1. Hey, Kellogg, how was your weekend?Copy !req
2. Complete disaster, Carlton.Copy !req
3. I took this girl to see
New Kids on the Block...Copy !req
4. and all night she's saying,
"Donnie's so cute.Copy !req
5. "Donnie's so sweet, Donnie's so hunky."Copy !req
6. What does Donnie have that I don't have?Copy !req
7. My guess is you don't have the right stuff.Copy !req
8. All right, men, it's History time.Copy !req
9. Smith, you're late.Copy !req
10. Sorry about that, Coach, but...Copy !req
11. I thought I'd run a few laps before class.Copy !req
12. Help out the old basketball team.Copy !req
13. Good idea, Smith. Good way
to stay ahead of the competition.Copy !req
14. Might not be a bad idea
for all you men who are on the team...Copy !req
15. to start the day with a few laps.Copy !req
16. We run enough laps
at basketball practice, Coach Smiley.Copy !req
17. Okay, Hunt, we're not in the gym.Copy !req
18. Therefore, you are to refer to me
by my official teaching name:Copy !req
19. Professor Smiley.Copy !req
20. And for that little slip of the tongue,
20 laps.Copy !req
21. All right, men.Copy !req
22. Before we start the next chapter
in our History books...Copy !req
23. I'm going to give back
the pop quiz from Friday.Copy !req
24. I want you all to take these home...Copy !req
25. and bring them back
signed by your parents.Copy !req
26. I think I aced this one.
How about you, Will?Copy !req
27. I think I did just fine.Copy !req
28. and the way that you write your "A"
shows you're intelligent and playful.Copy !req
29. You can tell all that
from just my signature?Copy !req
30. - Yup.
- That's amazing.Copy !req
31. Do me, do me!Copy !req
32. Sign right there, under Ashley.Copy !req
33. Okay. So what do you see about me?Copy !req
34. Well, the bold vertical strokes
show that you're impulsive.Copy !req
35. The large capital letters
show that you're committed.Copy !req
36. And the little smiley face
you use to dot your "l"...Copy !req
37. shows that you got
way too much time on your hands.Copy !req
38. That's all true.Copy !req
39. Who does it say I'm going to marry?Copy !req
40. "Handsome movie star,
who will only be happy...Copy !req
41. "if you spend obscene amounts of money."Copy !req
42. You're good.Copy !req
43. - Hello, everybody.
- Hi, honey.Copy !req
44. Daddy, Will knows how
to analyze people's handwriting.Copy !req
45. He's quite good, sir.Copy !req
46. One look at my signature and
he deduced that I was valiant...Copy !req
47. ingenious, and have the strength of 10.Copy !req
48. - Let me do yours, Uncle Phil.
- No, I don't believe in that nonsense.Copy !req
49. I'd hardly call it nonsense.Copy !req
50. Please, Daddy, it's fun.Copy !req
51. All right. Where do I sign?Copy !req
52. No, Uncle Phil.
You deserve a fresh piece of paper.Copy !req
53. - How about you, Aunt Viv?
- Sure. Why not?Copy !req
54. Will, this is always such a sad moment.Copy !req
55. What is?Copy !req
56. Getting you and Mom to sign
his "Hall of Shame" History exam.Copy !req
57. History exam?Copy !req
58. Sorry, Will.Copy !req
59. Mom, Dad, if it's any consolation,
I got an "A" on the test...Copy !req
60. and I must say I found it very easy.Copy !req
61. Carlton, Ashley,
we'd like to talk to Will alone.Copy !req
62. Will, what is going on here?Copy !req
63. You do so well in English and Math.Copy !req
64. How could you do so poorly in History?Copy !req
65. It's not my fault. That class is boring.Copy !req
66. Don't give us that, Will.Copy !req
67. No, what I meant was
they don't teach the whole story.Copy !req
68. We don't learn nothing about
the Black people in American history.Copy !req
69. if they taught that, maybe I'd be
more interested and work harder.Copy !req
70. That's not a bad idea.Copy !req
71. - It's not?
- It's not?Copy !req
72. It's not?Copy !req
73. Carlton, stop eavesdropping!Copy !req
74. Sorry, Mom.Copy !req
75. This does not excuse your bad grade...Copy !req
76. but you've made a good point
about the curriculum.Copy !req
77. So we all agree here?Copy !req
78. None of this is any of my fault?Copy !req
79. This has been a very productive meeting.Copy !req
80. Stay put.Copy !req
81. You brought up a valid point here...Copy !req
82. but if you want to learn Black history,
what are you gonna do about it?Copy !req
83. Don't just complain, baby, take action!Copy !req
84. Write a statement about
why more Black history...Copy !req
85. should be added to the curriculum.Copy !req
86. Present it at next week's
parent-teachers' meeting.Copy !req
87. I'll go with you.Copy !req
88. - You will?
- You will?Copy !req
89. You will?Copy !req
90. The administration
will consider the petition...Copy !req
91. suggesting that we change
the school motto to...Copy !req
92. "Bel-Air Academy: Love It...Copy !req
93. "Or Go To Public School."Copy !req
94. Any other new business?Copy !req
95. Headmaster Armstrong, I have some.Copy !req
96. Mr. Smith.Copy !req
97. This should certainly be fly.Copy !req
98. I think the students at this school
are being cheated...Copy !req
99. out of a valuable learning experience.Copy !req
100. I'm talking about
Coach Smiley's History class.Copy !req
101. That's Professor Smiley, Smith.Copy !req
102. That will be 10 laps.Copy !req
103. What's your concern, Mr. Smith?Copy !req
104. We learn about George Washington
and Thomas Jefferson...Copy !req
105. and them other dudes
that wound up on money...Copy !req
106. but what about Martin Luther King
and Crispus Attucks...Copy !req
107. and all the other Black people
that made a difference in this country?Copy !req
108. It's like when there wasn't no pictures
of any brothers on the wall.Copy !req
109. You know Spike Lee's movie,
Do the Right Thing?Copy !req
110. I'm sorry.Copy !req
111. The last movie I saw
was Dead Poets Society.Copy !req
112. With the right headmaster...Copy !req
113. that would have been
a completely different story.Copy !req
114. Coach Smiley, would you care
to respond to Mr. Smith?Copy !req
115. All right.Copy !req
116. I'd like to make three points.Copy !req
117. First, in my course,
we are trying to condense 200 and...Copy !req
118. some odd years of history...Copy !req
119. into nine months of lessons.Copy !req
120. Obviously, we have to concentrate...Copy !req
121. on some historical figures
and exclude others.Copy !req
122. That's true.Copy !req
123. Second, our school...Copy !req
124. has a fine library, or so I've been told...Copy !req
125. where any student can study
more about Black history.Copy !req
126. Another good point.Copy !req
127. For years I have taught my course
from this well-respected textbook...Copy !req
128. and quite frankly, I don't know
a lick more than what's in this book.Copy !req
129. So forget it.Copy !req
130. - But I think it's important.
- And it is.Copy !req
131. Unfortunately, the school rulebook clearly
states that any requests pertaining to...Copy !req
132. curriculum changes be accompanied by—Copy !req
133. A petition signed
by 150 student signatures.Copy !req
134. Article 4, Section 9.Copy !req
135. Where'd you get ahold of that book?Copy !req
136. It certainly will take some time
to revise the curriculum.Copy !req
137. What about having somebody...Copy !req
138. come in to replace Coach Smiley
for a month...Copy !req
139. to teach some Black history?Copy !req
140. A month off? Armstrong,
I think the kid's got something here.Copy !req
141. Be that as it may,
I'm sure it will be some while...Copy !req
142. before we can find a teacher.Copy !req
143. So, unless there's any other new business,
this meeting is—Copy !req
144. I hate to say this, Mr. Armstrong,
but it sounds to me like you're stalling.Copy !req
145. Not at all, Mrs. Banks...Copy !req
146. we want to make sure that the person
we get is properly qualified.Copy !req
147. For example,
a college professor with a Ph.D...Copy !req
148. who's taught
Black History and Literature...Copy !req
149. at the university level?Copy !req
150. - Where would we find someone like that?
- You're looking at her.Copy !req
151. See you in a month.Copy !req
152. All right, now that we're studying
something I know...Copy !req
153. I'm gonna be the star of this class.Copy !req
154. No, you're not. I am.Copy !req
155. What, are you tripping?
How do you figure that?Copy !req
156. Because the teacher's my mommy.Copy !req
157. Good morning, class.Copy !req
158. Mom, I'd like to welcome you,
and say, on behalf of the entire class...Copy !req
159. how happy we are to have you here.Copy !req
160. What did you call me, Mr. Banks?Copy !req
161. What I always call you: "Mom."Copy !req
162. My name is not "Mom."
My name is Professor Banks.Copy !req
163. That is how I prefer to be addressed.
It that clear, class?Copy !req
164. Yes, Professor Banks.Copy !req
165. Black American history, gentlemen...Copy !req
166. from Africa, to slavery, to the present.Copy !req
167. We've all heard of Frederick Douglass...Copy !req
168. Martin Luther King
and Booker T. Washington.Copy !req
169. But Black history includes a lot of people...Copy !req
170. whose names and faces
aren't remembered today.Copy !req
171. How many of you have heard
the spirituals sung by the slaves?Copy !req
172. I have.Copy !req
173. Now listen to this:Copy !req
174. That was pretty cool.Copy !req
175. What do you suppose
the purpose of that song was?Copy !req
176. Let me handle this one.Copy !req
177. For those of you
unfamiliar with the spirituals...Copy !req
178. allow me to explain.Copy !req
179. The slaves used to sing them...Copy !req
180. to keep their spirits up
and their minds on God...Copy !req
181. in the face of all the oppression
that they suffered.Copy !req
182. That was very well put, Mr. Smith,
but you're wrong.Copy !req
183. I beg your pardon?Copy !req
184. That song was written to be used...Copy !req
185. as a secret code of
the Underground Railroad.Copy !req
186. Secret code? What do you mean?Copy !req
187. Can anyone tell me
what the Underground Railroad was?Copy !req
188. Now, this one I know.Copy !req
189. The Underground Railroad
was a group of people...Copy !req
190. that led the slaves to freedom.Copy !req
191. When was it established?Copy !req
192. During slavery.Copy !req
193. That covers about 250 years, Mr. Smith.Copy !req
194. Care to narrow it down a bit?Copy !req
195. What do you mean, right now?Copy !req
196. Sit down, Mr. Smith.Copy !req
197. It was established during the 1840s.Copy !req
198. Harriet Tubman, an ex-slave,
was one of the leaders.Copy !req
199. These gospel songs were actually
secret messages sent...Copy !req
200. to tell the runaway slaves
how to get to freedom.Copy !req
201. For example, "the drinking gourd"
referred to the Big Dipper.Copy !req
202. When the slaves sang
Follow the Drinking Gourd...Copy !req
203. that signaled to the runaway slaves
to run towards the Big Dipper.Copy !req
204. Along the route,
they would meet with the abolitionist...Copy !req
205. and escape to freedom.Copy !req
206. That's what I meant.Copy !req
207. Could you teach us
one of the songs, Professor?Copy !req
208. Here's one called Wade in the Water.Copy !req
209. This song told runaway slaves that
the best escape route was along the river.Copy !req
210. Late at night,
these songs could be heard...Copy !req
211. coming from slave cabins
along the route...Copy !req
212. guiding the runaways to freedom.Copy !req
213. Everybody, join in now.Copy !req
214. Come on, now.Copy !req
215. Now, all right.Copy !req
216. Not bad, guys.Copy !req
217. Next week's assignment will be a report
on the Port Royal Experiment...Copy !req
218. and the Penn School written by Mr. Smith.Copy !req
219. Who, me?Copy !req
220. This course was your idea.Copy !req
221. I think it only fitting you be given
the honor of the first assignment.Copy !req
222. Congratulations, Will. What an honor.Copy !req
223. Mr. Smith will write
the first half of the report...Copy !req
224. the second half
will be written by Mr. Banks.Copy !req
225. Who, me?Copy !req
226. I expect it to be at least 15 pages...Copy !req
227. typed, double-spaced,
with footnotes and a bibliography.Copy !req
228. This course was a brilliant idea.Copy !req
229. She's your mom!Copy !req
230. I can't believe Mom picked us
to do that special assignment.Copy !req
231. Word.Copy !req
232. Coach Smiley never would have did that.Copy !req
233. He used to say, "Extra work for you...Copy !req
234. "means extra work for me."Copy !req
235. Excuse me.Copy !req
236. Dibs on the tall one.Copy !req
237. Excuse me, miss.
Maybe you can help me out here.Copy !req
238. I've lost the feeling in my lips.Copy !req
239. I'm Carlton Banks.
That's right, the Carlton Banks.Copy !req
240. Want to slide out of here,
get something to eat?Copy !req
241. - Sure.
- Okay.Copy !req
242. Will, Carlton, I've been looking for you.Copy !req
243. I think class went pretty well today,
don't you?Copy !req
244. Yes. Got to go.Copy !req
245. Just a second. I've got something for you.Copy !req
246. This book will help you
with your research paper.Copy !req
247. It's about the Penn School.Copy !req
248. Charlotte Forten was one
of its first Black teachers and she...Copy !req
249. Will!Copy !req
250. - Are you listening to me?
- Of course.Copy !req
251. You were talking about the Penn School.Copy !req
252. What did I say about the Penn School?Copy !req
253. It's right around the corner
from the Pencil School?Copy !req
254. Thanks, Mom.Copy !req
255. Carlton, how many times
do I have to tell you...Copy !req
256. tuck in your shirt!Copy !req
257. Look at you. Honestly, Will...Copy !req
258. those eyebrows!Copy !req
259. Hurry up. We're going to the library.Copy !req
260. The tall one really liked me.Copy !req
261. Geoffrey, I'm going on my first
job interview at an art gallery...Copy !req
262. and I need some advice.Copy !req
263. You've been on a lot of job interviews,
haven't you?Copy !req
264. Why, yes, Miss Hilary.
I've worked my entire life.Copy !req
265. Really? Why?Copy !req
266. Because I've always been partial
to food and shelter.Copy !req
267. Okay. Anyway, I've been trying
to prepare for this interview...Copy !req
268. but every time I think about it,
I get really nervous.Copy !req
269. What do they ask you at these things?Copy !req
270. It's nothing to be nervous about.Copy !req
271. Just a few simple questions.Copy !req
272. For example, what is your name?Copy !req
273. - Hilary S. Banks.
- Education?Copy !req
274. Two years of college.Copy !req
275. What are your qualifications
to work in an art gallery?Copy !req
276. Well, I'm like...Copy !req
277. An art gallery, to me, is like...Copy !req
278. You know, it's like, okay.Copy !req
279. When I walk into an art gallery, it's like...Copy !req
280. Okay, if I had to choose, all right...Copy !req
281. It's like, I mean... Leave me alone!Copy !req
282. You're hired.Copy !req
283. - ls Aunt Viv here?
- Yes, she's in the kitchen. Shall l—Copy !req
284. No!Copy !req
285. She can't know we're here.Copy !req
286. She hasn't let us watch TV in a week.Copy !req
287. I'm getting withdrawal symptoms.Copy !req
288. My body needs
a certain amount of microwaves.Copy !req
289. Hi, guys. How's that history class coming?Copy !req
290. - Fine.
- Yeah. Decent, I guess.Copy !req
291. How are you doing
with your term papers and your...Copy !req
292. reading assignments
and your economic graphs...Copy !req
293. of the cotton industry?Copy !req
294. Dad, if you don't mind,
we'd rather not talk about History class.Copy !req
295. Okay, suit yourself.Copy !req
296. Uncle Phil, please.Copy !req
297. if memory serves,
this Black history class was your idea.Copy !req
298. I didn't know Aunt Viv was gonna teach it.Copy !req
299. She's driving us crazy.Copy !req
300. Last night, I had a dream that I went
to the prom with Harriet Tubman.Copy !req
301. Will, I saw this coming.Copy !req
302. You thought you'd get a free ride
in that class, didn't you?Copy !req
303. - No, I didn't.
- I sure did.Copy !req
304. I don't have any sympathy
for either one of you.Copy !req
305. Just because she's good
at teaching the class...Copy !req
306. and making you do some hard work...Copy !req
307. - you can't take it.
- Look, that's not it.Copy !req
308. For her own good, you have to warn her...Copy !req
309. if she keeps being so tough,
the whole class is gonna revolt.Copy !req
310. I can see it in the kids' faces.
They're on the edge.Copy !req
311. Umoja.Copy !req
312. What?Copy !req
313. Umoja. It's Swahili for "unity." Dope, huh?Copy !req
314. I got the whole Berlitz course
on cassette for my oral report today.Copy !req
315. Did you take my Jet magazine?Copy !req
316. No, I've got my own subscription.Copy !req
317. Good morning, class.Copy !req
318. Who would like to make
the first oral presentation?Copy !req
319. Jonathan, you did
your presentation yesterday.Copy !req
320. But I've done a whole new presentation,
just for fun.Copy !req
321. Before we make our presentations
we have something to say to you.Copy !req
322. A bunch of us were at Chadney's house
making our extra-credit dioramas...Copy !req
323. and we started talking.Copy !req
324. We agreed it's a shame you're going
to leave at the end of the month.Copy !req
325. Yeah, terrible.Copy !req
326. - That's a wack situation.
- A shame.Copy !req
327. So, anyway, we came up with this.Copy !req
328. It's a petition for you to become
our permanent history teacher.Copy !req
329. Shoot me.Copy !req
330. Guys...Copy !req
331. I'm overwhelmed. This is very flattering.Copy !req
332. According to the rulebook,
we need 150 signatures.Copy !req
333. So far we've collected 148.Copy !req
334. It'd be fun if the two signatures
to put it over were Will and Carlton.Copy !req
335. Guys, do the honors.Copy !req
336. After you, Will.Copy !req
337. No, you go ahead first.Copy !req
338. I insist.Copy !req
339. She's your mom.Copy !req
340. This class was your idea.Copy !req
341. Okay, listen, guys.Copy !req
342. I'm very touched
that you want me to stay...Copy !req
343. but I don't think
the university would approve.Copy !req
344. - But I don't see—
- Let's get back to work.Copy !req
345. Mr. Fletcher, would you care
to give your report, please?Copy !req
346. - Hi there, Aunt Viv.
- What are you doing?Copy !req
347. Just grading papers.Copy !req
348. The class coming over later?Copy !req
349. Yeah. Maybe you can tell us
more about Harriet Tubman.Copy !req
350. I never get enough of her.Copy !req
351. I think you did get enough.Copy !req
352. You thought one month was enough.Copy !req
353. Mom, I'm sorry if I wasn't as enthusiastic
as the rest of the guys.Copy !req
354. You're a great teacher. It's just...Copy !req
355. I hope you don't take this the wrong way...Copy !req
356. but you made our lives a living nightmare.Copy !req
357. How did I do that?Copy !req
358. You ragged me in front of the whole class.Copy !req
359. You gave us all that extra work
and made us do those reports.Copy !req
360. I didn't hear any complaints
from the rest of the class.Copy !req
361. That's because you were harder
on the two us.Copy !req
362. I'm sorry you felt
I was being hard on you...Copy !req
363. but I thought the two Black students...Copy !req
364. would actually want to get
the most out of the course.Copy !req
365. I guess we didn't think about it that way.Copy !req
366. Mom.Copy !req
367. Yes.Copy !req
368. This whole ugly episode...Copy !req
369. it's not going to affect my grade, will it?Copy !req
370. I'm a very tough grader, Carlton.Copy !req
371. And you're very beautiful, Mommy.Copy !req
372. Will, there's one thing
I've been wondering.Copy !req
373. What's that?Copy !req
374. Why did you want a course
in Black history in the first place?Copy !req
375. - I'm interested in it.
- Are you really?Copy !req
376. Of course.Copy !req
377. You didn't seem happy
about all the work I was giving you.Copy !req
378. Weren't you the one who said
if you were...Copy !req
379. interested in something,
you would study hard?Copy !req
380. Aunt Viv, I read The Autobiography
of Malcolm X three times.Copy !req
381. That makes you
a serious student on Black history?Copy !req
382. That's a very important book.Copy !req
383. Will, you can read that book...Copy !req
384. you can wear the T-shirts, put up
the posters, and shout the slogans...Copy !req
385. but unless you know
all the history behind it...Copy !req
386. you're trivializing the entire struggle.Copy !req
387. Now you started something
very good here...Copy !req
388. but it's up to you to follow through on it.Copy !req