done.
And I'm not going back.
- Yeah, whatever.
- Alem, you got quiet over there, bruh.
What's going on?
You tell me who.
- I mean, Camille was cool.
You know, I like her,
you know what I'm saying?
I think she still fuck with Joe.
That bitch-ass nigga.
(laughter)
So I guess, I mean, I guess
it's Mariama for me, you know.
Feel like she just the one-
- She is not your type, bro!
(Turk laughs)
She is not your type, bro.
Stick with Camille.
- Come on, man, you
messing up the crib, yo.
Yo, relax.
- Hey bruh, hey bro.
- Relax, bruh.
Why you getting so emotional, bruh?
- Damn, y'all mad as shit!
- You know, I do think
he's kind of cute, though.
- I'm listening.
- Alemanji.
- Oh, first name.
- Okay, first name! (laughs)
Oh wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Is that why they was fighting today?
Ah.
- Hold up.
(Mariama laughs)
- [Camille] You was what?
- You got dudes fighting over you now?
- No!
That, no, no, no.
That didn't have nothing to do with me.
- Sure.
- It's Joe.
He just be acting stupid sometimes.
He just...
- This is true.
- But, so, we'll see.
Do you like Alem?
- Yeah.
Like, he's a vibe, you know?
But he be all up in your face,
and you be all up in his.
So, like...
- Don't do that.
- That's messy.
- You know what type of guys Mariama like?
- Whatever.
- Turk, come on, man.
It's Big Shug, man.
I'm here.
Want to know what type of guys Mariama-
I'm a foreigner, I'm in the front.
I'm the, ah-ah!
All those other guys are chewing gum boys.
Come on, man.
Act like you know what's up.
- Wait, you hit her or something?
- Well, well.
I'm working on it. (laughs)
- This nigga isn't even having it.
- That explains it.
Hey, you seen your boy today, right?
Earlier, she was trying to
talk to my man, right here.
He all in the way, trying
to get the attention.
- Ooh?
- Hey, you saw that, too, huh?
- What are you?
You were stuttering?
"Can I g-g-get your n-n-nu-"
(laughter)
- Please, look.
Mm-mm, don't know if I want him.
I mean, he's cute, but he's goofy.
- Ah, don't do him!
(laughter)
- Nuh-uh, nuh.
- [Both] Ooie.
(girls laugh)
- Listen, Mari.
Like, keep it a book.
What's up with you and Shug?
Forget the last one.
Shug.
- Yeah, fine.
So, we be spending a lot
of time together, you know.
You know, just be up into
each other and stuff.
And he makes me feel so good, like.
- Ahh. (laughs)
That sounds like a zenny.
- It's a big zenny.
- Dudes.
Dudes will have you like that.
- Mm-hm.
- But they will also disgrace you.
- Mm.
- Yes, they will disgrace you.
- Mm-mm.
- We're the ones that
know how to play the game.
- No, no, no, no.
Look, we have a connection, okay?
I mean, I don't care who
he out here talking to.
He not about to connect to them,
the way he connects with me, right?
- Connect Four.
- Uh.
- Things like that.
- Oh my gosh.
- Listen, listen.
Mari, you remember dude
I used to mess with
around the joint?
- Dude with the locks.
Tony, right?
- Useless Tony.
- Oh, God.
- Absolutely.
Very useless human being.
He used to make me feel amazing.
But, like, he didn't really
care about me, for real.
I was all his, but he wasn't all mine.
And it took me a long
time to figure it out.
And I still stayed like a stupid.
But he didn't even know my favorite color.
It was just sex.
And that's cool, but that's not love.
That's not love at all.
- I mean, that's nice and all,
but I know what I'm feeling.
So, we be talking about
it all the time, you know?
I mean, we talk all the time.
- About what, though?
'Cause I mean, like, you already told me
how he just be telling
you how sexy you are,
and nada-nada-na.
But, like, how is that any different
from what Dina is saying?
- (sighs) Yeah, but.
Look, I know what I'm doing, y'all.
Like, I know he cares about me.
- Good, don't end up in McDonough.
- Okay, look, bye, bye.
- Uh-uh.
- [Adina] Saying I'm messy.
- So, what are we wearing tonight?
Is he gonna be leggings, like...?
- [Camille] Uh, yes.
'Cause you know we gonna bring some
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Come up here
Come over here.
(laughter)
- Oh, it's a wrap for them.
(fun hip-hop music)
- Where's my special cream?
- That's Candy?
That's Julie?
- He's crazy, they crazy.
- Well, you know what,
bro, I was thinking.
And I know why Joe probably
don't like your ass.
- I don't know, bro.
- Remember that time
Joe came to your house?
(door knock)
(door knock)
- [David] Uh-uh, who's that?
Who's that knocking at
my door like the FBI?
Can I help you?
- Is Alem home?
- Say what?
- Is Alem home?
- Who?
- Alemanji, I came here to see Alem.
- Alem is not seeing anybody right now.
I just saw I'm running by-
I got his, can you just tell got his back-
- My friend, I told you
Alem is not seeing anybody.
Are you daft?
And you wanna leave a message.
Do I look like an answering machine?
- Nah, man, you don't.
- If you wanna leave
something, leave this place.
- All right, you got it, bro.
- Leave.
Huh?
Nose ring is his nose, like Tupac.
But you look too stupid.
Unsavory character.
Idiot. (sucks)
(boys laugh)
- Ahh!
- [Both] Hey, yo.
- Yo, what's up?
- Hey, what?
- Hey, bro.
- I been tellin' you.
- What?
- I'm tellin' you.
- Oh, yeah.
"Leave this place!"
"All y'all, leave this place!"
- All right, all right, all right.
Listen, listen, listen.
- Trippin'.
- Angel.
- Listen to me, please.
What am I gonna do?
My parents not about to
let me leave out tonight.
- Nigga, what is you talking about?
Bruh, just sneak out, man.
- Yeah, it's that simple, bruh.
- (exhales) Y'all not hearing me.
If I get caught, that is my life.
- Nigga, okay.
If you like, cool.
'Less you just take your babe, anyhow.
Now you (indistinct).
I don't know we're talkin' here.
- Hey, yo.
He's right, bruh.
Just sneak out.
I mean, what's the
worst that could happen?
You already in trouble.
- You're not hearing me, bruh.
If I get caught, I'm getting
sent back to Amazonia.
(Reggae music)
We gotta do something
Dig deep within
We gotta do something
- Ooh, ahh.
(sniffs) Aroma therapy.
Cooks like an angel at
the front gate of heaven.
Mm-hm.
Ooh, try!
(hand slaps)
Yes, so back to Eve.
(Reggae song continues)
- [Radio Voice] 99.1 FM.
Catch the vibe.
- Hey, baby.
- Oh, hey, Ma
- How was school?
- It was cool.
You know, it was a'ight, I guess.
- (chuckles) Okay.
(pan clacks)
(gasps) Are you excited about tonight?
- Yeah, yeah, I am.
But (chuckles) don't be
bringing them dance moves
down to the party, looking for me tonight.
- Boy, you should be so lucky.
(Turk laughs)
- Mm-hm.
(lips smack)
Mm-hm.
(slurps) Oh!
Ooh, it's hot.
Whoof.
- Hm.
It's sweet, huh?
(both laugh)
- Delicioso!
(Esther laughs)
Delicioso, it just so good.
- Mm, mm.
- Mm?
- Please, I have to go to work.
Where did you put the keys?
- Oh, the keys?
- Mm-hm.
- Put them on my head.
Hm, and Esther?
- Mm?
- Speaking about work.
Must we always bathe with hot water?
Heh?
Look at the electricity bill.
150 American dollars, for what?
Comfort?
Hm.
- So let me see.
So it's because of ordinary hot water.
This is why you're making
all this noise, huh?
Do you think I'm from
the village, like you?
I've been bathing in hot water
since I was in (snaps) primary school.
My compound even had a jacuzzi.
- Hey, hey, ha!
Jacuzzen, hm!
If you mean that,
that small puddle that was
in the front of the compound.
You know, that when it
rain, that puddle here?
That you and your
siblings used to piss in?
Even one time, I took a
small shit. (mimics squirt)
(both laugh)
Then you can jacuzze.
- Mm, see your life.
Isn't it the same puddle that people
were fetching water from, hm?
Bushman.
- Do you have to do me like this?
Hey, I'm just joking with you.
(both speak Amazonian)
Hey, hey, hey, boy.
Hey, reverse your life.
Retract your life.
Moonwalk back here.
Micro idiot, huh?
Look at you trying to
sneak yourself around.
Sneaking around the house
as I'm enjoying my wife.
My friend, remove that
thing from your head.
Eh?
Remove that hood.
Are you a hoodlum?
- Hey, ma?
- Yeah.
- Where are we from?
- What do you mean?
- Thanks, Ma
- You're welcome.
- I mean, like, where are our people from?
- You're from North Carolina.
You know this.
- Where do we "come" from?
Like, you know, like, our ancestors.
You know, that type of stuff.
- Well, we're from West Africa, of course.
Why all the sudden questions?
- You know, no reason why.
You know, I was just asking.
- There's never no reason with you.
What's wrong?
- Okay, so, like, today
in school, you know,
some of the class was arguing about, like-
- (clears throat) Were you fighting?
- Nah, you know me, I be chilling.
I wasn't, you know what I'm saying?
But, like, Alem and some of the other kids
got into a argument about,
like, where they were from,
whether they were American
or African American.
And, to me, they all
sounded a bit confused.
- Esther, let me tell you something.
If somebody on the
streets would've told me
what I learned about
this, your foolish son,
I would never have believed them.
Hm? I would never-
Is this what we send you to school to do?
To be a fighter?
UFC.
WWF.
He wants to be (indistinct).
He wants to be-
What's that skinny boy from Australia?
Israel Adesanya.
Huh?
- Look, Dad, I'm, I'm sorry.
- Look, look that
janitorial mop of yours, hm?
Before I give you some backhand
slaps to be sorry about.
- But Dad, I-
- Hee!
This boy.
Stop "But Daddying" me.
Stop it.
So, what's your fixation
between "but" and "Daddy," huh?
Hah, Esther.
- Mm-hm.
- This, this, your son.
His behavior has been quite embarrassing.
Quite embarrassing, quite embarrassing.
(slurps) Mm?
- David.
The way you are devouring that fufu
is embarrassing.
The food is not running from you.
- Esther, see. (loudly licks fingers)
You're deflecting for your son.
Don't deflect for your
son in this moment, okay?
His teacher called me today.
And what's his name again? (finger snap)
Ehh, Mr., Mr. from somewhere.
What's, what's your teacher's name?
- Mr. Fomengia.
- Thank you very much.
- Mr. From, em, From, From Jiva.
The guy now called me as I was working.
I had the passenger in the car.
Don't get me wrong, though.
I like the guy, a very smart man.
But because of this idiot,
he called me with a condescending tone.
And it, quite frankly, it
embarrassed the hell out of me.
"Do you believe everything
you watch on the news?"
- [Esther] Mm-hm.
- "And do you believe all the stereotypes
that you did this and did that?"
I mean, it was something that
I never put into perspective.
- Mm-hm.
- But because this fool
wants to be fighting,
I mean, I was, I was-
You know, I was embarrassed,
to say the least.
- Alem, what is going on?
Why are you behaving like this?
All this fighting.
You will end up in jailo.
- It wasn't even my fault, Ma
- Esther, listen, this your son.
He should be an example
for his American friends.
He should be a prime example, okay?
These American children, they-
Listen, all of them are not bad.
They listen and understand it.
But we must bring them
together as Africans.
We must come to our
African American family
and come together and move.
But not like how this,
your stupid son, is moving.
- What do you mean?
- What do I mean?
What do I mean, Esther?
He has more graffiti on his
body than a subway in Harlem.
(Esther chuckles)
(sucks) I think it's time
that we send this boy
back home to finish school,
like his brother, Atay.
I did not come to this
country for my children
to be bringing shame on my name.
Period.
You're an African, behaving like this?
- But I'm not African!
And you tell me that all the time!
I don't speak the language,
I've never been there.
Dad, you haven't taught me anything.
So please, tell me what you want me to do.
- First and foremost.
- No.
- Don't touch me!
(African drums)
First of all, you must bring
that stupid tone of yours
from 360 BPM.
Walk it down to a 3.
Am I your age, mate?
Plus, if I teach you anything,
you're just now gonna forget.
Like everything your teachers teach you.
Stupid fool!
- It's okay.
Alem, don't let me catch you speaking
to your father like that again.
You digress?
Apologize and go to your room now!
- I don't want an apology.
- Sorry.
- You know, he is right.
We didn't take time to
teach him when he was young.
I don't want him looking at Amazonia
like it's some type of punishment, hm?
He doesn't know the language.
Last time he went back home, he was three.
I don't know, I just,
I feel like sending him
back to Amazonia now
is not the answer.
- Esther, do you want the
culture to die with us?
I mean, a dead culture
is that what you want?
- No, we can still try our
best to teach him what we can.
It may be too late to
teach him the language.
But everything else, there
is still time for, hm?
Anyway, I have to go to work, okay?
- Mm-hm.
- Let's not make it a big thing tonight.
I beg, just let him be.
- You are my boss.
I'm his boss, but I know you're my boss.
- Of course.
- So anything you say goes.
- Boss lady now.
- Mm-hm, as long as you
don't fire me from this job.
- I won't.
- As your husband.
- Just be doing the right job.
Do it clearly.
- Good job, my car saver.
And gas, you must put petrol in it.
- Oh.
- Sorry.
- (indistinct) the gas, ah!
- I was too hungry to
stop at the petrol shop.
At the gas station.
- Okay, it's all right.
- (slurps) Mm-hm.
(door knock)
- Alem, what's going on?
Why were you fighting?
- They stay coming for me, Ma.
And to be honest, I ain't
even start nothing, for real.
Dude be talking about
"Y'all live in huts."
All this hoo-rah-rah-rah.
Like, what?
He came at me first.
I really was just trying to defend myself.
What you expect me to do?
- Alem, it's not every time
somebody says something
to you that you must react.
- Ma, I just feel like,
like nobody really understands me.
One minute, I'm African.
Then the next, I'm not African enough.
It be blowing me, for real.
You got mad at Atay, shipped him off.
And now you trying to do
the same thing with me.
- What do you mean, Alem?
Being African isn't something
that you carry in your pocket.
It's who you are.
- Okay, Ma.
But they be blowing me, for real.
I can't make this up.
- Just ignore them.
- That's easy for you to say.
Matter of fact,
why haven't you ever
taught me the language?
Or even just a little bit of pidgin?
- (sighs) You know, we tried.
But we didn't want to confuse you.
- Confuse me?
- We didn't want you to be
mixing up your words in school.
(chuckles, sighs) When your
brother, Atay, was young,
and we sent him to daycare,
he would go to school
and be saying, "I want
sheet, I want sheet."
(Esther laughs)
The teachers will call us, angry,
because all the other three
year olds were saying,
"I want sheet, I want sheet."
We didn't want the same kind
of things to happen to you.
Look, Alem, don't worry, hm?
We will talk some more later.
I have to go to work.
You know your dad is very angry.
He's very upset.
So please, I'm begging you,
apologize to him in the morning.
And then we'll talk about it then.
Baba, I love you, hm?
Let's go
Ooh, ah, you're the spot
Booty tickin'
And she do it for the top
Tick-tock
(door creaks)
- Hey, Vic!
- Hey, yo, what's good,
what's good, what's good?
Nice party, ha.
- Who's this?
- Meet Lola.
- It's Layla, don't ever forget it.
- That.
(bedding rustles)
- I'm looking forward to
getting to know you better.
- Likewise.
- That's enough.
(indistinct) a fake-looking ass.
And I can beat you with it outta here.
- Yeah, whatever.
We can take this wherever we like it
Ooh, ah, you're the spot
Ah, yeah
Booty tickin'
And she blew it for the top
Tick-tock
(bedding rustles)
(cell phone buzzes)
- What's up, bro?
- You out far?
- Think my dad might be asleep right now.
So it shouldn't take that long.
- Father!
Hey, we ask that you open up now your sky,
and help Alem sneak out tonight.
In fact, Father, we know Alem
has been very disobedient,
but we pray that, um,
we pray that, um, that
beating that he'll receive
(chuckles) will give him better sense.
Amen?
- Go.
- [Gold Medal] Father, in your name,
we pray that Alem can enjoy this,
his last night out, you know?
With all these fine, fine Bs waiting here.
Father!
And, as he comes here, let
him collect a beautiful woman
with big ass, big breasts, okay, Biggie?
(Alem laughs nervously)
And then, Father, may
he use there his prick
to enter one tonight,
and not impregnate them.
- No, no, no.
- In Jesus name.
Amen?
- Amen.
- In fact, Father, please spare Alem.
We ask that you use our
ancestors to please guide
and protect this man.
Amen?
- Amen, amen, amen.
- All right, now hurry that ass up.
Uh, gotta go.
And her ass is fat
Little chick, got a BBM
I hit it from the back
Little chick
(doors creak open)
(suspenseful string music)
(doors creak closed)
(screen door creaks)
(suspenseful music continues)
(triumphant music)
(door knock)
- What's up?
- Hey, my dawg!
Hey, you done made it.
- Told you I was gonna.
- Hey!
- How y'all doing, how y'all doing?
- Good.
- My fault, dawg.
Let me start you out,
bro, let me start you out.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,
my brother, Alem, is in the building!
(all cheer)
- Hey, you're here!
- I told you.
- Yeah, you here.
- I told you I was coming.
- Hey, got the energy, got the energy.
Hey, they in here, bruh.
They in here.
- Should I talk to him?
- I think it's...
- Telling you, man, you
need to go over there
and talk to Camille and Mariama, bro.
- Yeah, you right.
I'm gonna go over there right now.
(hip-hop dance music)
- Handle your business.
- Wait, wait, so what, you just gonna-
You gonna leave me?
- He better respect this.
- Excuse me, ladies.
- Wow.
So you came?
- Hey, you know I wasn't gonna miss it.
- I'm glad you did.
You look nice.
- Thank you, I appreciate it.
Look good yourself.
- (laughs) Thank you.
- So, how long you been here?
- Uh, you know, like, just a hour.
Not long.
- Hey girl, I need your help.
Can you come with me?
- With?
- Hey, Alem.
I see you finally made it, huh?
- You know I wasn't gonna miss it.
- (chuckles) Yes.
Come on, let's go.
- Uh, why can't Dina help you?
- Because Dina's messy.
(chuckles) Let's go.
- All right, all right.
Bye, Alemanji.
- Girl, you are so-
We can ride solo
We don't have to spend the night dolo
Baby, I can help you with your mojo
Baby, I can help you with your mojo
We can ride solo
We don't have to spend the night dolo
Baby, I can help you with your mojo
Baby, I can help you with your mojo
- Hey, everybody.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Not talking to all three of
you, I talk to your friend.
- Uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh.
If you wanna talk to me,
you gonna have to put
some respect on my girls.
- Period.
- Period.
- I'm so sorry.
Ladies, can you please
find another section,
so I can please talk to your friend?
- No, bye.
- Come on, y'all, come on.
(all cheering)
I'd do anything but
play the fool for you
I'd do anything but
play the fool for you
Still got feelings that's true for you
- Crazy things.
- Alem better not be here.
- Don't be so angry, man.
Ain't that shorty?
(Joe mumbles)
Man, this ain't funny.
- Hey, man.
- Man, what she doing over there, man?
- Man, I'm about to handle that, bro.
I gotta leave you, bro.
(clears throat) What's up?
Excuse me.
- Got see beams.
See beams.
- I'm gonna introduce you to this girl.
- Oh my goodness.
- Hi, Joe.
- Stop acting like you
don't miss me, what's up?
- Joe.
- What?
- We're done, don't keep doing that.
- What you mean, we're done?
Oh, you with your boy, Alem, now, huh?
You think I ain't know?
- Know what?
- You and Alem, what's up?
I'd do anything but
play the fool for you
I'd do anything but
play the fool for you
- Still talking to (indistinct)?
- No.
- Man, don't even worry about that.
- What?
- I'll see you lather, though, all right?
Take care.
- Okay.
I'd do anything but
play the fool for you
- Ah, bro, I don't like
the way he looked at you.
Feel like Guzman makin' hits
Rocket launcher when I ridin' a whip
I feel like Guzman with them sticks
Look like a whole dummy when I miss
I feel like Guzman makin' hits
Rocket launcher when I ridin' a whip
They roll with me when
I ride through the city
I kill a nigga just for
stealin' the Pentium
Eating good, these
niggas looking too skinny
I had to get rich-
- I can be not harvesting
such an idiotic child
in this house.
The boy wants to kill me.
Tonight, tonight, I will show him Pepe.
(traffic noise)
Just pick up the phone now.
Hey.
Hello, Esther?
Yeah, yeah, it's your son.
You won't believe it.
He snuck out to go to that stupid party.
Yeah, the jamboree.
Yeah, one minute he was there,
next minute he was gone.
Poof, like Houdini.
Shawshank Redemption!
What do you mean don't cause a scene?
I pro-
If he's there, I will cause
a full and mass production.
Esther, don't talk to-
Esther.
Wait, what's that, what's his full-
What's that, the address to that,
his foolish friend's house?
No problem, I will show-
Tonight, tonight, I will show him Pepe.
I will kill him tonight.
Tonight, he will die.
Tonight.
Heh, he want to sneak out on me.
- Yo, Alem.
Come on, let's show these
guys something, man.
- He know I'm not gonna lead yet.
- Hey, Alem.
- Come on, show me, show me the move.
I nearly died.
- You said you were going
all out tonight, bro!
- You did say you were
going all out tonight.
- Just show him, bro!
- All right, all right, all right.
Hold on, hold on.
Can a brother take his jacket off?
- Go ahead, go ahead.
- Ooh.
(girls laugh)
- Okay, okay, okay.
- You get 'em!
- [Girls] What is that?
- Huh?
- [Girls] What is that?
- Oh y'all just mad
'cause y'all can't do it.
- Right.
(girls erupt in laughter)
Bust it
(dance music intensifies)
Hey
Ooh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Hey
Ooh, yeah
Look at me now
Hey
Ooh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Hey, hey, hey
Ooh, yeah
Hey
Ooh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Hey
Ooh, yeah
Look at me now
Hey
Ooh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Hey
Ooh, yeah
Ah, ah, ah
- [Girls] Go, go, go!
Ah, ah, ah
- [Boys] Nah, nah, nah, nah!
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
- [Boys] Oh!
- [Girls] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Bust it
Ah, ah
Bust it
Ah, ah
Bust it
Ah, ah
Bust it
Ah, ah
Bust it
Ah, ah
Bust it
Ah, ah
Bust it
Ah, ah
- [Girls] Hey, hey, hey, hey!
- I've been working for 33 minutes now.
You think you can pick me up?
Forget that penny.
I know you are at work, but please.
What's your manager saying?
Tell that manager I
will come and slap him.
He will end up in the emergency room.
Okay, Esther, just call me back, please.
Just call me when you get off.
(chuckles) I love you too. (sucks)
This boy wants to-
This boy wants to kill me.
I did not come to America
to be a bounty hunter.
Looking for people who
want to be sneaking out.
I must be raising a criminal.
This boy wants to kill me,
but I will find him today.
At first, it was Atay.
Now my favorite son, Alemanji.
And he's sneaking out,
becoming a criminal.
Ooh, this is unbelievable.
This how I will show them Pepe today.
Yeah, east, west.
North and south, okay.
This is the right direction here.
This is, how these houses are fine?
These houses are beautiful.
When I grow up, me, too.
I will get a good house like this.
- Oh, so you can dance!
- Thank, thank you, thank you.
- I see you.
No, for real, you was really good.
- Better than last year, huh?
- Way better.
- Oh, for sure.
'Cause last year, I don't know what-
- I don't what was going on last year.
- Oh, come on, it wasn't like that.
- No. (laughs)
- They were looking great.
(girls continue chattering)
- I'm doing my thing, I'm doing my thing.
- But not like that.
- You know, I've been practicing.
- Have you?
- You know, I be in the mirror,
you know what I'm saying.
Doing what I gotta do.
(girls laugh)
- Go power.
- I do what I-
I do what I can, you know.
- Okay, I see
what you got going on, yeah.
- Yeah.
- You know, that's what I do.
- Bruh, Camille, dawg.
- Bro, bro.
- Camille, dawg.
- All right, bro!
- Tonight is almost over.
- No.
Tap me again, tap me again while I'm prop.
Y'all was doing y'all thing, too, though.
You know, I seen y'all little moves.
- Of course, you know, it
comes naturally, though.
You know it.
- Thank you.
- I didn't think y'all was gonna be able
to keep up with me, you know?
- Oh, please.
- What y'all doing tonight?
- I don't know.
- Get some food?
I mean, maybe you wanna
get some food or something?
- I'm always down to eat,
you know what I'm saying?
- Me, too.
- That's just-
- You gonna tell her
to dance with you, bro?
- Nigga, leave me alone!
Nigga, get off me, man.
- Can I have a dance?
- Sure.
Too much skin in it,
I done seen you naked
(Alem sighs)
So if you leave me alone,
I can no longer take it
I won't let him leave you,
won't let him take you
Too much skin in it,
I done seen you naked
Don't you know the
come-up was different
We got it from the basement
So if you leave me alone,
I can no longer take it
- Camille.
- Alemanji.
- You wanna dance?
- No, I'm fine just being
a spectator for now.
- Can't be at this
party looking all bored.
Just sitting down.
You know, let me change that for you.
A little-
You know I'm saying?
A little dance.
- Good luck with that.
- You good?
- Yeah.
I'm just ready to go.
- We just got started, what you mean?
- What are you guys
talking about over here?
- Camille talkin' about she ready to go.
- Yes, Mariama, can we please go?
My feet hurt.
- Seriously?
- Yes!
- Mariama, can I just get one dance?
(slow hip-hop music)
- Meee.
- Turk.
- Meee.
(slow music continues)
- Whoo, that was lit.
I ain't had that much fun in the while.
- (chuckles) Yeah.
- Look, I'll holler at you, okay?
- Hey, hey.
Just let me walk you home.
- Uh, sure.
Actually, come upstairs
with me real quick.
I'm gonna get some stuff, okay?
- [Camille] You ready?
- [Mariama] Yeah, I'll
be right back, okay?
Promise.
- Where you going?
Mari?
- This has to be-
This has to be the place.
We'll find this boy today.
(David grunts)
(cautious music)
- Yeah, hello?
Hey man, I'm at this
fuckin' party and shit, bro.
Fuckin' girl downstairs
listening to Alem, bro.
Like, she, no, she left me.
- Ah.
- Hey, Mr. Fuka.
- Unsavory character.
Is it-
Is she from the-
No, no, no, no.
Is she from the house, eh?
- Hey.
- Yeah, the boy who came for-
Please, come on, come
on, lead me to the party.
- Hey, I'm gonna call you right back, bro.
Shut, shut, shut, shut up.
Give your phone.
Come on, take me to the party.
- Mr. Fuka, I-
- Take me to the party.
- I can't step on the grass
with my Jordans on, bro.
- I don't give a shit about your Jordans.
- I can't tiptoe in these, bro, come on.
- Shut your mouth and come
and take me to the party now.
- All right, bro, all right, all right.
- Take me to the party.
Take me, I'm not your bro.
(door squeaks)
- Oh my gosh.
This room is amazing.
This is definitely my dream home.
So, um.
You really think I can dance, huh?
- Look at this bed.
Yeah, I definitely need one of these.
- All right, man, all right.
- Look, I watch the Pornhub.
- Come on, my jacket, bro.
- Yeah, I watch the Pornhub.
- My jacket, bro.
- It's important, yeah.
(Joe speaks indistinctly)
Shut your dirty mouth.
Come on, take me to the party now.
Take me to the party.
- I do not do any drugs-
I didn't ask you for anything.
Take me to the party.
- All right, all right.
- Take me to the party.
- Look at this dress!
It's incredible.
Like, how's it look on me?
- Oh, yeah, yeah.
- Actually, I not look good.
(chuckles) What?
Sorry, but a nigga not sorry
I got niggas shinin' to me dirty
I got niggas every-
- Hey!
- Yo.
You see Mariama?
- Hey, what for you?
Leave that thing.
Leave that thing.
Alem is on that thing tonight.
- Alem?
They want me.
Alem?
- Yeah, I know they want you.
What are you talkin' about?
- Come on man.
Really, where's she at though?
- Bro.
If you see her, tell me now.
God, I want full-on talk.
- Look, look, look.
Do you see them?
Come this way, do you see them?
Are you seeing them?
You know (indistinct),
you a boy, not a guy.
Why do they do like this now?
Why they do person like this?
He like the girl now.
- Guy, guy.
He's competing with Shug.
Guy, we go away, but you know me now.
- Competing, competing.
- Competing with Shug.
Big Shug, now come on, man.
- Now we be your friend.
Your friend, not your guy.
- Now show me.
Now show me where my fuckin' son is.
Hey, is, is, is, off that
music, off the music.
Of that music, my friend.
(record scratch)
Wow. (sucks)
Wow, wow, wow, wow.
So, this is what you people do.
You leave your house to come
to somebody else's
parents' house for a party.
Grinding and winding,
winding and grinding.
Ticking and tocking.
Hm?
- You are just jealous
because when you are our age,
you nearly catch babes.
Free your slow chocolate.
- Chocolate.
- [All] Yeah!
- Wait, wait, wait.
All of you, cut your thing.
Shut that stupid mouths of yours.
All this talking.
All that heat from your mouths
is just melting me at the same time here.
You look like you're my age.
Old man.
Huh, super duper senior.
How long, when are you graduating?
Super duper superman of the seniors?
Huh? (sucks)
Oh, ah, look at that small girl.
Look at what she's wearing.
Eh, one, two, blue, green, red.
How many gangsters have flogged you?
How many gangs did you get initiated to?
- Oh, go leave us alone.
See your son, Dad.
This him son, dad, Jesus,
or when he was away.
(laughter)
Leave the scene.
- If I give you some
biblical slaps right now, eh?
I will off my belt right now,
just flog you like you were my son.
I will flog you like you were my son.
Huh, you just can continue, sir.
Hm?
If I-
I must go and dry clean my clothes,
'cause my clothes stink!
You people are trifling.
(sucks) Where's my son?
I will find that boy.
- Sorry for the interruption.
Can we get back to the party?
(everyone cheers)
(music blares)
- This boy must be
somewhere in this house.
I know he's up here somewhere.
Look at this antisocial fool.
My friend, go and socialize with somebody!
Hah.
I bet, move, move, move-
- Sorry.
Sir, you can't go up there.
Gold medal-
I mean, Femi said that his parents
are getting the floors redone
and no one's allowed up there.
- Miss Vulgar, who's-
- No, you can't go up there!
- God, you are strong.
So, you mean, nobody can go up there?
- No one.
- So was that two ghosts
that just walk up those steps just now?
- Huh?
- This girl can lie.
I can't tell you can lie.
Anyway, so you haven't seen my son,
Alemanji.
- Alemanji.
I haven't seen him all night.
- So you have not seen Alemanji?
- No.
- Anyway, do me a favor, okay?
If you've seen him,
or if you've seen anybody who
may have seen my son, okay?
- Mm-hm.
- Tell him his father is looking for him.
Okay, tell him his father
is looking for him.
- 'Kay.
But judge just say, "Weak
boy, you need to improve"
- [David] Hello.
Hey Esther, I search the entire house,
up and down.
Alem ain't nowhere.
- (whispering) Alem!
- [David] I'm going to
neighbor's house now.
- Oh my gosh.
It's beautiful.
It's amazing.
Yeah, I definitely need stuff like this
when I get my own place.
- Yeah, I kinda gotta go to the bathroom.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Can you put this on real quick?
(music gets louder)
- Camille.
Camille, wait.
- Millie, wait!
- Camille.
Camille, hold up!
- Wait!
- Camille!
Camille.
Camille, can you wait?
- I'm fine by myself!
I don't need you to walk me home.
- Millie.
Millie, hey.
- What's wrong, are you okay?
Could you...?
- What?
- Give...
- What is going on with you and Alem?
- Nothing, I told you I don't want him.
- But that's not how you're acting.
Why would you be dancing on
him and taking him upstairs
when you know that I like him?
- Millie, relax, okay?
Look, I told you how Shug
had me feeling all night.
Like, I was just trying
to make him jealous.
Okay, I'm sorry, all right?
Look, you're my girl, like.
I would never do you like that.
(Camille scoffs)
You know I love you.
I'm sorry.
- Mariama!
Come on, I'll drop you off.
Come on, Mari.
- Um.
(Camille scoffs)
- [Shug] Come on!
- Y'all go ahead.
- Alem got you, right?
Right, Alem?
- I got her, I got her.
- Yeah, come on.
- [Mariama] Call you tomorrow.
- Sure.
(car door opens, closes)
- You all right?
- Camille.
So what's up, man?
Like, what's going on?
'Cause you throwing me
off, and I don't know why.
- It's not you, Alem.
- It better not be me.
'Cause I was about to
say, we could square up,
if it was a real issue,
you know what I'm saying?
- Whatever.
I like your little shirt.
- Oh, this.
My uncle gave it to me
as a gift, you know?
It's my favorite color, too.
- For real?
- Yeah.
- That's my favorite color, too.
- Oh, here we go.
You ain't just saying that to
get on my good side, are you?
- (scoffs) Now why would I be doing that?
- 'Cause I know when somebody
trying to run game on me.
- Boy, whatever.
- You ain't slick.
(both laugh)
(gentle hip-hop music)
- Do you like Mariama?
(Alem exhales)
- I did.
But
not anymore.
(gentle music continues)
- So then, what do you think about me?
- You?
Mm, you cool.
(chuckles) I mean, you
always being yourself, and
I like that.
- So you like me?
- Oh, I ain't say all that.
- 'Cause it's sounded like
you were saying you like me.
- You a'ight, I dunno.
Since you asking all these questions,
what do you think of me?
- Well. (lips flutter)
- Hm?
(chuckles) No, I can tell
you're a good person.
You're not like everyone else.
I like that.
It's kind of cute, though,
how you be trying to.
I see you.
- I don't know what you talking about.
- Mm.
- I'm always being me.
- Uh-huh.
- All the time.
- Yeah, yeah.
I know.
- Mm-mm.
- Oh, we're at my house.
- Oh, wow, this is nice.
Your parents getting a
little bit of change, huh?
- (laughs) It's home.
- Okay.
- So, can I call you later?
- Yeah.
I'd like that.
- Yeah, well.
Goodnight, I guess.
- Do you wanna come inside?
- Um, yeah, yeah, I would love to.
That's if your parents are cool with it.
Because I don't want to get in trouble.
- They're not in town.
- For real?
Oh.
- Yeah, come on.
(slow electronic music)
Come on.
(Alem exhales sharply)
(purse unzips)
(keys rattle)
(door squeaks)
(door closes)
Whoo.
- Ha-ho, shit!
- (laughs) I'm cute.
- Something like that.
(bed thumps)
(both laugh)
- So, what are you passionate about?
- Hm, I don't know.
(exhales sharply) I'm just trying
to figure life out, day by day.
What you passionate about?
- Us.
- Mm?
I love us.
Black people.
(both laugh)
I just wanna be there for us, you know?
Like in class today,
we needed all of that.
I just wanna be able to feed and heal us.
Just like that.
- So how you planning on doing that?
- Well, go to college, get
my master's and get to work.
- Honestly, Camille, I don't know.
After today, I'll probably
just get sent back home
to my country to finish school.
- You're moving?
Is this because of what
happened in school today?
What was that about, anyway?
- Unfortunately, yeah, but I don't know.
- No.
Nope.
Come on, get up.
- Oh, what?
I mean I'm comfortable right here.
- No, we are not spending
your last day here like this.
Come on!
- Where we going?
- Put this on.
Thank you.
(door closes)
Thank you.
- Yes, okay, come on.
We are gonna have fun tonight.
- Where are we even going?
- Let's see where it takes us.
I'll show you.
- You got a bike?
- Uh, something like that.
Hop on.
- Huh, huh, what?
- Get on, come on.
- I'm not getting on the back of no bike.
- Are you serious?
- I'm dead serious, no.
- Alem.
What, you wanna ride?
- Yeah, let me-
You get on the back.
- Okay.
- I don't need you to be
falling and crashing (mumbles).
- All right, then don't-
- I got it.
I got it.
You getting on?
'Cause I can, I can leave you.
- Okay.
- Come on.
- Don't drop me.
- Why would I do that?
- Alemanji.
- Hey, I got you.
- Oh my goodness.
- I got you.
(Camille laughs)
We can take a boat ride
We can make a milli with no cosign
We could go to Europe
We could go to Africa
Winter and Johannesburg
It don't really matter, love
We ain't in a competition
Ain't nobody catching up
Young, free and black
With a whole lot of stamina
We are more than okay
Still reminiscing on our old days
I still take the book with a low spade
So what you trying do
Everything good long as I'm with you
I was in survival mode
Now I got a lot to lose
I was in the dark, stuck
Now my light shining through
You been through a whole lot
And I feel like we
both can use a vacay
We could go to Barcelona,
Spain for a eight day
We could see a horror movie
like we in a eighth grade.
Don't you let him tell
you what you can't do
- You are having the time your life, huh?
- Gotta get on the swings.
- I'ma let you ride the bike next time
because you heavy.
- You're rude!
Why would you say that to me? (laughs)
- Just being honest.
- Come on, I bet you
can't go higher than me.
I bet you can't
- Is that a challenge?
I bet you can't
- Are you challenging me?
I bet you can't
- Think so?
- Let me see some.
- Give you a head start, too.
I'll give you a little
push start, go ahead.
- Oh, okay.
- There you go.
There you go.
- Okay.
- There you go.
- You done messed up now.
- Oh, I messed up?
(Camille laughs)
You think so?
Ohh-oh-oh
Hm?
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
- Oh!
Like the Coolaid Man, oh yeah!
- Little core strength.
- Looks like I won.
- Lies.
- Looks like I won.
(Camille laughs)
(stones scrape)
- Oh, well.
- Oh.
Look at the sky.
The sun's almost rising.
- Think so?
- Yeah.
Ooh.
I wanna show you some place.
Let's go.
- Guess it's follow the leader now.
Wake up by your side when the day come
Time go by, I'm the same one
You the same one, the same one.
Sunshine, sunshine
Rain on your window
Trying to make it out
Trying to figure out how to make it
(gentle guitar music)
(soft string music swells)
(gentle music continues)
- Where's your family from?
- Um, Amazonia.
- How 'bout you?
Where is your family from?
- Uh, Georgia, mainly.
But my parents found out
we have roots in Ghana.
- Okay.
- Mm-hm.
- That explains the beautiful
skin and the big-ass head.
- (laughs) You're a hater.
No, but my parents got dual citizenship,
so we're going back this summer to Ghana.
I'm really excited.
- Good.
- Oh, this my house.
Okay, just be quiet.
It's my neighbor's bike.
Just put it down.
- (whispering) You thief.
(Camille laughs)
I knew this wasn't your bike.
- You just wanna sit for a second?
- Cool.
(gentle horn music)
- So when's the last
time you've been back?
- Haven't been back since
my mom's mother died.
I was kinda too young to
remember anything, for real.
It's like sometimes I feel
like I'm not even African.
You know?
(traffic noise)
- I don't think being African has anything
to do with whether you speak a language
or eat the food or live on the continent.
We African because it's in us.
In our melanin, our being, our souls!
(soft trumpet solo)
(light hip-hop music)
- [Esther] Alem, this is your mother.
Listen, we're not sending you back home.
So don't worry, okay?
(upbeat music)
My son, please just come
home so we can talk.
I love you.
(upbeat music ends)
(cautious jazz music)
(door squeaks)
(cautious music continues)
- Alemanji, Alemanji, Alemanji.
Look at-
Ha, look at you.
Where have you been?
Look at you.
You're even wearing your good shirt.
You are wearing your button up-
Ah, hey, crystals on your necks.
Crystals on your necks.
Your chakras have been aligning, eh?
So after I told you,
"Don't go to any party.
Do not go to any party."
Clear as day, I said it with my mouth, eh?
You still find a way to sneak your-
You sneak yourself to a jamboree, huh?
- I'm, I'm so sorry.
I just wanted to see my friends
for just one last time before
I had to leave the country.
- Hey, don't worry, don't worry.
You are not leaving any country.
Your mother has massaged that one.
She's massaged that one in.
But this, your behavior, huh?
This behavior of yours.
(fingers snap) It must be altered, okay?
It must be altered!
Today, today.
Huh?
- Dad, I just, I feel
like you don't respect me.
As your son.
But you treat me like a stranger.
I just want to be treated like your son.
- Alemanji, let me, let me take, contrary-
Contrary to popular belief,
you are my son, okay?
In fact, you are my favorite son, okay?
Don't worry, I am your
father and you're my son.
Come here.
I'm your father. (hand pats)
And you're my son, okay?
You're my son, you don't have to worry.
You are my son.
You're my son, and, eh,
(whispering) because you are my son,
I must beat you.
(belt slaps)
(sneakers squeak)
- Dad, Dad!
Dad!
(upbeat hip-hop music)
By a show of hands,
Let me see how many
of y'all got degrees
How many y'all working
regular occupations
'Cause when we do this
thing, we do the math
And I'll be making 80K when I get out
- [Phone Voice] Please leave
a message after the tone.
(phone beeps)
- [David] Eh, Alemanji.
Ah, yes, it's your father again.
So I left you a message telling
you not to call me back.
To come straight to the house
after you get the message.
I know you gotten the message.
But you did not call me.
And you did not come home.
Hey!
Alemanji, when I catch you, hm?
You are dealing-
When I catch you, there will be a ticket
waiting for you at the front door.
(phone beeps)
Alemanji, Alemanji, Alemanji.
Hello, this is your father again.
Eh, say it is not so.
I'm getting a spider sense.
My spider senses are tingling,
telling me that you may have,
you may have went to that, that party.
That, that, that party.
That jamboree, eh?
Trust me, I'm going to, I'm
going bounty hunting now.
I'm coming to find you.
Do you understand?
I'm coming to find you.
Oh, I remember coming into class late
Trying to get the extra credit
Maybe if put in just
a little extra effort
Then I coulda got the grade
May-maybe coulda kept my
scholarship the first time
Went to up the grind, fill
the upper-upper echelon
We've been working around the city
To traveling across state lines