1 00:00:04,292 --> 00:00:06,083 -You gonna be a movie star one of these days? 2 00:00:06,083 --> 00:00:08,292 -Well, we're making a lot of plans on it. 3 00:00:08,292 --> 00:00:11,167 I hope so. I hope I'll be able to do my life story. 4 00:00:11,167 --> 00:00:13,167 -I think the James Brown story 5 00:00:13,167 --> 00:00:15,208 has got to be one of the biggest winners of all time. 6 00:00:15,208 --> 00:00:17,500 ♪ Everybody right there -♪ Get into it 7 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,625 -♪ Everybody right there -♪ Get involved 8 00:00:19,625 --> 00:00:21,708 -♪ Everybody hit it [ Music plays ] 9 00:00:21,708 --> 00:00:23,667 Come on, now. 10 00:00:23,667 --> 00:00:25,000 Good God. 11 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,708 -Nobody expected James to be anything. 12 00:00:27,708 --> 00:00:30,208 -Come on! Hey! 13 00:00:30,208 --> 00:00:33,542 -Abandoned at birth, prison, dropping out of school. 14 00:00:33,542 --> 00:00:37,042 There's a level of genius there that is amazing. 15 00:00:37,042 --> 00:00:38,375 -♪ Now, look -♪ Hey 16 00:00:38,375 --> 00:00:40,792 -♪ I want you to hit me -♪ Yeah 17 00:00:40,792 --> 00:00:43,042 -♪ Fellas -♪ Yeah 18 00:00:43,042 --> 00:00:45,250 -♪ Don't miss me -♪ No 19 00:00:45,250 --> 00:00:48,208 -People don't talk enough about James for his writing 20 00:00:48,208 --> 00:00:49,625 and producing skills. 21 00:00:49,625 --> 00:00:51,333 He was an entrepreneur. 22 00:00:51,333 --> 00:00:53,500 -I mean, he changed the way music was. 23 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:54,875 He created funk. 24 00:00:54,875 --> 00:00:56,083 -♪ Hit me 25 00:00:56,083 --> 00:00:58,208 -He was a risk-taker. 26 00:00:58,208 --> 00:01:01,917 He gave you sex and protest at the same time. 27 00:01:01,917 --> 00:01:03,917 -♪ Soul power -♪ Soul power 28 00:01:03,917 --> 00:01:05,833 -♪ Soul power -♪ Soul power 29 00:01:05,833 --> 00:01:07,083 -We need black people 30 00:01:07,083 --> 00:01:08,417 in the power structure to speak for us. 31 00:01:08,417 --> 00:01:10,125 -♪ Soul power -♪ Hit me 32 00:01:10,125 --> 00:01:11,958 -James Brown "Say It Loud -- I'm Black and I'm Proud" 33 00:01:11,958 --> 00:01:13,625 was the jump-off point. 34 00:01:13,625 --> 00:01:16,500 -The power to move people, to mobilize people, 35 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:18,792 to make them feel and think about what's happening, 36 00:01:18,792 --> 00:01:22,167 James Brown was able to do that. 37 00:01:22,167 --> 00:01:24,167 -♪ Put it there 38 00:01:24,167 --> 00:01:26,292 -You really couldn't voice your opinion 39 00:01:26,292 --> 00:01:28,250 a lot of times with Mr. Brown. 40 00:01:28,250 --> 00:01:31,208 A lot of things that Mr. Brown would do, 41 00:01:31,208 --> 00:01:34,417 sometimes I didn't agree with him. 42 00:01:34,417 --> 00:01:37,333 -Black folks had the right to be angry at him 43 00:01:37,333 --> 00:01:40,917 for aligning himself with a politician like Richard Nixon. 44 00:01:40,917 --> 00:01:45,083 ♪ 45 00:01:45,083 --> 00:01:47,792 [ Cheers and applause ] 46 00:01:47,792 --> 00:01:51,208 -We all got our problems and we're going to work them out. 47 00:01:53,167 --> 00:01:56,167 -"I Feel Good." That was done in a movie, wasn't it? 48 00:01:56,167 --> 00:01:58,625 -Yes, we did "Ski Party along with Frankie Avalon, 49 00:01:58,625 --> 00:02:00,208 Yvonne Craig. 50 00:02:00,208 --> 00:02:03,875 ♪ Wow, I feel good 51 00:02:03,875 --> 00:02:06,917 ♪ I knew that I would, now 52 00:02:06,917 --> 00:02:09,250 ♪ I feel good 53 00:02:09,250 --> 00:02:11,958 ♪ I knew that I would, now 54 00:02:11,958 --> 00:02:13,625 ♪ So good 55 00:02:13,625 --> 00:02:17,125 ♪ So good, I got you 56 00:02:17,125 --> 00:02:19,083 -His music was incredibly important 57 00:02:19,083 --> 00:02:21,042 to our community, to our people. 58 00:02:21,042 --> 00:02:23,250 His journey is incredibly important. 59 00:02:23,250 --> 00:02:25,625 There might be places where he stopped in his journey 60 00:02:25,625 --> 00:02:28,083 that you don't agree with, but it was a journey. 61 00:02:28,083 --> 00:02:30,500 The development and relationship of our folks 62 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,375 and this country's development, 63 00:02:32,375 --> 00:02:34,750 James Brown was an integral part of that. 64 00:02:34,750 --> 00:02:36,917 -♪ In my arms 65 00:02:36,917 --> 00:02:39,792 ♪ I know that I can do no wrong ♪ 66 00:02:39,792 --> 00:02:42,083 The first time I cut "I Feel Good," it was strictly jazz. 67 00:02:42,083 --> 00:02:44,208 I had to go back and cut it again so people could follow it. 68 00:02:44,208 --> 00:02:46,292 ♪ Dun-a dun-a dun-a dun 69 00:02:46,292 --> 00:02:50,083 -"I Feel Good" is basically a blues progression. 70 00:02:50,083 --> 00:02:53,333 James took the chord changes out of it, 71 00:02:53,333 --> 00:02:56,833 and it was just a groove, and that groove locked in. 72 00:02:56,833 --> 00:02:58,417 -♪ So good 73 00:02:58,417 --> 00:03:01,375 -When we loop a sample nowadays, 74 00:03:01,375 --> 00:03:03,375 James Brown was sort of doing that, 75 00:03:03,375 --> 00:03:05,167 and that in itself was different. 76 00:03:05,167 --> 00:03:07,917 -♪ So good 77 00:03:07,917 --> 00:03:11,208 [ Applause ] 78 00:03:11,208 --> 00:03:12,958 ♪ Papa's in the swing 79 00:03:12,958 --> 00:03:14,500 [ Both laugh ] 80 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:16,708 -There's something about it. I don't know. 81 00:03:16,708 --> 00:03:18,667 Alright. Easy does it. 82 00:03:18,667 --> 00:03:20,708 Now, what was the story? Why'd you make that record? 83 00:03:20,708 --> 00:03:24,042 -Well, during that time, I needed a hit record very bad. 84 00:03:24,042 --> 00:03:26,625 And the only thing I said, I said, 85 00:03:26,625 --> 00:03:29,250 "Well, you know, papa should get a brand-new bag, you know, 86 00:03:29,250 --> 00:03:31,167 and listen, we got to come up with a title." 87 00:03:31,167 --> 00:03:33,125 And then I started writing, you know, 88 00:03:33,125 --> 00:03:36,167 and got a little story together, and -- and it was together. 89 00:03:36,167 --> 00:03:38,167 ♪ Come here, sister 90 00:03:38,167 --> 00:03:40,708 ♪ 91 00:03:40,708 --> 00:03:43,208 ♪ In the swing 92 00:03:43,208 --> 00:03:45,292 -"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" comes out. 93 00:03:45,292 --> 00:03:46,792 That's street slang. 94 00:03:46,792 --> 00:03:50,000 People are like, "Yeah, I know what this is." 95 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,250 -♪ He ain't no drag 96 00:03:53,250 --> 00:03:55,583 ♪ Papa's got a brand-new bag 97 00:03:55,583 --> 00:03:57,542 ♪ 98 00:03:57,542 --> 00:03:59,625 -With "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," 99 00:03:59,625 --> 00:04:03,042 as an 11th-hour decision, they sped the tape up 100 00:04:03,042 --> 00:04:04,875 to make it just a little bit faster. 101 00:04:04,875 --> 00:04:06,042 -♪ Come on, now 102 00:04:06,042 --> 00:04:07,708 ♪ On the horn 103 00:04:07,708 --> 00:04:10,833 -He's realizing that him and his horn section 104 00:04:10,833 --> 00:04:12,667 are the new Famous Flames. 105 00:04:12,667 --> 00:04:17,792 Like, his entire horn section answering him at his every whim. 106 00:04:17,792 --> 00:04:20,458 ♪ Come on, come on 107 00:04:20,458 --> 00:04:23,792 -You listen to the spontaneity of his vocals, 108 00:04:23,792 --> 00:04:27,542 and that includes his screams and his grunts and his groans 109 00:04:27,542 --> 00:04:29,500 and all the things that people mimic 110 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:32,500 that are -- that are part of his identity. 111 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:34,917 He's using his voice. He's playing an instrument. 112 00:04:34,917 --> 00:04:36,458 He's one of the band. 113 00:04:36,458 --> 00:04:39,500 -See, soul music is jazz and -- and gospel mix. 114 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:42,833 Funk is when you lay on the vamp. 115 00:04:42,833 --> 00:04:47,917 ♪ 116 00:04:47,917 --> 00:04:49,083 ♪ With your mess 117 00:04:49,083 --> 00:04:51,125 -He's basically announcing 118 00:04:51,125 --> 00:04:53,625 that he's the aforementioned Papa, 119 00:04:53,625 --> 00:04:58,125 and his brand-new bag is this level of soul. 120 00:04:58,125 --> 00:04:59,875 "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" 121 00:04:59,875 --> 00:05:04,750 will start the unprecedented streak of top 10 hits 122 00:05:04,750 --> 00:05:07,708 for the next 10 years of James Brown's life. 123 00:05:07,708 --> 00:05:10,542 -Soul is real. You can't make that up. 124 00:05:10,542 --> 00:05:12,125 You either got it or you don't have it. 125 00:05:12,125 --> 00:05:15,458 ♪ 126 00:05:15,458 --> 00:05:19,083 -There was the Motown sound, the Memphis sound, 127 00:05:19,083 --> 00:05:20,625 the Muscle Shoals sound. 128 00:05:20,625 --> 00:05:23,125 Then there was the James Brown sound. 129 00:05:23,125 --> 00:05:26,375 It didn't have a geographic identity. 130 00:05:26,375 --> 00:05:30,250 It had the identity of a single human being. 131 00:05:30,250 --> 00:05:34,833 -The Motown sound and imagery was very carefully curated, 132 00:05:34,833 --> 00:05:38,542 and it was really a response to what we call the white gaze, 133 00:05:38,542 --> 00:05:42,375 the lens in which white supremacy 134 00:05:42,375 --> 00:05:44,792 is viewing the rest of the world. 135 00:05:44,792 --> 00:05:47,292 So it's through that lens that Motown said, 136 00:05:47,292 --> 00:05:50,375 "We want to promote these positive, 137 00:05:50,375 --> 00:05:53,958 respectable images of black people." 138 00:05:53,958 --> 00:05:56,208 ♪ 139 00:05:56,208 --> 00:05:59,208 Mr. Brown also very well put together, 140 00:05:59,208 --> 00:06:00,375 a perfectionist. 141 00:06:00,375 --> 00:06:02,458 He was curated in his own way. 142 00:06:02,458 --> 00:06:04,542 Wasn't a company behind him 143 00:06:04,542 --> 00:06:06,542 saying, "You need to dress like this and do this." 144 00:06:06,542 --> 00:06:08,542 He was doing that himself. 145 00:06:08,542 --> 00:06:12,000 -♪ I'm alright tonight 146 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,125 ♪ And I'll do just what I want 147 00:06:15,125 --> 00:06:16,750 I might get on the stage 148 00:06:16,750 --> 00:06:18,583 and normally having to do an hour and a half. 149 00:06:18,583 --> 00:06:20,583 ♪ And do the James Brown 150 00:06:20,583 --> 00:06:23,542 ♪ Oh, ohhh, yeah 151 00:06:23,542 --> 00:06:25,875 I may do two hours and 20 or 30 minutes, 152 00:06:25,875 --> 00:06:27,625 may do an hour extra. 153 00:06:27,625 --> 00:06:31,208 I enjoy what I'm doing and I enjoy seeing them enjoy it. 154 00:06:31,208 --> 00:06:32,875 -He believed in perfection 155 00:06:32,875 --> 00:06:35,542 and that the audience should get what they paid for. 156 00:06:35,542 --> 00:06:37,875 He was willing to do whatever it took 157 00:06:37,875 --> 00:06:40,542 to make sure that the perfection was there. 158 00:06:40,542 --> 00:06:43,875 He demanded it and he got it. 159 00:06:43,875 --> 00:06:45,083 -♪ Oh 160 00:06:45,083 --> 00:06:47,042 -My daddy was very strict. 161 00:06:47,042 --> 00:06:50,375 He came from a life of struggle. 162 00:06:50,375 --> 00:06:54,125 He knew each time he did his show 163 00:06:54,125 --> 00:06:58,542 that everything had to be right before he got to the stage -- 164 00:06:58,542 --> 00:07:01,000 people on time, dressed like they should, 165 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,042 sound people are where they supposed to be, 166 00:07:03,042 --> 00:07:04,667 equipment, everything. 167 00:07:04,667 --> 00:07:06,542 -What kind of things would you have to do to get, 168 00:07:06,542 --> 00:07:08,958 like a $5 or $10 fine in a show? 169 00:07:08,958 --> 00:07:12,542 -Missing notes delivered and not paying attention. 170 00:07:12,542 --> 00:07:14,125 I demand discipline. 171 00:07:14,125 --> 00:07:17,167 ♪ 172 00:07:17,167 --> 00:07:19,375 ♪ If I ruled the world 173 00:07:19,375 --> 00:07:22,042 [ Crowd shouting ] 174 00:07:22,042 --> 00:07:25,875 -I got fined $50 one time for one note. 175 00:07:25,875 --> 00:07:28,375 We was playing "If I Ruled the World," 176 00:07:28,375 --> 00:07:31,458 and I almost missed the note, but -- 177 00:07:31,458 --> 00:07:34,167 and I just kind of slid into it. 178 00:07:34,167 --> 00:07:35,708 You know what I mean? 179 00:07:35,708 --> 00:07:37,583 You know, it wasn't a train wreck, 180 00:07:37,583 --> 00:07:40,875 but it was a little rough, and for that time, I got $50. 181 00:07:40,875 --> 00:07:43,375 I said, "What did I do?" "You know what you did. 182 00:07:43,375 --> 00:07:46,833 You missed a note." I said, "One note?" 183 00:07:46,833 --> 00:07:49,542 -If there were too many mistakes on the stage, 184 00:07:49,542 --> 00:07:51,042 you know, during the performance, 185 00:07:51,042 --> 00:07:54,208 we had to rehearse right there after the show. 186 00:07:54,208 --> 00:07:55,458 He didn't care. 187 00:07:55,458 --> 00:07:57,208 -He hated wrong notes. 188 00:07:57,208 --> 00:08:00,042 That's when he would yell, you know, 189 00:08:00,042 --> 00:08:02,375 and he had to be in control. 190 00:08:02,375 --> 00:08:04,708 We lost a lot of people behind that. 191 00:08:04,708 --> 00:08:07,125 -This whole band-leader thing that he had, 192 00:08:07,125 --> 00:08:08,583 that's from another era. 193 00:08:08,583 --> 00:08:10,250 You hit a bum note, you got fined. 194 00:08:10,250 --> 00:08:12,375 You know, if you turned up with your shoes not clean, 195 00:08:12,375 --> 00:08:13,833 you were fined. 196 00:08:13,833 --> 00:08:16,250 The complete antithesis of a rock band. 197 00:08:16,250 --> 00:08:18,000 It's not like a rock band. 198 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,042 Rock band is late, rock band is dirty, 199 00:08:20,042 --> 00:08:24,417 rock band is not dressing right, and they play bum notes. 200 00:08:24,417 --> 00:08:28,042 -♪ Told me, darling, that you had to go ♪ 201 00:08:28,042 --> 00:08:31,000 ♪ Done take your money, I don't care no more ♪ 202 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,958 -I could read his eyes. It was like, "I heard that." 203 00:08:34,958 --> 00:08:38,042 And I think that Mr. Brown could hear every instrument, 204 00:08:38,042 --> 00:08:41,000 every voice that was singing behind him. 205 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,792 He just knew who would make a mistake. 206 00:08:43,792 --> 00:08:46,542 ♪ 207 00:08:46,542 --> 00:08:50,750 -Style and presence was very important to Dad. 208 00:08:50,750 --> 00:08:53,708 -He had a valet that brought his clothes to him. 209 00:08:53,708 --> 00:08:57,500 The valet held the -- the pants out for him, you know, 210 00:08:57,500 --> 00:08:58,792 and he'd talk to me. 211 00:08:58,792 --> 00:09:00,542 The valet's still holding the pants. 212 00:09:00,542 --> 00:09:02,333 I'm going, "When is he going to take the -- 213 00:09:02,333 --> 00:09:04,542 When is he going to take the pants from the valet?" 214 00:09:04,542 --> 00:09:06,625 Poor guy's got his pants. 215 00:09:06,625 --> 00:09:08,792 -All the uniforms right now that my band has, 216 00:09:08,792 --> 00:09:10,875 I own them, because I want them to look decent. 217 00:09:10,875 --> 00:09:14,708 They should be glad to put on a uniform and belong to something, 218 00:09:14,708 --> 00:09:17,083 as opposed to belonging to nothing. 219 00:09:17,083 --> 00:09:21,583 -He established some rules for himself, 220 00:09:21,583 --> 00:09:24,375 and he wanted the people around him to live by also. 221 00:09:24,375 --> 00:09:27,333 -He strove for perfection. 222 00:09:27,333 --> 00:09:29,083 He's a child of the South, as well, 223 00:09:29,083 --> 00:09:33,792 so he understood what it was to have his image out there, 224 00:09:33,792 --> 00:09:35,625 what it was to perform. 225 00:09:35,625 --> 00:09:39,292 He had to project that image of being perfect. 226 00:09:39,292 --> 00:09:41,167 -Difficult is all relative. 227 00:09:41,167 --> 00:09:43,458 Exacting and having standards, you know. 228 00:09:43,458 --> 00:09:46,625 You know, if somebody's a little lazy or wants to slack off 229 00:09:46,625 --> 00:09:49,042 or really wants to fall asleep in the getaway car, 230 00:09:49,042 --> 00:09:51,875 they're going to think you're exacting and you're difficult. 231 00:09:51,875 --> 00:09:53,833 -He knew what his mission was, 232 00:09:53,833 --> 00:09:56,417 and that was to show the world that, 233 00:09:56,417 --> 00:09:58,667 "Look, I'm on this playing field, too. 234 00:09:58,667 --> 00:09:58,708 "Look, I'm on this playing field, too. 235 00:09:59,917 --> 00:10:02,833 I'mma show you why I am the king of this thing." 236 00:10:02,833 --> 00:10:06,667 -My energy is so strong and my presence is so strong. 237 00:10:06,667 --> 00:10:08,708 I can stay up for 72 hours and still go do a show. 238 00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:15,708 -There just was no way, you know, 239 00:10:15,708 --> 00:10:17,417 for me to dream of, uh, becoming anything 240 00:10:17,417 --> 00:10:21,458 but trying to be just a laborer trying to work, you know. 241 00:10:21,458 --> 00:10:26,042 Wasn't a chance for me to imagine nothing too fantastic. 242 00:10:26,042 --> 00:10:27,500 ♪ 243 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:29,208 I think your spirit kind of changes 244 00:10:29,208 --> 00:10:31,708 along with what environment you're in. 245 00:10:31,708 --> 00:10:34,083 ♪ This is a man's world 246 00:10:34,083 --> 00:10:37,375 ♪ 247 00:10:37,375 --> 00:10:42,417 -In the 1960s, you were at these cross currents 248 00:10:42,417 --> 00:10:46,917 where folks wanted to show that folks deserved equality. 249 00:10:46,917 --> 00:10:51,583 At the same time, recognize some of the raw foundations 250 00:10:51,583 --> 00:10:56,042 of what made you as a people and as a person. 251 00:10:56,042 --> 00:10:58,083 James Brown could tap into that. 252 00:10:58,083 --> 00:11:02,000 He had all the aspirations of entertainer, 253 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,125 and yet he had all the qualifications 254 00:11:05,125 --> 00:11:08,583 of somebody that came from the Jim Crow experience, 255 00:11:08,583 --> 00:11:11,375 and he was able to combine all of that. 256 00:11:11,375 --> 00:11:12,708 -Meredith was the first Negro 257 00:11:12,708 --> 00:11:14,708 to desegregate Ole Miss University 258 00:11:14,708 --> 00:11:16,083 four years ago. 259 00:11:16,083 --> 00:11:18,208 Today, Meredith and his small party 260 00:11:18,208 --> 00:11:21,542 began their defiant walk at the Mississippi state line 261 00:11:21,542 --> 00:11:22,958 to encourage unregistered Negroes 262 00:11:22,958 --> 00:11:25,708 along the way to qualify as voters. 263 00:11:25,708 --> 00:11:28,250 [ Gunshots, indistinct shouting ] 264 00:11:28,250 --> 00:11:31,417 -James Meredith was shot the second day of his walk, 265 00:11:31,417 --> 00:11:35,708 and the entire civil rights apparatus stepped in 266 00:11:35,708 --> 00:11:39,125 to finish that march for him, and Meredith survived. 267 00:11:39,125 --> 00:11:43,125 -The first thing James Brown did that attracted any notoriety 268 00:11:43,125 --> 00:11:45,708 was his appearance at Tougaloo College 269 00:11:45,708 --> 00:11:48,042 at the James Meredith rally. 270 00:11:48,042 --> 00:11:50,708 He was in the midst of Stokely Carmichael. 271 00:11:50,708 --> 00:11:54,417 Dr. King, Dick Gregory, Sammy Davis, 272 00:11:54,417 --> 00:11:56,875 and Marlon Brando was there. 273 00:11:56,875 --> 00:11:59,917 -The only reason we're doing this this way, 274 00:11:59,917 --> 00:12:03,625 because James Brown should be saved for last. 275 00:12:03,625 --> 00:12:07,083 He jumped on his own jet and flew in. 276 00:12:07,083 --> 00:12:08,875 He's going to perform for you tonight, 277 00:12:08,875 --> 00:12:10,958 then he's going back to Cincinnati 278 00:12:10,958 --> 00:12:13,292 to perform for the folks and take them the message. 279 00:12:13,292 --> 00:12:15,333 [ Cheers and applause ] 280 00:12:15,333 --> 00:12:18,292 -Black media were like, "Okay, James Brown." 281 00:12:18,292 --> 00:12:22,875 Those of us who knew him already knew where he stood. 282 00:12:22,875 --> 00:12:25,417 -Meeting with James Meredith 283 00:12:25,417 --> 00:12:29,708 galvanized James Brown's sense of public service. 284 00:12:29,708 --> 00:12:31,667 -♪ Everybody 285 00:12:31,667 --> 00:12:33,708 ♪ 286 00:12:33,708 --> 00:12:36,917 ♪ You might give out 287 00:12:36,917 --> 00:12:38,417 ♪ But don't give up 288 00:12:38,417 --> 00:12:41,542 [ Crowd shouting ] 289 00:12:41,542 --> 00:12:44,917 -How one person could change the world. 290 00:12:44,917 --> 00:12:47,875 And two weeks later, his first message song, 291 00:12:47,875 --> 00:12:50,000 "Don't Be a Dropout," was recorded. 292 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:51,792 -Hi. This is James Brown. 293 00:12:51,792 --> 00:12:54,083 This is kind of unusual way to come into your home. 294 00:12:54,083 --> 00:12:56,875 This record is dedicated to the kids in school 295 00:12:56,875 --> 00:12:58,208 and also the young adults 296 00:12:58,208 --> 00:12:59,917 that might be able to go to night school. 297 00:12:59,917 --> 00:13:02,833 As a reminder, don't be a dropout. 298 00:13:02,833 --> 00:13:04,208 -"Don't Be a Dropout" 299 00:13:04,208 --> 00:13:06,667 was talking to other kids in the community 300 00:13:06,667 --> 00:13:09,000 that came up in communities just like him. 301 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:14,208 He knew that being educated was a tool, a way out, 302 00:13:14,208 --> 00:13:18,458 a way to get on the same level with the white man, so to speak. 303 00:13:18,458 --> 00:13:22,417 He really pushed especially my sister and I 304 00:13:22,417 --> 00:13:25,292 to get as educated as we could. 305 00:13:25,292 --> 00:13:28,792 Got my doctorate in pharmacy, and Dad was really proud. 306 00:13:28,792 --> 00:13:31,042 -I didn't get a chance to get a formal education. 307 00:13:31,042 --> 00:13:32,708 I was trying to really survive. 308 00:13:32,708 --> 00:13:35,167 I got a doctor's degree in the street. 309 00:13:35,167 --> 00:13:38,833 -James Brown went through what a lot of young black males 310 00:13:38,833 --> 00:13:41,042 are going through, from gangs 311 00:13:41,042 --> 00:13:43,542 to being brought up in very hostile situations. 312 00:13:43,542 --> 00:13:48,375 But to find his footing and be able to sit on a stage 313 00:13:48,375 --> 00:13:50,250 and proudly hold his own, 314 00:13:50,250 --> 00:13:54,375 it's really more powerful than we realize. 315 00:13:54,375 --> 00:13:56,708 -♪ Gotta, gotta listen now, now ♪ 316 00:13:56,708 --> 00:13:59,000 -♪ What he said 317 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:00,417 -♪ Without an education 318 00:14:00,417 --> 00:14:01,833 -♪ Might as well be dead 319 00:14:01,833 --> 00:14:03,208 -♪ Stay in school 320 00:14:03,208 --> 00:14:05,083 -He was a genius, and how he come up 321 00:14:05,083 --> 00:14:07,042 with his ideas was amazing. 322 00:14:07,042 --> 00:14:09,167 It could be in the middle of the night. 323 00:14:09,167 --> 00:14:11,208 [ Telephone rings ] He would call you. 324 00:14:11,208 --> 00:14:14,667 "Are you asleep?" "Uh, well, no, not now." 325 00:14:14,667 --> 00:14:18,917 -He didn't go by any of the classical rules of music, 326 00:14:18,917 --> 00:14:22,542 switching things and putting chords together 327 00:14:22,542 --> 00:14:24,875 that were making musicians turn their head and go, 328 00:14:24,875 --> 00:14:26,333 "What was that?" 329 00:14:26,333 --> 00:14:28,583 You know, minors, the majors and the things. 330 00:14:28,583 --> 00:14:30,125 He was just doing stuff. 331 00:14:30,125 --> 00:14:35,583 ♪ 332 00:14:35,583 --> 00:14:38,750 -The laws of music were there telling me not to do it, 333 00:14:38,750 --> 00:14:41,333 but I did it my way. 334 00:14:41,333 --> 00:14:44,167 -It wasn't the music that we heard in the early '60s. 335 00:14:44,167 --> 00:14:46,292 It was what was to come, 336 00:14:46,292 --> 00:14:49,667 inspiring, like, the next wave of funk, 337 00:14:49,667 --> 00:14:51,667 the George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelics 338 00:14:51,667 --> 00:14:53,917 of the world and the Sly and the Family Stones of the world. 339 00:14:53,917 --> 00:14:57,458 -♪ I break out 340 00:14:57,458 --> 00:14:59,500 ♪ In a cold sweat 341 00:14:59,500 --> 00:15:02,917 ♪ 342 00:15:02,917 --> 00:15:06,375 -"Cold Sweat" comes out in '67. 343 00:15:06,375 --> 00:15:09,750 Now there's this musical genius coming into play. 344 00:15:09,750 --> 00:15:12,542 You got this real jagged drumbeat 345 00:15:12,542 --> 00:15:15,667 which you had really never heard in popular music before. 346 00:15:15,667 --> 00:15:16,917 -Let's give the drummer some. 347 00:15:16,917 --> 00:15:18,958 -James Brown was the first person 348 00:15:18,958 --> 00:15:21,500 to let the drummer really kind of get some... 349 00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:22,750 -Give the drummers some! 350 00:15:22,750 --> 00:15:26,375 -...and then ride it and rock it. 351 00:15:26,375 --> 00:15:33,833 ♪ 352 00:15:33,833 --> 00:15:36,542 -I created funk. God and me. 353 00:15:36,542 --> 00:15:41,125 -That "Cold Sweat" record is literally the blueprint. 354 00:15:41,125 --> 00:15:43,333 -I loved "Cold Sweat." 355 00:15:43,333 --> 00:15:48,417 It was a testimony in all its blackness, 356 00:15:48,417 --> 00:15:52,250 in all its sexuality, in all its extravagance. 357 00:15:52,250 --> 00:15:54,875 -Soul music sensation James Brown 358 00:15:54,875 --> 00:15:56,708 was recently banned by the Parks Department 359 00:15:56,708 --> 00:15:59,667 from appearing at the Mosque Amphitheater in Richmond. 360 00:15:59,667 --> 00:16:02,583 Authorities said that Brown was likely to cause a problem 361 00:16:02,583 --> 00:16:05,583 by his habit of hugging and kissing women in the audience. 362 00:16:05,583 --> 00:16:10,708 ♪ 363 00:16:10,708 --> 00:16:12,292 -My mother and my father met 364 00:16:12,292 --> 00:16:16,375 at Carr's Beach in Annapolis, Maryland. 365 00:16:16,375 --> 00:16:21,375 My mom was sitting at the bar talking to one of the Flames, 366 00:16:21,375 --> 00:16:25,667 and my dad walked past and, you know, double take. 367 00:16:25,667 --> 00:16:28,375 -And he's like, "Is that you?" 368 00:16:28,375 --> 00:16:30,042 That's how people used to do it back then. 369 00:16:30,042 --> 00:16:31,583 "Is that you?" 370 00:16:31,583 --> 00:16:33,208 -"Tell her to follow me." 371 00:16:33,208 --> 00:16:36,542 -♪ Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa 372 00:16:36,542 --> 00:16:39,375 ♪ Men have named you 373 00:16:39,375 --> 00:16:42,250 -My mom is 14 years younger than my dad. 374 00:16:42,250 --> 00:16:44,708 He was already this big superstar, 375 00:16:44,708 --> 00:16:46,250 and he was coming to perform. 376 00:16:46,250 --> 00:16:47,917 -They exchanged numbers, and she's like, 377 00:16:47,917 --> 00:16:49,542 "He's never gonna call." 378 00:16:49,542 --> 00:16:52,250 -February of 1968, 379 00:16:52,250 --> 00:16:55,625 my mother went to New York to stay the weekend with Dad. 380 00:16:55,625 --> 00:16:58,000 You know, a little fun weekend. 381 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,292 She never went back home. 382 00:17:00,292 --> 00:17:02,750 A month later, I was conceived, 383 00:17:02,750 --> 00:17:04,542 and it was only a few weeks 384 00:17:04,542 --> 00:17:06,333 before the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. 385 00:17:06,333 --> 00:17:09,417 before the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. 386 00:17:09,417 --> 00:17:11,625 -Mr. Martin Luther King, he's dead. 387 00:17:11,625 --> 00:17:12,875 I don't know. 388 00:17:12,875 --> 00:17:14,500 I hope it don't cost no more lives. 389 00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:16,792 I hope everybody can understand what's happening now, 390 00:17:16,792 --> 00:17:18,375 because now is the time to understand. 391 00:17:24,333 --> 00:17:25,292 -We all loved Dr. Martin Luther King. 392 00:17:25,292 --> 00:17:27,292 I knowed him personally. 393 00:17:27,292 --> 00:17:30,042 And he was a fine man. 394 00:17:30,042 --> 00:17:32,667 ♪ Nobody knows 395 00:17:32,667 --> 00:17:35,125 ♪ When you leave me 396 00:17:35,125 --> 00:17:37,375 ♪ It makes me cry 397 00:17:37,375 --> 00:17:39,042 ♪ 398 00:17:39,042 --> 00:17:43,333 ♪ Ohhhh, oh 399 00:17:43,333 --> 00:17:47,208 -1968, the chaos of that year 400 00:17:47,208 --> 00:17:50,292 created a lot of damage, destruction, 401 00:17:50,292 --> 00:17:52,375 and, in some cases, opportunity. 402 00:17:52,375 --> 00:17:55,250 James Brown found himself 403 00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:58,875 as the most popular black entertainer 404 00:17:58,875 --> 00:18:01,333 with credibility in the community. 405 00:18:01,333 --> 00:18:03,667 That was tested when Martin Luther King 406 00:18:03,667 --> 00:18:06,333 was murdered on April 4th. 407 00:18:06,333 --> 00:18:10,083 -By April 5th, many of the cities in America 408 00:18:10,083 --> 00:18:13,250 were blowing up with anger and frustration 409 00:18:13,250 --> 00:18:17,375 that had peaked with that gunshot in Memphis. 410 00:18:17,375 --> 00:18:20,917 -I was thinking about the day when we filmed, um, at the park, 411 00:18:20,917 --> 00:18:22,625 standing there, and I was looking out. 412 00:18:22,625 --> 00:18:25,250 I guess I'm real concerned about people. 413 00:18:25,250 --> 00:18:27,042 I went from black America 414 00:18:27,042 --> 00:18:28,750 and I started talking to white America, 415 00:18:28,750 --> 00:18:32,375 and I was saying, "These are the things that has to be done." 416 00:18:32,375 --> 00:18:34,708 -A curfew is now in effect. 417 00:18:34,708 --> 00:18:38,167 Please keep off the streets. 418 00:18:38,167 --> 00:18:42,250 -Dad was already ready to perform in Boston 419 00:18:42,250 --> 00:18:44,250 at the Boston Gardens that night. 420 00:18:44,250 --> 00:18:46,208 -It was very questionable 421 00:18:46,208 --> 00:18:48,708 whether there should be a concert on April 5th 422 00:18:48,708 --> 00:18:50,500 in Boston or anywhere else. 423 00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:53,417 Events all over the country had been canceled. 424 00:18:53,417 --> 00:18:55,500 There were frantic phone calls 425 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:59,458 between James Brown's people and the mayor's office. 426 00:18:59,458 --> 00:19:02,375 It was decided, somewhat reluctantly 427 00:19:02,375 --> 00:19:05,417 on the part of some of the officials in Boston, 428 00:19:05,417 --> 00:19:09,833 that the show should continue, but it should be televised. 429 00:19:09,833 --> 00:19:13,125 -While James was -- was happy to be able to perform 430 00:19:13,125 --> 00:19:15,042 and have that impact on people, 431 00:19:15,042 --> 00:19:17,833 there were elements of, "Wait a second. 432 00:19:17,833 --> 00:19:21,750 I didn't sign up for a free TV broadcast of my show." 433 00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:24,458 -They wanted it to go on TV 434 00:19:24,458 --> 00:19:27,458 so that more people would stay home, 435 00:19:27,458 --> 00:19:31,000 watch it on TV instead of being out in the streets. 436 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:38,042 -People were in their feelings, ready to react on-camera, riot. 437 00:19:38,042 --> 00:19:41,125 -♪ Can't stand it 438 00:19:41,125 --> 00:19:43,000 ♪ Can't stand your love 439 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,375 ♪ Good God 440 00:19:44,375 --> 00:19:47,667 ♪ 441 00:19:47,667 --> 00:19:49,417 Wait a minute. 442 00:19:49,417 --> 00:19:51,958 Step away. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. 443 00:19:51,958 --> 00:19:55,208 They alright. It's alright. It's alright. It's alright. 444 00:19:55,208 --> 00:19:56,708 Let me finish the show -- Wait a minute. 445 00:19:56,708 --> 00:19:58,667 Let me finish the show for everybody else, alright? 446 00:19:58,667 --> 00:20:00,833 Okay, let me finish it for everybody else now. 447 00:20:00,833 --> 00:20:02,958 Okay? Hold on. Let me finish the show now. 448 00:20:02,958 --> 00:20:04,375 Come on. 449 00:20:04,375 --> 00:20:06,042 Now, I asked the police to step back 450 00:20:06,042 --> 00:20:08,292 because I figured I could get some respect from my own people. 451 00:20:08,292 --> 00:20:11,333 [ Crowd cheering ] 452 00:20:11,333 --> 00:20:14,375 Hit them things. 453 00:20:14,375 --> 00:20:16,333 [ Song resumes ] 454 00:20:16,333 --> 00:20:18,583 -And he defused all of it. 455 00:20:18,583 --> 00:20:21,167 He basically broke up something 456 00:20:21,167 --> 00:20:23,875 that could have been very catastrophic. 457 00:20:23,875 --> 00:20:25,750 -That was a big deal. 458 00:20:25,750 --> 00:20:28,250 And it saved Boston. 459 00:20:28,250 --> 00:20:30,583 There was no fighting and no looting 460 00:20:30,583 --> 00:20:32,542 and all of that going on like it was going on 461 00:20:32,542 --> 00:20:37,083 in the other major cities like L.A. and Chicago and New York. 462 00:20:37,083 --> 00:20:40,208 In Boston, everybody was in the groove. 463 00:20:40,208 --> 00:20:41,958 -♪ Sometimes I call 464 00:20:41,958 --> 00:20:43,875 ♪ Sometimes I ring 465 00:20:43,875 --> 00:20:46,958 ♪ Sometimes I ring so hard 466 00:20:46,958 --> 00:20:49,042 ♪ Oh, can't stand it 467 00:20:49,042 --> 00:20:51,250 ♪ Good God 468 00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:56,542 ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah 469 00:20:56,542 --> 00:20:58,208 Oh! 470 00:20:58,208 --> 00:21:00,625 -The very fact that white public officials 471 00:21:00,625 --> 00:21:04,292 asked Mr. Brown to speak to some of these communities 472 00:21:04,292 --> 00:21:07,375 in the wake of the murder of Martin Luther King, 473 00:21:07,375 --> 00:21:09,375 that was fraught with contradiction. 474 00:21:09,375 --> 00:21:11,167 Mr. Brown had credibility. 475 00:21:11,167 --> 00:21:12,917 He could get people to cool out, 476 00:21:12,917 --> 00:21:16,375 understand that black power meant building your community, 477 00:21:16,375 --> 00:21:18,333 not tearing it down. 478 00:21:18,333 --> 00:21:20,583 But at the same time, there were whispers 479 00:21:20,583 --> 00:21:24,000 that, "You're operating with the establishment." 480 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,958 James Brown in 1968 481 00:21:25,958 --> 00:21:31,417 was looking for who he could connect with that was in charge. 482 00:21:31,417 --> 00:21:33,042 -♪ So good -♪ So good 483 00:21:33,042 --> 00:21:36,417 -Mellow. [ Laughter ] 484 00:21:36,417 --> 00:21:40,083 -You just returned from Vietnam, a USO tour. 485 00:21:40,083 --> 00:21:42,042 What did you find there? 486 00:21:42,042 --> 00:21:43,917 -It was hard. 487 00:21:43,917 --> 00:21:47,542 It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. 488 00:21:47,542 --> 00:21:51,875 I find myself, in some instances, fighting two wars. 489 00:21:51,875 --> 00:21:55,375 Uh, we have a war there. 490 00:21:55,375 --> 00:21:58,125 Well, three wars -- war against poverty 491 00:21:58,125 --> 00:22:01,583 and, uh, segregation in certain parts. 492 00:22:01,583 --> 00:22:05,208 -James Brown's appeal cut across class lines 493 00:22:05,208 --> 00:22:06,708 in the black community 494 00:22:06,708 --> 00:22:09,542 and across political lines in the black community. 495 00:22:09,542 --> 00:22:13,500 So people that had bourgeois aspirations, 496 00:22:13,500 --> 00:22:16,208 people that had revolutionary aspirations, 497 00:22:16,208 --> 00:22:17,875 James Brown affected everyone. 498 00:22:17,875 --> 00:22:19,208 -♪ Unh 499 00:22:19,208 --> 00:22:21,167 ♪ With your bad self 500 00:22:21,167 --> 00:22:22,958 ♪ Say it loud 501 00:22:22,958 --> 00:22:25,750 ♪ 502 00:22:25,750 --> 00:22:27,458 ♪ Some people say we've got a lot of malice ♪ 503 00:22:27,458 --> 00:22:29,667 ♪ Some say it's a lot of nerve 504 00:22:29,667 --> 00:22:32,667 ♪ But I say we won't quit moving till we get what we deserve ♪ 505 00:22:32,667 --> 00:22:35,500 -The Black Panthers pressured James Brown. 506 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:37,292 If you soul brother number one 507 00:22:37,292 --> 00:22:39,208 and you're the most influential person 508 00:22:39,208 --> 00:22:41,750 in the black community in terms of music, 509 00:22:41,750 --> 00:22:45,375 then you need to do something that's a little more clear 510 00:22:45,375 --> 00:22:48,750 in standing for what we're talking about. 511 00:22:48,750 --> 00:22:50,583 -♪ Say it loud 512 00:22:50,583 --> 00:22:52,667 ♪ 513 00:22:52,667 --> 00:22:55,042 -You're not gonna tell James Brown what to do. 514 00:22:55,042 --> 00:22:58,792 But Stokely Carmichael told me, Kwame Ture told me, 515 00:22:58,792 --> 00:23:01,875 he said, "Yo, we was on him left and right, man. 516 00:23:01,875 --> 00:23:05,000 Yo, yo. What's up? This is what's going down." 517 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,833 -I'm militant, but I'm militant individually, you know? 518 00:23:08,833 --> 00:23:10,542 -To get ahead. -That's right. 519 00:23:10,542 --> 00:23:14,583 I'll fight. I won't pull you or some of my people in. 520 00:23:14,583 --> 00:23:17,167 If I figure that I'm getting a raw deal, 521 00:23:17,167 --> 00:23:18,958 then I'll reassign myself. 522 00:23:18,958 --> 00:23:22,417 -That was his signal to the black radical movement, 523 00:23:22,417 --> 00:23:24,125 "I'm down with y'all." 524 00:23:24,125 --> 00:23:25,667 -The black people in America 525 00:23:25,667 --> 00:23:27,667 wanted to be called anything but black. 526 00:23:27,667 --> 00:23:29,125 So I said, "I'm gonna write something 527 00:23:29,125 --> 00:23:31,375 that will take that stigma out of their mind." 528 00:23:31,375 --> 00:23:32,583 ♪ Say it loud 529 00:23:32,583 --> 00:23:34,000 -♪ I'm black and I'm proud 530 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,250 -Aah! 531 00:23:35,250 --> 00:23:36,542 This is the things that I can do, 532 00:23:36,542 --> 00:23:38,000 'cause people believe in me. 533 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:39,542 -There was this notion 534 00:23:39,542 --> 00:23:44,000 that this term "black power" was scary to people. 535 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,708 And then you have a song. 536 00:23:45,708 --> 00:23:48,208 You have people being affirmed. 537 00:23:48,208 --> 00:23:50,042 -♪ Say it loud 538 00:23:50,042 --> 00:23:51,917 ♪ I'm black and I'm proud 539 00:23:51,917 --> 00:23:55,875 -I was born in 1960, Chuck D, Carlton Ridenhour, right? 540 00:23:55,875 --> 00:23:58,708 I got "Negro" on my birth certificate. 541 00:23:58,708 --> 00:24:00,333 Born in Queens, New York. 542 00:24:00,333 --> 00:24:02,583 -"Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud." 543 00:24:02,583 --> 00:24:04,750 Overnight, from Negro to black. 544 00:24:04,750 --> 00:24:08,708 He changed our self-identity. He changed the culture. 545 00:24:08,708 --> 00:24:10,375 And he changed how white America looked at us, 546 00:24:10,375 --> 00:24:14,542 because it's different when your chest is out and you're proud, 547 00:24:14,542 --> 00:24:16,542 'cause now you got to handle me differently. 548 00:24:16,542 --> 00:24:18,958 I'm a black man. I've got to take part in my cause. 549 00:24:18,958 --> 00:24:21,083 I got to take part in my fight for freedom, 550 00:24:21,083 --> 00:24:24,542 for equality, and take a stand where it's needed. 551 00:24:24,542 --> 00:24:27,458 -That song was dangerous, aggressive, and political. 552 00:24:27,458 --> 00:24:29,042 But I'm 8 years old. 553 00:24:29,042 --> 00:24:31,875 How do I give a damn? All I know, it's funky. 554 00:24:31,875 --> 00:24:33,750 I'm saying the word "black." 555 00:24:33,750 --> 00:24:35,750 And we ain't "colored" no more. 556 00:24:35,750 --> 00:24:37,875 -James Brown was willing to go against 557 00:24:37,875 --> 00:24:40,917 all of the teachings of Western civilization 558 00:24:40,917 --> 00:24:44,625 that demeans blackness and valorizes whiteness, 559 00:24:44,625 --> 00:24:46,625 and to take the medium that you're in 560 00:24:46,625 --> 00:24:48,750 and to turn that upside down, 561 00:24:48,750 --> 00:24:50,958 all of a sudden everyone had permission 562 00:24:50,958 --> 00:24:53,667 because of James Brown, because of that song. 563 00:24:53,667 --> 00:24:55,208 -"Say It Loud -- I'm Black and I'm Proud," 564 00:24:55,208 --> 00:24:58,083 he was prophesying a future that hadn't yet existed. 565 00:24:58,083 --> 00:24:58,500 he was prophesying a future that hadn't yet existed. 566 00:24:59,250 --> 00:25:01,667 To start in this country as (bleep) 567 00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:02,125 To start in this country as (bleep) 568 00:25:03,208 --> 00:25:06,042 To start in this country and then to be called colored, 569 00:25:06,042 --> 00:25:08,375 and then there was a new way of thinking. 570 00:25:08,375 --> 00:25:11,958 -♪ I'm black and I'm proud 571 00:25:11,958 --> 00:25:12,250 -That's probably one of the most bravest things 572 00:25:13,125 --> 00:25:15,083 -That's probably one of the most bravest things 573 00:25:15,083 --> 00:25:19,917 and the most political thing that James Brown has ever done. 574 00:25:19,917 --> 00:25:22,000 It's the original Black Lives Matter. 575 00:25:27,667 --> 00:25:28,625 -As important as "Say It Loud" was, 576 00:25:28,625 --> 00:25:30,083 the next record he made 577 00:25:30,083 --> 00:25:32,125 that had any specific reference to politics 578 00:25:32,125 --> 00:25:35,417 was, "I don't want nobody to give me nothing. 579 00:25:35,417 --> 00:25:38,167 Open up the door, and I'll get it myself." 580 00:25:38,167 --> 00:25:41,542 -♪ I don't want nobody to give me nothing ♪ 581 00:25:41,542 --> 00:25:43,458 ♪ Open up the door 582 00:25:43,458 --> 00:25:45,042 ♪ I'll get it myself 583 00:25:45,042 --> 00:25:48,125 -He was the only one who had the freedom 584 00:25:48,125 --> 00:25:52,000 and the common sense to manage himself. 585 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,083 His manager, Ben Bart, passed away in 1968. 586 00:25:56,083 --> 00:25:59,875 The head of King Records passed away in 1968. 587 00:25:59,875 --> 00:26:02,500 James was in complete control of himself. 588 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:04,333 -♪ Don't give me integration 589 00:26:04,333 --> 00:26:06,417 ♪ Give me true communication 590 00:26:06,417 --> 00:26:08,542 ♪ Don't give me sorrow 591 00:26:08,542 --> 00:26:10,750 ♪ I want equal opportunity 592 00:26:10,750 --> 00:26:12,500 ♪ To live tomorrow 593 00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:13,875 ♪ Give me schools 594 00:26:13,875 --> 00:26:15,708 -We're going to start the press conference. 595 00:26:15,708 --> 00:26:20,708 And for your convenience, we have prepared a proposal 596 00:26:20,708 --> 00:26:22,958 that sets forth all the details and mechanics 597 00:26:22,958 --> 00:26:25,333 of the Black and Brown Trading Stamp. 598 00:26:25,333 --> 00:26:27,708 -The James Brown trading stamp idea 599 00:26:27,708 --> 00:26:30,542 was with Art Powell of the Oakland Raiders. 600 00:26:30,542 --> 00:26:32,583 It was with Donald Warden, 601 00:26:32,583 --> 00:26:35,875 who had this whole black nationalist organization. 602 00:26:35,875 --> 00:26:39,208 And in essence, you could pay for some of your means 603 00:26:39,208 --> 00:26:43,708 with a currency that was developed by your own people. 604 00:26:43,708 --> 00:26:45,833 -This is the idea of us getting together, 605 00:26:45,833 --> 00:26:49,542 an idea of keeping the money in the black community. 606 00:26:49,542 --> 00:26:52,500 -There were roughly 700 black-owned businesses. 607 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,042 Customers could really take these stamps 608 00:26:54,042 --> 00:26:55,667 and go redeem it for a loaf of bread 609 00:26:55,667 --> 00:26:57,792 or a haircut or get gas. 610 00:26:57,792 --> 00:26:59,625 So one of the things about those stamps 611 00:26:59,625 --> 00:27:02,042 is the community building, black ownership, 612 00:27:02,042 --> 00:27:04,167 but also keeping wealth in the community. 613 00:27:04,167 --> 00:27:06,208 -If we can keep the turnover going, 614 00:27:06,208 --> 00:27:11,208 then we shall overcome, only if we all come over. 615 00:27:11,208 --> 00:27:12,833 -Yow! 616 00:27:12,833 --> 00:27:14,875 ♪ 617 00:27:14,875 --> 00:27:17,208 -Get your James Brown program. 618 00:27:17,208 --> 00:27:19,375 -Most people in the black community 619 00:27:19,375 --> 00:27:22,292 believe in financial power, 620 00:27:22,292 --> 00:27:25,208 and James Brown does have that financial power, 621 00:27:25,208 --> 00:27:28,708 from little babies on up to the businessmen. 622 00:27:28,708 --> 00:27:33,292 -James Brown is the original entrepreneur mogul. 623 00:27:33,292 --> 00:27:34,875 He got a private jet. 624 00:27:34,875 --> 00:27:37,750 There was nobody with private jets that was black. 625 00:27:37,750 --> 00:27:42,375 Restaurants, 500 suits, mansions, 626 00:27:42,375 --> 00:27:45,708 and on three radio stations. 627 00:27:45,708 --> 00:27:47,792 -This is Tony Scott reporting Pulse Beat news 628 00:27:47,792 --> 00:27:51,125 from WRDW Augusta, a James Brown station. 629 00:27:51,125 --> 00:27:53,833 ♪ 630 00:27:53,833 --> 00:27:56,208 -It wasn't just about the music. 631 00:27:56,208 --> 00:28:00,542 It was about, "What can I do for my community 632 00:28:00,542 --> 00:28:03,208 and put in my community to bring them up?" 633 00:28:03,208 --> 00:28:06,708 -James Brown was probably at the peak of his popularity, 634 00:28:06,708 --> 00:28:08,208 certainly in black America. 635 00:28:08,208 --> 00:28:11,042 His influence was starting to cross over 636 00:28:11,042 --> 00:28:14,333 because, you know, he had played at Nixon's inauguration. 637 00:28:18,042 --> 00:28:19,583 -♪ Oh, yeah 638 00:28:19,583 --> 00:28:22,292 ♪ You're kidding me 639 00:28:22,292 --> 00:28:23,583 ♪ Alright 640 00:28:23,583 --> 00:28:25,125 ♪ You're outta sight 641 00:28:25,125 --> 00:28:28,250 -For James Brown to sing that song at the White House 642 00:28:28,250 --> 00:28:30,917 to affirm that black people were a large part 643 00:28:30,917 --> 00:28:32,583 of the fabric of this country, 644 00:28:32,583 --> 00:28:34,875 he was really speaking to them to show, 645 00:28:34,875 --> 00:28:37,125 like, "Now that we have Nixon in the White House, 646 00:28:37,125 --> 00:28:38,667 we have to hold him accountable," 647 00:28:38,667 --> 00:28:41,208 and that was a brave thing for him to do. 648 00:28:41,208 --> 00:28:43,917 -He never lost sight of the fact 649 00:28:43,917 --> 00:28:46,375 that this ancillary role, 650 00:28:46,375 --> 00:28:49,958 as the spokesperson for the black community, 651 00:28:49,958 --> 00:28:54,833 had a very delicate pro and con on his business model. 652 00:28:54,833 --> 00:28:57,958 But by the same token, it was like, "Okay, 653 00:28:57,958 --> 00:29:00,417 I'm going to make a song called 'Mother Popcorn' 654 00:29:00,417 --> 00:29:02,625 and just get people to dance." 655 00:29:02,625 --> 00:29:04,417 -♪ I like 'em tall 656 00:29:04,417 --> 00:29:06,500 ♪ I like 'em proud 657 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:08,500 ♪ And when they walk 658 00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:09,875 ♪ You know they draw a crowd 659 00:29:09,875 --> 00:29:14,833 ♪ See, you gotta have a mutha for me ♪ 660 00:29:14,833 --> 00:29:17,375 -"Mother "Popcorn" says "you got to have a mutha for me", 661 00:29:17,375 --> 00:29:20,500 and "mother" meant a woman with a substantial behind. 662 00:29:20,500 --> 00:29:22,333 [ Laughs ] 663 00:29:22,333 --> 00:29:25,833 -His treatment towards women, the baggage that he brought, 664 00:29:25,833 --> 00:29:29,083 you know, is there ever a context for that? 665 00:29:29,083 --> 00:29:31,875 We love to take from our entertainers, 666 00:29:31,875 --> 00:29:34,708 and we love to take so much, 667 00:29:34,708 --> 00:29:38,292 we ignore the B-side of the record. 668 00:29:38,292 --> 00:29:40,375 -There's a lot of people who have asked me, 669 00:29:40,375 --> 00:29:42,542 "How could you have worked for such a guy 670 00:29:42,542 --> 00:29:48,125 who was narcissistic and unfair and mistreated his women?" 671 00:29:48,125 --> 00:29:52,000 He physically abused several of the musicians in his band, 672 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:57,542 background singers on tour, and the women in his personal life. 673 00:29:57,542 --> 00:30:03,333 He could be sweet one day and violent the next. 674 00:30:03,333 --> 00:30:06,167 -There's a lot of contradictions going on 675 00:30:06,167 --> 00:30:07,708 with James Brown's life right now 676 00:30:07,708 --> 00:30:09,542 and during this time period. 677 00:30:09,542 --> 00:30:12,292 Velma, James's wife, divorces him 678 00:30:12,292 --> 00:30:17,375 because he gets Deedee pregnant with Dee Brown, his daughter. 679 00:30:17,375 --> 00:30:22,000 To really complicate matters, he's about to lose the best band 680 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,708 he's ever had in his life. 681 00:30:25,708 --> 00:30:28,625 -The band, they wanted more money. 682 00:30:28,625 --> 00:30:30,750 They wanted separate rooms. 683 00:30:30,750 --> 00:30:30,792 They saw all that money. They said, 684 00:30:31,750 --> 00:30:32,583 They saw all that money. They said, 685 00:30:32,583 --> 00:30:34,708 "If you don't pay us tonight," 686 00:30:34,708 --> 00:30:36,458 they said, "We're going to walk." 687 00:30:36,458 --> 00:30:41,083 -James Brown calls his band's bluff and they abruptly leave. 688 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:48,042 -I try to build an image of a black man to do anything, 689 00:30:48,042 --> 00:30:50,208 any major move on his own, 690 00:30:50,208 --> 00:30:51,417 and that's one of the reasons I'm out here, 691 00:30:51,417 --> 00:30:54,000 because I try to prove every day that a black man 692 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:58,958 can run a multi-million-dollar operation. 693 00:30:58,958 --> 00:31:03,000 -We had some of the best musicians in the world, 694 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,458 but he had his own way of doing things. 695 00:31:06,458 --> 00:31:09,042 -I had just turned 19. 696 00:31:09,042 --> 00:31:12,958 We did this gig at this place called The Wine Bar, 697 00:31:12,958 --> 00:31:16,000 and the bartender said, 698 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,750 "Bootsy, Bobby Byrd's on the phone." 699 00:31:19,750 --> 00:31:22,375 And I'm like, "No. No way. 700 00:31:22,375 --> 00:31:24,750 No way Bobby Byrd on the phone." 701 00:31:24,750 --> 00:31:26,167 He's like, "Yeah, yeah." 702 00:31:26,167 --> 00:31:29,625 And I was like, "Bobby, what's going on?" 703 00:31:29,625 --> 00:31:33,875 "Mr. Brown -- Mr. Brown want you all to come down here and play." 704 00:31:33,875 --> 00:31:36,667 I'm like, "He want us to what?" 705 00:31:36,667 --> 00:31:38,375 -One, two, three, four. 706 00:31:41,667 --> 00:31:43,375 Make them ones. Yeah. 707 00:31:43,375 --> 00:31:47,208 -Probably the most important move in James Brown's career 708 00:31:47,208 --> 00:31:51,042 is bringing in Bootsy Collins, 709 00:31:51,042 --> 00:31:54,375 his slightly older brother, Catfish. 710 00:31:54,375 --> 00:31:57,875 -The song "Sex Machine" came about on a bus. 711 00:31:57,875 --> 00:32:00,208 On the bus. We were traveling down the road. 712 00:32:00,208 --> 00:32:01,792 -And make sure you get that phrase 713 00:32:01,792 --> 00:32:03,083 because this is it, you know? 714 00:32:03,083 --> 00:32:04,667 -James and I was doing the song. 715 00:32:04,667 --> 00:32:09,458 Bootsy was there, and they recorded the song with us. 716 00:32:09,458 --> 00:32:13,292 -Him and Bobby Byrd sitting in the chairs here. 717 00:32:13,292 --> 00:32:16,208 Me and Catfish right behind him. 718 00:32:16,208 --> 00:32:21,708 "Bobby. Right to Danny. Get up! Right there. 719 00:32:21,708 --> 00:32:24,833 I feel like a sex machine." 720 00:32:24,833 --> 00:32:26,750 They started writing, alright? 721 00:32:26,750 --> 00:32:27,958 And "What kind of what kind of groove 722 00:32:27,958 --> 00:32:29,833 you got there? Somewhere around here." 723 00:32:29,833 --> 00:32:31,125 -One, two, three, four. 724 00:32:32,875 --> 00:32:34,708 ♪ Get up, get on up ♪ 725 00:32:34,708 --> 00:32:36,708 ♪ Get up, get on up 726 00:32:36,708 --> 00:32:38,708 ♪ Stay on the scene, get on up ♪ 727 00:32:38,708 --> 00:32:40,708 ♪ Like a sex machine, get on up ♪ 728 00:32:40,708 --> 00:32:42,500 -That was my brother's band, 729 00:32:42,500 --> 00:32:46,458 and all the rest of us was the one that became The J.B.'s. 730 00:32:46,458 --> 00:32:48,375 -That band was probably the most important 731 00:32:48,375 --> 00:32:52,083 because James Brown needed that band more 732 00:32:52,083 --> 00:32:54,125 than that band needed James Brown, 733 00:32:54,125 --> 00:32:56,958 even though that band needed James Brown 734 00:32:56,958 --> 00:32:58,958 to start their own careers. 735 00:32:58,958 --> 00:33:02,833 -Clyde Stubblefield, Bootsy Catfish, 736 00:33:02,833 --> 00:33:05,125 Bobby Byrd, Fred Wesley. 737 00:33:05,125 --> 00:33:08,792 That was the rhythm section that defined funk. 738 00:33:08,792 --> 00:33:10,250 -♪ I got to, I got to 739 00:33:10,250 --> 00:33:12,167 ♪ I said give me a place to rest ♪ 740 00:33:12,167 --> 00:33:14,458 ♪ I said give me a place to rest ♪ 741 00:33:14,458 --> 00:33:16,292 ♪ I said give me that, give me that ♪ 742 00:33:16,292 --> 00:33:19,542 -There's nothing like James Brown interacting with the band. 743 00:33:19,542 --> 00:33:24,250 That's part of that whole jazz/improvization thing 744 00:33:24,250 --> 00:33:27,250 that separates him from his peers. 745 00:33:27,250 --> 00:33:28,542 -Hit it and quit it. 746 00:33:28,542 --> 00:33:32,500 ♪ 747 00:33:32,500 --> 00:33:35,375 [ Cheers and applause ] 748 00:33:35,375 --> 00:33:37,375 -If you got into James's band 749 00:33:37,375 --> 00:33:40,042 and you learn how to play like James wanted you to play 750 00:33:40,042 --> 00:33:41,875 and you were precise, 751 00:33:41,875 --> 00:33:43,708 it could only make you better. 752 00:33:43,708 --> 00:33:47,750 Now, if you took those things somewhere else as Bootsy did, 753 00:33:47,750 --> 00:33:50,083 you become Bootsy the artist, 754 00:33:50,083 --> 00:33:52,333 you become Parliament-Funkadelic. 755 00:33:52,333 --> 00:33:54,042 You become all of those things 756 00:33:54,042 --> 00:33:57,250 because that's what you learn from James. 757 00:33:59,667 --> 00:34:01,083 -♪ Bring it up now 758 00:34:01,083 --> 00:34:03,500 -It's very rare when you have someone 759 00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:06,792 who can be both a pioneer and understand 760 00:34:06,792 --> 00:34:11,000 how to capture a business model and monetize a business model 761 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:12,542 that they pioneered. 762 00:34:12,542 --> 00:34:15,375 -♪ Fade it on out, I'm gone ♪ 763 00:34:15,375 --> 00:34:17,083 Luckily, I'm with the biggest company in the world. 764 00:34:17,083 --> 00:34:18,708 I was their first artist, 765 00:34:18,708 --> 00:34:21,917 R&B Polydor, and I thought it was a bad deal, 766 00:34:21,917 --> 00:34:24,083 and now it's the best thing I've ever had in my life. 767 00:34:24,083 --> 00:34:25,417 -It actually speaks, I think, 768 00:34:25,417 --> 00:34:30,375 to the acumen of Polydor, to sign James, 769 00:34:30,375 --> 00:34:33,500 which I think did wonderful things for Polydor as a label. 770 00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:36,708 -People Records was the James Brown label 771 00:34:36,708 --> 00:34:38,542 distributed by Polydor. 772 00:34:38,542 --> 00:34:43,583 So all of his artists were put out on People Records. 773 00:34:43,583 --> 00:34:47,417 -♪ Yeah, whoo 774 00:34:47,417 --> 00:34:50,542 -♪ It takes two to make a thing go right ♪ 775 00:34:50,542 --> 00:34:52,083 -♪ Come on 776 00:34:52,083 --> 00:34:53,500 -♪ It takes two to make it out of sight ♪ 777 00:34:53,500 --> 00:34:56,375 -When you listen to the music for, like, 778 00:34:56,375 --> 00:34:58,208 "Think", for example, Lyn Collins, 779 00:34:58,208 --> 00:35:00,333 you hear the attitude on wax. 780 00:35:00,333 --> 00:35:03,208 You hear her yell, just like James would yell. 781 00:35:03,208 --> 00:35:05,708 -James was totally prolific as a producer. 782 00:35:05,708 --> 00:35:09,542 They would go in the studio and just crank out grooves. 783 00:35:09,542 --> 00:35:13,833 -He believed that if you worked hard, you'll be rewarded. 784 00:35:13,833 --> 00:35:15,708 He was a true capitalist. 785 00:35:16,750 --> 00:35:18,875 -♪ Ooh 786 00:35:18,875 --> 00:35:22,708 -James Brown was almost a political figure in many ways. 787 00:35:22,708 --> 00:35:24,417 1960s and 1970s. 788 00:35:24,417 --> 00:35:28,125 What he was primarily interested in 789 00:35:28,125 --> 00:35:30,333 was black self-empowerment. 790 00:35:30,333 --> 00:35:34,292 In 1972, for him, that was Richard Nixon. 791 00:35:34,292 --> 00:35:37,083 He discarded all of the racist stuff, 792 00:35:37,083 --> 00:35:39,542 and he just zeroed in 793 00:35:39,542 --> 00:35:42,375 on that message of entrepreneurship. 794 00:35:42,375 --> 00:35:44,833 -And so, when Nixon was espousing -- 795 00:35:44,833 --> 00:35:49,208 may not necessarily be following through with these promises -- 796 00:35:49,208 --> 00:35:53,417 Mr. Brown saw it as a way to free black people. 797 00:35:53,417 --> 00:35:56,458 -In my community, the ghetto where I'm from, 798 00:35:56,458 --> 00:35:59,583 one of the things that has taken advantage of us 799 00:35:59,583 --> 00:36:01,250 and that we haven't taken advantage of it, 800 00:36:01,250 --> 00:36:03,042 was the politics. 801 00:36:03,042 --> 00:36:05,542 -Can you tell us specifically 802 00:36:05,542 --> 00:36:07,625 what you're doing to deal with what some consider 803 00:36:07,625 --> 00:36:09,625 to be this distrust among the blacks? 804 00:36:09,625 --> 00:36:12,208 -My task force on education pointed out 805 00:36:12,208 --> 00:36:14,542 that I was not considered -- 806 00:36:14,542 --> 00:36:17,375 I think the words they used -- as a friend 807 00:36:17,375 --> 00:36:22,500 by many of our black citizens in America. 808 00:36:24,625 --> 00:36:26,750 -Well, I'm endorsing President Nixon 809 00:36:26,750 --> 00:36:29,292 because I believe the future of the country 810 00:36:29,292 --> 00:36:31,875 lies with Mr. Nixon. 811 00:36:31,875 --> 00:36:34,208 Some of the things he's done have been very close 812 00:36:34,208 --> 00:36:36,375 to my heart as a minority, as a black man. 813 00:36:36,375 --> 00:36:38,625 It's happening in private black colleges 814 00:36:38,625 --> 00:36:41,417 so we can maintain our culture as well as get an education. 815 00:36:41,417 --> 00:36:43,000 He's the man for the job. 816 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,958 -♪ Like a dull knife 817 00:36:44,958 --> 00:36:47,708 ♪ Just ain't cuttin' 818 00:36:47,708 --> 00:36:50,125 ♪ Just talking loud 819 00:36:50,125 --> 00:36:51,458 ♪ And saying nothing 820 00:36:51,458 --> 00:36:54,875 -James Brown was going with the top dog. 821 00:36:54,875 --> 00:36:57,333 -He wasn't the only one. Sammy Davis did the same thing. 822 00:36:57,333 --> 00:36:59,625 There were a lot of brothers who thought that 823 00:36:59,625 --> 00:37:02,667 once you get to a certain bracket, 824 00:37:02,667 --> 00:37:06,375 that you can be a part of this party, the Republican Party. 825 00:37:06,375 --> 00:37:09,958 -When James Brown cosigned Nixon, 826 00:37:09,958 --> 00:37:12,500 my parents went crazy. 827 00:37:12,500 --> 00:37:15,375 Like, "How could you? How could you?" 828 00:37:15,375 --> 00:37:15,458 I don't know what his thinking was. 829 00:37:16,375 --> 00:37:17,500 I don't know what his thinking was. 830 00:37:17,792 --> 00:37:19,833 Like, I was talking to a gentleman the other day. 831 00:37:19,833 --> 00:37:21,875 He said, "Well, you know, saying these kind of things, 832 00:37:21,875 --> 00:37:23,333 you'd be called a tom." 833 00:37:23,333 --> 00:37:25,333 I'm an American, so I've got to think patriotic. 834 00:37:30,125 --> 00:37:31,750 -Me, you, your friend, 835 00:37:31,750 --> 00:37:34,125 your mother, your dad, 836 00:37:34,125 --> 00:37:35,375 President of the United States. 837 00:37:35,375 --> 00:37:40,500 Nobody is as great as the country. 838 00:37:40,500 --> 00:37:43,250 ♪ Hey, country, you didn't say what you mean ♪ 839 00:37:43,250 --> 00:37:47,750 ♪ You just changed, a brand new, funky president ♪ 840 00:37:47,750 --> 00:37:49,500 -You've been called to the White House 841 00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:51,750 and you've been before many, many leaders 842 00:37:51,750 --> 00:37:53,375 throughout the country. 843 00:37:53,375 --> 00:37:55,708 Do you feel that whites, 844 00:37:55,708 --> 00:37:59,208 basically, have accepted you? 845 00:37:59,208 --> 00:38:01,708 -I don't like the word "accept", you know? 846 00:38:01,708 --> 00:38:03,500 You're a beautiful young man, 847 00:38:03,500 --> 00:38:05,250 but I think you're interviewing me a little wrong. 848 00:38:05,250 --> 00:38:06,542 -How's that, sir? 849 00:38:06,542 --> 00:38:08,542 -I don't think you understand me. 850 00:38:08,542 --> 00:38:11,583 Number one, I'm not trying to prove nothing to the whites, 851 00:38:11,583 --> 00:38:13,917 that I can be a head (bleep). 852 00:38:13,917 --> 00:38:15,542 See, that's not my bag. 853 00:38:15,542 --> 00:38:18,500 -♪ And this is what you rap to 'em ♪ 854 00:38:18,500 --> 00:38:20,417 ♪ I mean, come on, like you should ♪ 855 00:38:20,417 --> 00:38:21,875 ♪ Come on with you, come on ♪ 856 00:38:21,875 --> 00:38:24,125 -♪ Yeah 857 00:38:24,125 --> 00:38:27,625 -He was very clear about his place in the context of history 858 00:38:27,625 --> 00:38:31,375 and very clear about being connected to the people. 859 00:38:31,375 --> 00:38:33,417 One of the things that you don't hear associated 860 00:38:33,417 --> 00:38:36,417 with James Brown is clarity. 861 00:38:36,417 --> 00:38:38,250 People listen to that voice, 862 00:38:38,250 --> 00:38:39,542 and when they think of James Brown, 863 00:38:39,542 --> 00:38:41,625 they think blurry, hard to understand, 864 00:38:41,625 --> 00:38:46,208 kind of, you know, "inarticulate", if you will. 865 00:38:46,208 --> 00:38:50,167 He was clear, man. Very clear. 866 00:38:50,167 --> 00:38:51,708 -There's been so many negroes 867 00:38:51,708 --> 00:38:53,792 that sold the black people out. 868 00:38:56,375 --> 00:38:57,958 I'm saying -- This is what I mean. 869 00:38:57,958 --> 00:39:00,167 You know, just like I said it. 870 00:39:00,167 --> 00:39:03,042 [ Cheers and applause ] 871 00:39:03,042 --> 00:39:05,208 ♪ Funky, down 872 00:39:05,208 --> 00:39:07,458 -He and Nixon had talked. 873 00:39:07,458 --> 00:39:09,042 A lot of promises were made. 874 00:39:09,042 --> 00:39:12,292 A lot of things were said that didn't never happen. 875 00:39:12,292 --> 00:39:15,333 -And did he really think that Richard Nixon 876 00:39:15,333 --> 00:39:17,292 or some of these other people were going to do what they said? 877 00:39:17,292 --> 00:39:20,250 Probably. Did they? No. Absolutely not. 878 00:39:20,250 --> 00:39:22,000 They were using him for votes. 879 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:23,833 It's obvious to us now, 880 00:39:23,833 --> 00:39:26,542 but when you really think you can make a difference 881 00:39:26,542 --> 00:39:28,542 for your community by talking to people 882 00:39:28,542 --> 00:39:30,667 that can make a difference, 883 00:39:30,667 --> 00:39:33,250 that's what his mindset was on. 884 00:39:33,250 --> 00:39:36,917 -Was endorsing Richard Nixon during that time 885 00:39:36,917 --> 00:39:39,375 equivalent to selling your community out? 886 00:39:39,375 --> 00:39:40,875 Absolutely. It was. 887 00:39:40,875 --> 00:39:43,625 -♪ It ain't no funky job to be found ♪ 888 00:39:43,625 --> 00:39:45,375 -Well, I think that him endorsing Nixon 889 00:39:45,375 --> 00:39:46,917 was really -- 890 00:39:46,917 --> 00:39:48,542 you know, you don't know what agreement they had. 891 00:39:48,542 --> 00:39:52,083 You can say, "Okay, well, I'll endorse you for this 892 00:39:52,083 --> 00:39:53,750 if you're going to give me that." 893 00:39:53,750 --> 00:39:55,875 It's always been that way in politics and music. 894 00:39:55,875 --> 00:39:57,708 You know, to this day, it's that way. 895 00:39:57,708 --> 00:40:00,542 You have to figure out, "Hey, how can I get in there, 896 00:40:00,542 --> 00:40:02,667 and then how can I get what I need done?" 897 00:40:02,667 --> 00:40:04,458 -♪ Tell him, godfather 898 00:40:04,458 --> 00:40:06,083 ♪ Hey, oh 899 00:40:06,083 --> 00:40:07,583 ♪ Whooo 900 00:40:07,583 --> 00:40:09,542 -Now, Nixon was telling him one thing, 901 00:40:09,542 --> 00:40:11,292 but when it was time to do 902 00:40:11,292 --> 00:40:13,375 what he supposed to do, 903 00:40:13,375 --> 00:40:15,625 none of that was mentioned. 904 00:40:15,625 --> 00:40:17,958 -James Brown endorsing Nixon 905 00:40:17,958 --> 00:40:21,333 was really more so to push the black agenda, 906 00:40:21,333 --> 00:40:24,583 but unfortunately, it backfired and it cost him record sales 907 00:40:24,583 --> 00:40:26,208 and, you know, just cost him, 908 00:40:26,208 --> 00:40:28,083 you know, just fandom in many cases, 909 00:40:28,083 --> 00:40:31,542 and his hits really stopped coming around that time. 910 00:40:31,542 --> 00:40:33,542 -Everything tanked. 911 00:40:33,542 --> 00:40:37,208 You know, people were like, "Have you lost your mind?" 912 00:40:37,208 --> 00:40:39,375 -And what's important for us to do 913 00:40:39,375 --> 00:40:41,875 as individuals who are part of community, 914 00:40:41,875 --> 00:40:44,583 is you hold your artists accountable. 915 00:40:44,583 --> 00:40:46,375 -They had picketed him at the Apollo, 916 00:40:46,375 --> 00:40:48,958 -Mr. Brown's endorsement of Richard Nixon -- 917 00:40:48,958 --> 00:40:50,542 it was a misstep. 918 00:40:50,542 --> 00:40:53,042 -When the going got rough, a lot of people backed up 919 00:40:53,042 --> 00:40:54,208 and walked away from me. 920 00:40:54,208 --> 00:40:56,042 -♪ Hey, listen to the man 921 00:40:56,042 --> 00:40:57,458 ♪ Whoo 922 00:40:57,458 --> 00:40:59,750 -♪ I need to be the mayor 923 00:40:59,750 --> 00:41:03,583 ♪ So I can change the things around here ♪ 924 00:41:03,583 --> 00:41:07,208 -He wrote the song "Papa Don't Take No Mess". I lived it. 925 00:41:07,208 --> 00:41:08,625 -James Brown was never taught 926 00:41:08,625 --> 00:41:11,667 how to be a son, a father, or a husband. 927 00:41:11,667 --> 00:41:15,375 He didn't have those examples to fall back on. 928 00:41:15,375 --> 00:41:17,875 -The violence -- I remember it clear as day. 929 00:41:17,875 --> 00:41:21,083 The last time I ever saw him abuse my mom -- 930 00:41:21,083 --> 00:41:22,542 I just remember going over there 931 00:41:22,542 --> 00:41:25,583 and trying to pull him off of her, 932 00:41:25,583 --> 00:41:29,542 and the look that he gave me was like... 933 00:41:29,542 --> 00:41:31,375 -I don't want to bad-mouth Adrienne, 934 00:41:31,375 --> 00:41:34,208 but things started to get crazy about the time she came around. 935 00:41:34,208 --> 00:41:35,375 -I was there when they met. 936 00:41:35,375 --> 00:41:36,875 He said, "Reverend, get her number." 937 00:41:36,875 --> 00:41:39,042 -That was the beginning of a different Mr. Brown. 938 00:41:39,042 --> 00:41:40,583 -Almost every week, 939 00:41:40,583 --> 00:41:42,667 something was happening to put them in the news. 940 00:41:42,667 --> 00:41:44,458 -I mean, he got into some drug problems, 941 00:41:44,458 --> 00:41:46,375 I think also. 942 00:41:46,375 --> 00:41:48,625 Didn't we all? 943 00:41:48,625 --> 00:41:50,375 -He used to get high in what he called "gorilla". 944 00:41:50,375 --> 00:41:52,583 Gorilla is a version of PCP. 945 00:41:52,583 --> 00:41:53,958 -They got into those drugs 946 00:41:53,958 --> 00:41:55,625 and it would turn them into something 947 00:41:55,625 --> 00:41:57,500 that they really shouldn't have been. 948 00:41:57,500 --> 00:41:59,208 -So I'm on the air, and I get the news 949 00:41:59,208 --> 00:42:02,792 that Mr. Brown was in a two-state car chase. 950 00:42:02,792 --> 00:42:04,708 It's like, "What is going on?" 951 00:42:04,708 --> 00:42:07,875 -Someone was using my facilities without my consent. 952 00:42:07,875 --> 00:42:10,125 -He did get his shotgun out of the pickup, 953 00:42:10,125 --> 00:42:11,875 but he did not fire it. 954 00:42:11,875 --> 00:42:15,542 -Four white policemen came up and shot the truck up 955 00:42:15,542 --> 00:42:17,708 and almost shot the black deputy sheriff. 956 00:42:17,708 --> 00:42:19,417 I wasn't afraid of them. 957 00:42:19,417 --> 00:42:22,167 -If James Brown was not who he was, 958 00:42:22,167 --> 00:42:24,000 was not of the race he is, 959 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:26,000 there's no question that he would not have been 960 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:27,417 given this sentence. 961 00:42:27,417 --> 00:42:29,042 -He was public enemy number one. 962 00:42:29,042 --> 00:42:32,792 -I'm doing the time, and somebody else did the crime.