Everybody knows the first step in making any football team is the tryout.
And to make it to the pros, the tryout starts with the combine.
♪ I got loyalty Got royalty inside my DNA ♪
♪ Quarter piece Got war and peace inside my DNA... ♪
Potential players are paraded out in front of scouts, coaches, and owners,
who measure their physical talent and on-field abilities.
Coaches will tell you they're looking for warriors, killers, beasts.
They say they want you to be an animal.
And you wanna give them that.
♪ I got, I got, I got, I got ♪
♪ Realness, I just kill shit 'Cause it's in my DNA ♪
♪ I got millions I got riches buildin' in my DNA ♪
♪ I got dark, I got evil That rot inside my DNA ♪
♪ I got off, I got troublesome heart Inside my DNA ♪
♪ I just win again Then win again like Wimbledon, I serve ♪
But let me tell you.
What they don't want you to understand, is what's established is a power dynamic.
Before they put you on the field, teams poke, prod, and examine you.
Searching for any defect that might affect your performance.
No boundary respected. No dignity left intact.
Come on, boy. Hurry up. Look at that shape there.
Look at this.
Mr. Farmer, got your bid. Thirty, James. Thirty to you.
One hundred! Sold!
Next one coming up, best one we got.
- Five hundred. - Five hundred!
- Six hundred! - Right here.
Look at this here!
Come on! Who wants this?
- Seven hundred! - Seven!
- There we go. One thousand! - One thousand!
I'm telling you what I want.
- Yeah, I heard ya. - Sold!
As a kid, you're not thinking that you're being groomed for a system.
You just love playing football. You're just trying to make the team.
Back then, all I cared about was football, baseball,
and a little bit of hoopin' on the side.
- Nice. - Damn!
Check the hands on Kaepernick.
I tell you what, this kid gets better and better every year.
Okay.
Maybe a little part of me wanted to be cool too.
Hey, did you see Baby Boy?
What? The movie?
Nah, fool. Like the toddler. Yes, the movie.
- No. - Look.
I snatched it off LimeWire. You know it's rated R, right?
Your mom let you see it? She's strict as shit.
She's not that strict.
- All right. Yeah, I'll burn you a copy. - Fact.
Okay, then, Lori. I see you.
Hey, I might holla at Lori. She all right for an eighth-grader.
- We're eighth-graders. - But I'm mature for my age.
- Oh! - Mm.
Well, look. Go ahead. Ask.
Ask what?
- Ask, Colin. - Ask what, Ryan?
You wanna know about the hair, right? Dope, ain't it?
- Yeah. - Bro. Look at the back, bro.
My shit got hang.
Look. This high school girl hooked me up, Dee Dee.
She can probably do something with yours too.
Okay. All right. Catch you after practice.
- See you. - All right.
- Hello! - Hi, is this Dee Dee?
No, this is her mother. Who is this?
Oh, um, I'm Colin.
I'm calling about getting my hair braided. Ryan said it was cool.
Oh. Hold on. Dee Dee!
♪ Is it worth it? Let me work it ♪
♪ I put my thing down Flip it and reverse it... ♪
I was born in Wisconsin.
A place known for dairy farming and a scarcity of Black people.
But I grew up in Turlock, California.
A place also known for dairy farming,
and you guessed it, a scarcity of Black people.
One place that you could see Black people in Turlock
was Dee Dee's apartment complex.
Even though it was just a few blocks from my house, I had never been there,
but I could see myself there.
Colin?
Yeah. Dee Dee?
Mm-hm.
Okay.
A challenge.
Come on.
Are you okay?
Am I okay?
I felt like my hair was playing tug-o-war with my scalp.
And the rope they were using was on fire. Am I okay?
Uh-huh.
Okay.
- Why don't you two get a room? - Boy, keep quiet.
You keep clownin' around, Mom will make you wear that nose forever.
Mama, can you get me some hair grease out the bathroom, please?
We don't have any more. And I told you you were gonna run out.
But I need some to finish his hair.
You can run and get some. Or I can pick you up some from the mall.
- What mall you going to? - Modesto.
That'll take too long.
You know what? There is this cute top I've been wanting to try on.
I'll come with you.
Come with me! Come on.
You too.
Come on.
We're gonna be about 20 minutes.
Be good.
Don't get out this car.
What's your name, little dude?
You look ridiculous.
- So do you. - What?
Nothing.
I was in a hot car with an angry clown,
waiting for more torture.
- I just hoped it would be worth it. - Okay. And boom!
Well, what do you think? Say something.
Is it supposed to be this tight?
I had to do it because of your texture.
Biracial hair is so hard to work with. It slips and slides all over the place.
But I made it work, though.
You know who you look like? Allen Iverson.
You look good. I did a good job.
Sorry it took so long. Are you good getting home?
Oh, um...
Can I use your phone?
Bye.
The next 24 hours were like a roller coaster.
I thought I looked good.
But my head was on fire.
- My mom was salty for some reason. - We didn't know where you were.
Huh?
I said we didn't know where you were, me and your dad.
I left a note on the fridge.
I saw it.
Didn't say where you were. Colin.
And let's just say salt and fire are not a good mix.
Between my mom's non-reaction one minute...
I just met her today. She's a friend of a friend.
...or subtle criticism the next...
Your gym teacher is your basketball coach, right?
Yeah.
Think he'll like your hair like that?
...and the throbbing pain I felt all that night...
I got this.
...I still hoped it'd all be worth it.
They said he looks unprofessional.
Intimidating.
- Messy. He's clearly unfocused. - What are we talking about?
He's dangerous.
He's damaging to the league.
He's disrespectful.
In 1997, right after taking the league by storm
and winning Rookie of the Year...
The crowd is into it. Allen shakes free.
Gets two!
A young NBA superstar heard more criticism than kudos.
- That's the body language of a... - Thug!
He experienced more political policing than passionate praise.
Why?
Why did this exceptional player
with an uncanny combination of grace and grit
cause such ire from the powers that were?
Well, what he did to start this controversy was simple, deliberate,
and true to himself.
He embraced his culture.
He braided his hair.
You know him as AI, the Answer, Allen Iverson.
Number 3, Allen Iverson!
One of the most dynamic players to ever grace the basketball court.
He endured scorn and derision over this simple act of self-expression.
It's easy to see how crazy that is today.
But at the time...
I had no idea how he felt.
Even though I felt like I could fall asleep standing up,
I couldn't wait to get to school to show off my new swag.
- That's a new outfit. - Yep.
- Um, you want me to toast it for you? - No thanks.
Who eats a raw Pop Tart?
Allen Iverson, maybe.
Yo, you went to see Dee Dee?
And you got the fresh AIs on too. Out here looking like The Answer for real.
I'm surprised your mom let you out without khakis.
Oh. Okay. Yeah, you got jokes now.
- But for real, though. You like it? - Yeah.
- Good looking out, man. - I heard you got that hair...
Oh.
My bad.
Yo, mine hurt at first too, bro. You gotta get used to it.
It's not that bad.
You suck.
Did he just airball?
Colin. Colin, the coach wants to talk to you.
Today!
Two more!
What? Come on. What's going on, bud?
Nothing. I'm good.
I just have a little headache, and I'm tired, but I'm good.
Run a couple of laps. See if that wakes you up.
You want me to run? Even though I'm tired and I have a headache?
I want you to run so you know you can do it,
even when you are tired and have a headache.
♪ See, I can kinda recall A lil' ways back ♪
♪ Small, tryin' to ball Always been Black ♪
♪ And my hair, I tried it all I even went flat ♪
♪ Had a lumpy curly top And all that crap ♪
♪ Now, just tryin' to be appreciated... ♪
These are too tight.
♪ Nappy-headed brothers Never had no ladies ♪
♪ And I hit the barber shop real quick ♪
♪ Had 'em give me lil' twist And it drove 'em crazy ♪
♪ Then I couldn't get no job ♪
♪ 'Cause corporate wouldn't hire No dreadlocks... ♪
This isn't right.
♪ Then I thought about my dogs From the block ♪
♪ Kinda understand Why they chose to steal and rob ♪
♪ Was it the hair that got me this far? ♪
♪ All these girls These cribs, these cars? ♪
♪ I hate to say it but it seem so flawed ♪
♪ 'Cause success didn't come Till I cut it all off ♪
Mm. It's seasoned already, honey.
Mm-hm.
Okay.
Mm.
Tasty.
Colin, you ever hear of a thing called decision fatigue?
What's that?
Well, the brain is like a muscle, right?
The more you use a muscle, the more tired it gets.
Okay.
Well, I think you're wasting your brain energy on hairstyles.
- My brain energy? - Yeah.
Mm.
You don't wanna get decision fatigue because you're thinking about your hair,
or what to wear, or anything like that.
You need your brain to focus on more important things.
I don't have decision fatigue.
Mm...
From now on, we want you to get your hair done by professionals.
No more of this going rogue business. You don't just go to someone's house.
They probably don't even have a license.
Let me add, I think we should just get your hair cut low.
You won't have to think about it.
I mean, one of the reasons Michael Jordan accomplished so much is because he's bald.
Mm.
I bet you could get to SuperCuts tonight if you hurry.
That's a terrific idea.
SuperCuts.
He has a million things to worry about.
- Hair doesn't have to be one of them. - So, it's settled.
I'll take him after dinner.
You already know what it is. They want war, so they invade Afghanistan.
They wanna spy on us, so they give us the Patriot Act.
They wanna control who gets to be American,
so they create Homeland Security.
- I know that's right. - Hey, Shawn.
Hey.
Patrice.
Hey.
- What's going on with you? - Not too much.
Um...
A question.
You know that hairstyle that, uh, Black people like? It looks like ropes?
And they hang off the back of your head.
You know?
You know? What's that singer? Um...
You know, uh...
♪ Every little time Gonna be all right ♪
Um, you like basketball, right?
Uh...
Do you know, um...
where I can get my son's hair done like this?
Cornrows.
- That's what they're called. - That's what they're called.
Can you help me out? I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm doing.
Yeah.
I can help you with that.
Oh, but I thought you said we were going to a barber shop?
Yeah. Come on.
Whoa.
♪ Bum stiggedy, bum stiggedy bum, hon I got the old pa-rum-pum-pum-pum ♪
♪ But I can fe-fi-fo Diddly-fum, here I come ♪
♪ So Peter Piper I'm hyper than Pinocchio's nose ♪
♪ I'm a supercalafragilistic Tic-Tac pro ♪
♪ I gave my oopsy, daisy Now you've got the crazy ♪
♪ Crazy with the books... ♪
All right. I know I look amazed, but you have to understand something.
I'd never been anywhere like this before.
It felt like... me.
Let me share a story with you that's not told enough.
During a hot summer in the Bronx, back in 1973,
a young teenage immigrant from Jamaica was discovering his love of music.
- Don't you have homework to do? - Huh?
- Homework, Clive. - Hold on, Pop. The break about to drop.
It's cool. The breakbeat's too short anyway.
Every party I throw, people go crazy over the breaks.
How was school, Clive?
School is school, Pops. It's boring since they canceled the music program.
You get enough music at home.
Right now, there's nothing more important than your education.
- Got it? - Yes, sir.
Here.
You play it so much, I figure you need a backup.
Do your homework.
I'll see you later.
Right.
♪ Clap your hands ♪
♪ Stomp the beat, Clyde... ♪
This young man's name was Clive Campbell,
but he would soon become the legendary DJ Kool Herc.
As obvious as it may seem today,
it was the first time anyone had mixed the breakbeat of the same song.
Herc called it The Merry-Go-Round, and everybody loved it.
In fact, they loved it so much, it became a movement.
♪ You got it I know you got soul ♪
♪ Hey ♪
From the music, came the dancing.
And the clothes.
And the hair. And the art.
But not everybody embraced the vibe.
In 2005, the NBA implemented a dress code.
Because one man was helping bring it to the masses.
I don't have to tell you who that one man was, do I?
I don't wanna be Michael Jordan. I don't wanna be Magic.
I don't wanna be Bird or Isaiah. I don't wanna be any of those guys.
When my career is over,
I'm gonna look in the mirror and say, "I did it my way."
Hip-hop was conceived and raised by rebels.
Who wouldn't wanna be a part of that?
Well, now, this can't be the right place.
Hi. Hi. Hi.
Um, is there a barber shop nearby?
'Cause this is the address that I was given.
Shop's in the back.
I didn't even tell you. I tried to get a fade at one of them franchise spots?
- What? - You mean a white shop?
- Come on, man. You tried to cheat on me? - I was in a hurry, and I needed a cut.
Wow. You know I'm the only person for the job. Come on, now.
Ooh, I know.
Yeah. This looks good.
Hey, man. Who next?
Here you go.
- All right. See y'all next week. - All right. Peace, Reggie.
- You must be Colin. - Yeah.
- Hi. - And your mom?
- Yeah. - You called me, right?
You want me to bless shorty like the boy AI?
Oh. No, he... He wants braids, like Allen Iverson.
That's what I said.
Come on, Colin. Let's get it.
Really? Braids?
Go on.
You can relax, Mom. It's gonna be a minute.
Okay.
All right, you ready?
Well?
I like it.
Oh, that's it? You like it?
- You don't love it? - I love it.
Yeah. That's better.
You know how to take care of it?
No.
All right. Come on. Let's go get you some products.
You all right, Mom?
I'm fine. He looks great.
Thanks.
Your first time around this many Black people?
No. No, I'm fine... It's... I'm...
- Fine. - Mm-hm.
Look. My number's on here.
If he can't catch me here at the shop, try me at the crib.
- It's a little more private. - Thank you.
What can I get you?
Yeah.
They gonna need some shea butter, a couple of those essential oils,
about three or four satin durags,
I'm thinkin' some spray bottles, moisturizer.
That shampoo.
Let's see. Yeah, make sure you get him some tea tree oil too,
for the scalp, rub that on the braids.
Okey-doke.
You'll get the hang of it. Don't trip.
♪ It's a new day ♪
Look, I'm not even gonna front.
When I got my hair braided,
my swag went from zero to 100 real quick.
Your boy was feeling pristine.
You know how you were a kid,
and you'd get a new pair of shoes and you just know you can run faster?
Well, cornrows made me feel like I was faster on the football field...
...jumping higher on the basketball court
and feeling confident about my skills. Doing the most.
Everything but paying attention to the deterioration of my braids.
In this moment, I felt invincible.
I was the man. The world was my...
Boy, you need some moisturizer or somethin', because your hair is a mess.
I mean, yeah, over time, I noticed some frizz, but... damn!
That was brutal.
I tried to use the recommended products.
But nothing brought back that fresh feeling.
I guess it was time to get braided again.
Hi. Yeah. It's... It's Colin.
I was wondering if you... If you could get me in.
♪ I see an old man Sittin' on a park bench ♪
♪ Lookin' in the skies when He can see the mouth-stench ♪
♪ Of the range of the people Walkin' and talkin' nonsense ♪
♪ In the park I see a man sittin' there ♪
♪ With a newspaper Under his head and hair, I think... ♪
- It's 3657, right? - Yeah. This is... For sure.
How long do you think this is gonna last?
What, the braids?
All of it.
Hey. Y'all made it.
- Hi. - Hey.
Hi. Come on in.
We just got done eatin'. Y'all hungry?
- Yeah. - No, thanks.
Um, I'll have some.
- Please. - Okay.
He's at the age where he eats all day.
- Can I have this? - Yeah.
- Thank you. - All right.
You can sit on the floor. Eat while I do your hair.
Mm-hm.
You're gonna want salt and pepper though. He puts it on everything.
No, no. This doesn't need it. This is good.
♪ 3-1-2, 3-1-3, 2-1-5, 8-0-3 ♪
♪ Read your horoscope And eat some hors d'oeuvres ♪
♪ Ten on pump one These hoes is self serve ♪
♪ 7-5-7, 4-1-0 My cell phone just overloads ♪
♪ I've got hoes ♪
♪ In different area codes... ♪
I'm gonna run a few errands, so I'll be back in a couple hours.
All right.
♪ I've got hoes ♪
♪ 9-1-6, 4-1-5, 7-0-4 ♪
I was back, feeling fresh, focused, and strong.
- Nice job. - There you go.
What's up with Kaepernick?
That's a nice arm on him, huh?
I'm talking about the hair. Jesus.
Glove down, would ya?
What about it?
What...? Are you looking at what I'm looking at?
Something climbing out the back of his hat. That is not acceptable.
But what I didn't realize is what one person embraces,
another person despises.
Whew!
Mom said your baseball coach called today.
About what?
They want you to cut your hair.
What?
You have to cut your hair if you're gonna stay on the team.
Oh. You're... You're joking, right?
This is about your "brain energy" thing or whatever?
It's a team rule, Colin.
- What team rule? - Well, it makes sense.
Truth be told, you do look unprofessional.
Unprofessional?
Why am I supposed to look professional?
I'm 14. I'm a kid.
Okay. Rules are rules.
What rule?
I play on that team every year,
- and I've never heard of this. - Well...
if you wanna play this year, you'll do what your coaches say.
You guys won't talk to them?
You think they should change the rules for you?
No, but it's a stupid rule, whatever it is.
- You're cutting your hair, Colin. - I don't want to.
- Too bad. - Why?
We told you. It's a team rule.
- But why? - Because you look like a thug.
What?
What is a thug?
The earliest use of the word "thug"
described a religious group called Thuggee,
who worshiped the god Kali.
If you've seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,
you've seen the Western world's depiction of the Thuggee.
But I'm sure that's not what's meant when someone's called a thug today.
So let's take a look at a more contemporary definition.
A quick Google search will tell you
that a thug is described as a violent person,
especially a criminal.
A ruffian, hoodlum, bully.
Examples of this would be a Nazi or a skinhead. Even some politicians.
Very fine people on both sides.
When you see these thugs... I said, "Please don't be too nice."
No one's looking online for the definition of a thug.
The medium that informs us more than any other is television.
So let's take a look at how TV defines the word.
I wanna get your response to some violence
outside events of yours that's committed by people opposed to you.
- By thugs. By thugs. - What is your message...?
- No justice! - No peace!
- No racist! - Police!
And that wasn't... Remember this. That wasn't friendly protesters.
They were thugs. They were thugs.
So I guess that's what it is.
Some people get called thugs just for standing up for their human rights.
While others get called more polite terms.
I've seen officers with their guns drawn
in a confrontation with these people who have entered the capital.
This is a huge victory for these protesters.
I know your pain.
Heave-ho! Heave-ho!
- I know you're hurt. - Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!
We love you. You're very special.
But they think I'm a thug?
Not because I'm a violent criminal.
Because they said so.
You have to play by the rules, Colin.
Your mother and I would not tell you to do something if it wasn't okay.
Right?
If it wasn't for your own good.
Okay.
After that, I didn't get braids again
for another 14 years.
I never felt good about it.
I knew it wasn't right.
But I didn't have the knowledge, wisdom, or language to fight back.
I couldn't rebel because I didn't know how.
But now?
Now I know how.
And I will.