So much of our early lives are shaped by teachers.
Outside of our parents,
they can be our first role models.
They pour so much into us, and still,
teachers are basically strangers.
As kids, we didn't even see them as people,
and we definitely never thought about their personal lives,
unless we had to.
Now, before we go, I wanted to let y'all know that,
sadly, this will be my last week in class
before my visit from the stork.
How is she even pregnant?
Isn't she like 62?
Mrs. Anderson was 30, but at that age,
we thought all our teachers were ancient.
You'll meet your new teacher tomorrow,
and I expect you to all be as wonderful to them
as you have been to me.
English class was pretty boring,
but we loved Mrs. Anderson,
especially pregnant Mrs. Anderson.
The bigger her stomach got, the less homework she assigned.
We were more excited about that baby than she was.
What are the odds we can get another pregnant lady in here?
I'd like to introduce your new teacher.
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Brady.
He's black?!
I wanted to start singing the Negro National Anthem,
but I didn't know the lyrics.
Do you know him?
This is a historic moment for Jefferson Davis Junior High.
I'm proud to say that I recruited this teacher,
and I think that he has a certain something special
that we'll all benefit from.
What about the debate team? And the Knowledge Bowl?
Mrs. Anderson is our coach and we've been practicing all year.
Mr. Brady will be taking over those as well.
Just so you know, we get pizza and candy after every practice.
That's good to know.
Brad, right?
Well, I'll leave you to it.
I understand you've been reading The Odyssey,
so let's open up to Chapter 9
and talk about how Homer uses foreshadowing to advance the story.
I couldn't believe it.
We finally had our first Black teacher
in the history of the school.
It was a huge deal,
which wasn't lost on my classmates either.
Okay, it probably wasn't that bad,
but that's exactly how it felt.
Can anyone tell me what type of clause I've written on the board?
- Yes, Brad? - A Santa Claus?
Tonight, read the next chapter and write a half-page summary.
Having a Black teacher is good news for you guys.
Why's that?
Well, because...
Because he'll give the Black students special treatment.
Does that mean Mrs. Anderson gave you special treatment?
No. Of course not.
I mean, he seems pretty tough.
He gave us all homework on the first day.
I don't think anybody's getting special attention.
Dean, Cory, Keisa.
Can I see just the three of you for a moment?
Right.
I was reviewing Mrs. Anderson's grade book
and noticed you all have excellent grades.
Has anyone ever suggested you try out for the Knowledge Bowl team?
I got asked to try out for the basketball team.
Track and field.
Nobody asked me to join any teams.
I see.
Well, I've decided to hold a new round of tryouts
so everyone can have the opportunity to earn a spot,
and I think you all should consider trying out.
It took most teachers a week to stop calling me "Cory,"
but Mr. Brady was already letting us know
that he sees us.
And there it was. The first Black head nod.
You just witnessed history, people.
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Mr. Brady thinks I should try out for the Knowledge Bowl.
Wow, you just keep getting cooler and cooler.
I still can't believe they finally hired
- a Black teacher at this school. - It's about time.
If you're gonna integrate the school, you need to integrate the teaching staff.
Well, it's not gonna be easy for him.
We're gonna have to show him our support.
What does that mean?
I'm gonna call him up and invite him over for dinner.
- That's a great idea. - At our house?
- Cooler and cooler. - Why do we have to do that?
Well, after you told me about Mr. Brady,
I did a little research.
One phone call to the biggest gossip at church counts as research?
I learned that he's from Chicago
and he's never lived in the South before,
so I figured we could welcome him
and teach him a thing or two about how things work around here.
I hear that. We want him to have a smooth transition.
What in the Marcus Garvey...?
For the past few weeks, you've been studying The Odyssey,
which is similar to the oral tradition of storytelling
in many African cultures,
like the Yoruba people of West Africa.
He's going full Africa on Day 2?
Like the ancient Greeks, Africans passed down
important history generation to generation
through storytellers known as griots.
These griots used different instruments, like these drums,
to perform for and educate the village.
Drums too? Know your audience, man.
This is a fiddle crowd.
I'm a griot, too!
I always wanted a Black teacher,
but did he have to be so Black?
And it didn't make it any better
that Brad and Karen may have been right.
As class went on,
it did seem like part of Mr. Brady's Blackness
involved giving us special treatment.
Can anyone tell me which part of the sentence is underlined?
- Yes, Keisa? - The prepositional phrase?
That is correct.
Man, this guy really doesn't like me.
I wonder why.
The day of tryouts had arrived,
and the academic cream of the crop was here to represent.
Hey, Cory.
You're trying out for the Knowledge Bowl?
What?
No, man. I'm just here to support Dean.
I'll see you at practice.
Okay, everyone.
Welcome to the Knowledge Bowl tryouts.
Yes?
I don't understand why we have to do tryouts again.
We already have a team.
Well, what's the current record?
1-6.
Then I'd say there's room for improvement.
Okay, let's get started.
An archipelago.
The Krebs cycle.
Pangaea.
It was an epic battle of wits,
the elite minds of our generation going head-to-head.
That's easy. Treaty of Paris.
The aurora borealis.
- 7? - The answer is "diameter."
Okay, "epic" was an overstatement,
but it was a big deal to us.
We all wanted to grab one of the five spots on the team.
- Aorta. - That is correct.
Alright, Dean, you're up.
Pythagoras.
The Bill of Rights.
Mesopotamia.
- That is correct. - Also known as the Fertile Crescent.
Also known as the Cradle of Civilization,
but I'm not bragging.
Don't worry, guys. We got this.
Before I announce the results, I want to thank everyone
who showed up today and brought their A game.
I've tallied all the scores, and the students
who've earned a place on this year's Knowledge Bowl team
are Keisa...
- Brett... - Yes!
Cory...
Karen... and Dean.
As the highest scorer, Dean, you'll be captain.
Brad, you'll be the alternate.
Congratulations to everyone.
A team that was 100% white is now 60% Black.
That's what we call reparations math.
Hey, congratulations, guys.
And congrats to you for being an alternate.
You were really good in tryouts.
I don't know.
I feel like Mr. Brady was giving me all the hard questions, you know?
He's not prejudiced.
Easy for you to say. You guys made the team.
He's not giving anyone special treatment.
Looking forward to seeing you and your family at dinner tonight, Dean.
Bruh, we have got to work on your timing.
Careful, now. Don't want to waste the good stuff.
I think it's a good thing we're meeting your new teacher tonight.
Yeah?
I thought you'd be more excited.
I am. I like Mr. Brady, but...
I was thinking maybe you could talk to him.
About?
Well, it feels like he's giving special attention to the Black kids,
and some of my white friends are feeling left out.
You sneak a sip of the whiskey?
'Cause you're clearly not thinking right.
You think those white kids felt bad about
all the special attention they were getting from the white teachers?
I don't know.
It feels like whenever he does something nice for us,
everybody stares like... like they're mad.
People predisposed to hating gonna actively hate.
Man. He was almost the first dude to say "haters gonna hate."
And now me, Cory, and Keisa are all on the Knowledge Bowl team,
and Brad got bumped.
Listen, you're not doing anything wrong, and neither is Mr. Brady.
Seems to me like he's just trying to level the playing field.
Go greet your guest, boy.
My guest? This wasn't even my idea.
Well, well, well.
Look who left their kente cloth and lion's mane at home.
- Hi. - Hey.
Dad, this is Mr. Brady.
Dennis. Nice to meet you.
I thought his first name was "Mr."
Bill. Hey, this is the really good stuff.
You and I gonna get along just fine.
You put your foot in this meal, Lillian.
Well, wait until you try a little bit of Vivian's peach cobbler.
It'll change your life.
- And that's how I locked Cliff down. - Now, I was on the make.
That should let you know how good that cobbler is.
Well, I'm grateful for the invitation and the hospitality.
Our pleasure. I know firsthand how important it is
to keep students motivated, so keep doing what you're doing.
"Keep doing what you're doing"?
We just talked about this!
Well, I wish all the parents were as enthusiastic as you all.
There have been some thoughts about my teaching style.
- Some thoughts. - Thoughts?
Well, that's not surprising.
You're new to the South, and things can be a bit different down here.
For example, Cliff and I work at a somewhat...
conservative office.
She mean white folks. We work with white folks.
And we've learned that if we want to make a change,
we have to be subtle and strategic.
Interesting point, Mom. Continue.
Speak when spoken to.
Did he get into the whiskey sours?
Well, I have to admit, I don't have a reputation for being the most subtle person.
You shouldn't have to be subtle when you're doing the right thing.
That's right. Like Malcolm X.
Hey, if you're gonna start quoting that nonsense,
you can take your leather glove and go to your room.
Okay. How about, "The time is always right to do what is right"?
Is Dr. King more appropriate dinner conversation?
No, Bill is right. D-Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
Like you do when Mr. Davidson's always asking you
to work through lunch to help him finish his reports?
Well, who needs 30 minutes for lunch?
Look, I'm just saying, I like the way you're shaking things up.
These boys need to see that.
I asked my dad to talk him down, not radicalize him.
I got to say, those drums you brought to school were pretty cool, Mr. Brady.
Sounds like a great teaching tool.
I may have to try it out myself someday.
And I'm sure it will be very well-received,
since you work at a Black university
surrounded by Black people.
You have a freedom at work
that many of us at this table don't.
Now, that is true. I think the Good Lord saw fit to give me that job
because he knew I didn't have the temperament to work in a more conservative office.
Amen.
Well, I think if I take one more bite of anything, I'm gonna pop,
so I'll have to take a piece of that peach cobbler to go.
No, no, no, no. What you don't eat here comes home with me.
Thank you all for the lovely meal and the advice,
but I think I'll manage just fine down at the school.
And you two need to rest up for tomorrow's match.
And remember, Dean, as captain,
it's your job to pick the official answer,
and if there's any disagreement, you have the final say.
I was hoping my parents could talk some sense into Mr. Brady,
but, clearly, it would be up to me to make sure
everyone on the team felt included,
so I determined to handle being captain
of the Knowledge Bowl team my way.
It's time for the final three questions of the round.
"The bacteria causing leprosy directly damages
what protective sheathing around nerve cells?"
It's mitochondria.
- You mean myelin. - No, Karen.
Dean, it's mitochondria, man.
Dean, Karen's right. I think it's myelin, too.
- Five seconds, Jefferson Davis. - Come on, Dean.
Cory seemed confident, and so did Karen,
but I picked Cory's answer last time,
and I really wanted to be fair, but I also wanted to win,
in a fair way. Win with fairness.
Time's up.
Stonewall Jackson Junior High?
Is myelin right?
Myelin?
- Myelin. - That is correct.
My way wasn't working.
Time's up.
- Roanoke. - That is correct.
That will end the second round.
We will take a short break and continue with the final round.
What's going on?
That's the fourth time you didn't give an answer in time, and I know you know this stuff.
Everybody has a different answer,
and I get confused.
I-I don't want anyone to feel bad.
You know what?
I think we're gonna make a change for the final round.
- Julius Caesar. - That is correct.
- Chromosphere. - Correct.
Pocket veto.
That is correct.
Now it's time for the final question.
"What is the range of mountains that lies between
the Great Basin and the Great Plains?"
The Rocky Mountains.
- The Rocky Mountains. - That is correct.
Jefferson Davis Junior High, you are the winners.
I never thought that having our first Black teacher
would lead to me feeling left out.
Congratulations on the win today, Brad.
I know you were disappointed at first,
but I'm proud of how it didn't keep you from working hard
and being ready to step in.
Thanks, Mr. Brady.
You okay?
I'm fine.
Dean.
Do you know why I made you captain?
Because you were treating us Black kids special?
Is that what you thought I was doing?
I made you captain because you're the smartest student on the team.
Then why'd you take me out and put Brad in?
Well, when I first met Brad, I could tell he had potential,
but he didn't take anything seriously,
so I challenged him to work harder, and he rose to the occasion.
For the most part.
As for you...
I could tell from the first day of class
that you were uncomfortable getting attention from me because I'm Black.
It's because I wanted people to like you.
No, actually, it's because you wanted people to like you.
You see, wanting to be liked is a dangerous thing.
It can mask itself as wanting
all the white students to like the Black teacher,
or wanting to make everyone on the quiz team happy.
Because I was really scared that if the white kids
thought you were giving me special attention,
they wouldn't like me.
Or if I didn't listen to everyone's answers
on the Knowledge Bowl, they wouldn't like me.
But at the end of the day, all that really happened was
that you put your light under a bushel.
Every future leader needs to learn how to make their own decisions,
even if it means people won't like them.
I hope what happened today makes you realize what you're really capable of.
The team was already set.
He kicked my son off the Knowledge Bowl team,
and I can't help but feel like that, what,
there's a little bit of favoritism going on?
I-I'm sure that's not something
that Mr. Brady was doing purposefully.
No, I was only rewarding the students who performed the best.
What about that drum he brought into class?
What does tribal drumming have to do with English?
Concerned white parents have always been at the forefront
of the battle to ensure that
what we teach in schools is fair and balanced.
Seemed like Jefferson Davis Junior High
wasn't quite ready for its first Black teacher.
Or maybe Mr. Brady wasn't quite ready for us.
Did they fire you?
Was it the drum?
No. I wasn't fired.
But Principal Cartwright and I both agreed
that Jefferson Davis isn't the best fit for me,
so I'm still on the search for the school that is.
It's ironic that a teacher that once was an embarrassment to me
is now the person I'll miss the most.
Well, I hope your next Black teacher
is so much Blacker than me that Kim gets worried.
Oddly enough, the Blackest teacher I had after that
was my white African-American Studies professor in college.
I later learned that Brad's parents, like mine,
appreciated us having a teacher who inspires his students
because of what he sees inside them, not outside.
And even though Mr. Brady's time at Jefferson Davis was short,
he showed me what it felt like to have a great teacher,
and I took that leadership advice he gave me to heart.
As well as a few more things.
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