SETTING: Roswell Georgia, 1959. Roswell High in Roswell Georgia.
Passing period at 10:36am CHARACTER: Sandy Lou; 17 years old, white. Extrovert. Passive Aggressive. Preppy, Well off. STORY: Desegregation from the perspective of a white American. How in the south, white americans being racist towards blacks was a social norm and how she was brought up that way. They used scientific racism to support their ideals (Christoph Meiners) It was not done out of hate, it was done out of ignorance, of not understanding her (Melba Pattillo) plight. -David Sontag *David went to school with the Little Rock Nine and was sternly against integration and tormented them. After years of feeling regret he made a public apology to the Little Rock Nine on the Oprah show in 1996
White High Schools girl talking to her friend I cant wait to go to the dance. I have a feeling Luke Evans is finally going to ask me out. (SMILING) Looks at African American students walking past her (right) (DISGUSTED FACE) Ugh, look at them. The Negros right there. I cant believe they let them come into our school. I hope they dont let them go to the dance. (NODS HEAD TOWARDS LEFT OF SCREEN) Theyre not the same as us you know. My father gave me a book on their kind. You should read it. The author is a terrific guy by the name of Mr. Christoph Meiners. He specialized in races and talks about the negroes. Says that black people are different from (puts hand of chest) us because of their sad lack of virtue and their terrible habits. Im sure you feel the same and wouldnt want them to influence our friends or the even worst younger classmen, with their ways. You wouldnt want riots to happen here would you? They should just stick to their school and we should stick to ours. Its always been that way. I dont know why they need to be at our school all the sudden. I mean you dont see us forcing our way into their schools, hhmp (Pulls out compact and starts putting on lipstick) All Im saying is why mess with something thats not broken.(Puts away compact and looks straight into camera) Right now theres only three of them, but they're like rabbits. Next week therell be 5 then 8 then 12 and the next thing you know theyll be all over the school making it into a monkey exhibit. Last week I went with my daddy to one of their schools. By the
looks of the place, they cant take care of themselves very much. They had books that were ripped apart, the place smelt like an outhouse on a hot day and the windows were all broken. (Whispers) It felt like I walked into Africa, it was so terrible.( Shutters) Can you imagine what theyll do to our school if we keep letting them in. They can hardly take care of their own school. (Looks at a black student walking past them and says) What are you looking at you you Knuckle Dragger? (Watches the black student leave) The nerves of that girl. You saw that didnt you? She looked at me as if she wanted to beat me up. (PAUSE) (Alarmed voice) What, no! Im not being ridiculous! Oh, are you defending that negro? Do you want to be one of them? Then why are you defending her? Do you remember what happened to Eleanor when she helped them? Do you want that to be you? Tormented so much that you gotta move schools? (LONG PAUSE) I didnt think so. Now I dont want you talking about this Negro loving incident ever again okay? (Fake smiles) Now help me choose a dress for the dance What is the quality of your intent?
Certain people have a way of saying things that shake us at the core. Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering. What we could be experiencing is the intent behind the words. When we intend to do good, we do. When we intend to do harm, it happens. What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through. We cannot sugarcoat the feelings in our heart of hearts. The emotion is the energy that motivates. We cannot ignore what we really want to create. We should be honest and do it the way we feel it. What we owe to ourselves and everyone around is to examine the reasons of our true intent.