0:00:10 > 0:00:13If I had to describe OW in one word -
0:00:13 > 0:00:14a real diamond.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Mind-blowing.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17Surprising.
0:00:17 > 0:00:18Drama.
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Swag.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23- Over the top.- It's crazy.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Oh, my God.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Problems.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28Discombobulated.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30This ain't no fairy tale high school.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32This ain't no fairy tale story.
0:00:32 > 0:00:33Everything is real here.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Class of 2016!
0:00:44 > 0:00:49At OW, see black people 98% of the time.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52You shared pain, you shared tears,
0:00:52 > 0:00:54we are lifelong friends forever.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01- TANNOY:- 'Teachers, please close all doors.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03'We are in an active hall sweep.'
0:01:09 > 0:01:12I'm a senior and it's make-or-break time for me.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15I'm about to get ready to leave high school.
0:01:15 > 0:01:16Y'all going to jail, cos y'all in a stolen car.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19Come on, Rah-Rah!
0:01:22 > 0:01:24All right, I love you, brother.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31I'm so proud of you, because I know that you have overcome obstacles
0:01:31 > 0:01:33to make it to this day.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55And our prom king is...
0:01:57 > 0:01:58What you doing?
0:01:58 > 0:02:02We don't win no games, we can't get no scholarships.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Although he have a child, he still is going to go to college.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Julio Johnson going to my home school.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Congratulations on your admission to the University of Florida.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16I want to go out of state.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21Getting into college and being able to pay are two different things.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24I failed it, but it's OK. I tried.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27You have to be responsible for you!
0:02:27 > 0:02:30When are you going to learn this is not cool?
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Somebody has to say, "This is not right."
0:02:47 > 0:02:50The decision to resign from OW is one of the most difficult
0:02:50 > 0:02:51I've ever made.
0:02:53 > 0:02:59I am so frustrated that we have so many children from
0:02:59 > 0:03:05the same socioeconomic background and we're told to educate them.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Not only educate them, but make your test scores better,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10lower your drop-out rate.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13One person can't do it all.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I want to make constructive change happen to education
0:03:19 > 0:03:23and I shouldn't have to leave OW to make that happen.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I should be able to make it happen within my own school.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31I have serious concerns about how this is going to affect the school.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34MUSIC: Respect by Aretha Franklin
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Graduation.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54It is a lot of pressure.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Once I graduate, I'm getting out of Dodge,
0:04:16 > 0:04:20which basically means I'm getting out of Orangeburg.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Hey, hey, hey.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49Pull your pants up, there.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52From now until the end of the school year,
0:04:52 > 0:04:57I have to find a way to motivate them to get through graduation.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00We can never take it lightly.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:05:03 > 0:05:06No matter what it look like, no matter what it...
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Students who are not going to graduate?
0:05:12 > 0:05:14We have about 22 of them and, erm...
0:05:14 > 0:05:15PHONE RINGS
0:05:16 > 0:05:17Yeah, thank you.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20I've notified all of them.
0:05:20 > 0:05:2122 students...
0:05:21 > 0:05:22Mm-hm. That's definite kids.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24..who are aren't going to graduate?
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Do you know why we have so many, then?
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Mr Lewis's class, Math...
0:05:31 > 0:05:32OK.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34I wanted to give you an update on Vernon.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37He's on the list with Mr Lewis and that class.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38- All right.- So...
0:05:38 > 0:05:40If he fails that class, he doesn't graduate?
0:05:40 > 0:05:41- Correct.- Wow.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43We got to figure out what we're going to do to, kind of,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46I guess now maybe give them something.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47Yeah. Figure out something with
0:05:47 > 0:05:50that, because it's a lot of kids in there, so...
0:05:50 > 0:05:51- We'll get on it, OK?- All right.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59When you think about graduation, we have to remember what's at stake.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06In America, unfortunately, to be young and black is one strike.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11To be young, black and uneducated is two strikes.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15And to be unemployable is your third strike.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:06:20 > 0:06:21I see some calculators on the
0:06:21 > 0:06:23desktops, they need to be in your bags.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29OK, Mr Lewis, I need to talk to you, cos I know my grade in this class,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32so I was just trying to see if I can, like...
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Come on, now!
0:06:35 > 0:06:38It's coming off the wall now. You always sitting on it the whole time.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40I was just wondering if I can re-make up some stuff tomorrow,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42- before you leave? - You better come early.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Yeah, I will come early. I'll come and do it tomorrow...
0:06:45 > 0:06:46- Your grades are due tomorrow.- Yeah.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48So I can get my grade up.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51I'm trying to get up above a 60, cos Miss Thing said I'd be
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- straight if just get it up above the 60.- 60?
0:06:55 > 0:06:56Yeah. I got a 56 in here.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00So, I need this class to graduate.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02That's right. You need this class to graduate.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04All right.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12Vernon is kind of up and down. Some days he's serious about work,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14other days he's kidding around,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16playing and not doing what he need to do.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18He just puts off and keep puttin'
0:07:18 > 0:07:20off and just doesn't come back in to do the work.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Hopefully, he'll come in tomorrow.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26I have like a week, actually.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Everything has to be turned in by when school get out.
0:07:30 > 0:07:31The pressure is on.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34I'm just going to
0:07:34 > 0:07:37like, work, work, work, work, work, work until that deadline.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43Where are you guys at with your college acceptances?
0:07:43 > 0:07:46See, I decided to go to the University of Florida,
0:07:46 > 0:07:51but it's, like... It's not the cheapest, OK?
0:07:51 > 0:07:52So how much does that add up to?
0:07:52 > 0:07:58I would pay about... Well, tuition is about 42,000 a year.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00That's not guaranteed, that's just projected.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06So, you're going to have, like, 80,000-100,000 in debt.
0:08:06 > 0:08:07It's a little problem.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10How is it adding up right now?
0:08:10 > 0:08:12You have how many scholarships?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15At least 1,000 from church.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19- And so the rest you're going to get in loans?- Mm-hm.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23It seems like people don't want me to go there because
0:08:23 > 0:08:28they're worried about the financial burden that I'm going to have.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31So the people that don't want you to go to Florida State, like what...?
0:08:31 > 0:08:34They want me to try and stay in state
0:08:34 > 0:08:36because it's cheaper.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41The thing that really stressed me out is the fact that I have
0:08:41 > 0:08:44to raise, like, thousands upon thousands of dollars
0:08:44 > 0:08:49and I have never acquired this much money in my entire life at one time.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Seriously, just tell me what you think I should do.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58I think you should go to University of Florida because that seems like
0:08:58 > 0:09:03it's pretty much the only school that you were like die-hard, "I want to go to this school."
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Amen.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07I mean, it's going to be tough, but you can do it.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10You're a superstar.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42How's Day?
0:09:42 > 0:09:43She good.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47She probably more tired than anything, though.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49She probably just wants some sleep right now.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51And how are you holding up?
0:10:23 > 0:10:24So what's the plan now?
0:10:47 > 0:10:51We thank you for the day and ask for your blessings upon this meal.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53We take it as a nourishment for our bodies.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55In Jesus' name, Amen.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Amen. Where's your food?
0:11:01 > 0:11:03You know what would be a good idea?
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Is just planning ahead for the future.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09A dollar a day.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- Don't you agree?- I agree.
0:11:13 > 0:11:14100%.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18So you going to start putting a dollar a day away?
0:11:18 > 0:11:21I'll go out to pick some cotton and have you help.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23You told me to focus on school work.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I've been in South Carolina almost my whole life.
0:11:31 > 0:11:32I kind of want to branch out...
0:11:34 > 0:11:35..see the world.
0:11:36 > 0:11:37Oh, what's this?
0:11:38 > 0:11:43The engineering buildings at colleges are always so cool.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47Florida is a place that has a lot of opportunities and
0:11:47 > 0:11:51I just feel there would be a good vibe of people there.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54I just think it's going to be so awesome.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57I'm ready to go.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04I was trying to get her to stay in state,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08like University of South Carolina, but she didn't want to do that.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12She wanted to get further away.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17I don't want to go to a school
0:12:17 > 0:12:20because it's convenient and because it's cheap.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22I want to go there because of the academic reasons,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24I want to go there because of
0:12:24 > 0:12:27the opportunities that I won't get at other schools.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I'm not going there for convenience.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33I've been going to Orangeburg because of where I live.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37That's convenient. I'm not trying to do that for the rest of my life.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Sometimes you got to try and reach
0:12:43 > 0:12:47for those dreams that seem out of reach.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52I don't want to drive six hours.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55One or two hours is all I want!
0:12:59 > 0:13:01But looks like I'll have to drive six hours.
0:13:03 > 0:13:04That's fine too.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Even if I have to stop and take a nap along the way.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:13:22 > 0:13:23- TANNOY:- 'May I have your attention?
0:13:23 > 0:13:25'If you haven't picked up your graduation gowns,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27'please do so today.'
0:13:31 > 0:13:35This should be his fourth year that he has to have.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37He's not here yet.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- TANNOY:- 'Teachers, please close your classroom doors.'
0:13:49 > 0:13:51He is nowhere to be seen.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57What about your maths class, dude?
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Oh, my gosh!
0:14:01 > 0:14:03I forgot about that!
0:14:07 > 0:14:08Good to see you, good to see you.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10I just wanted to catch up with you on a few things
0:14:10 > 0:14:13as you get ready for graduation.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18Everything is set for graduation May 28th.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Yeah? And then what are your plans?
0:14:25 > 0:14:29OK. You've taken the ACT, you've taken the SAT?
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Sign up now.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36You need to get that, all right?
0:14:36 > 0:14:38I'm wondering why you haven't done all that stuff?
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I mean, nobody's been pushing you to do this?
0:14:43 > 0:14:46But you want to leave Orangeburg, you want to get away?
0:14:46 > 0:14:48- You want to go away to school?- Yeah.
0:14:52 > 0:14:53Right.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00I think you need to get hungry, man.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08I can see it going one of two ways.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15He's going to go to college and he's going to finish and he's going to
0:15:15 > 0:15:18take very good care of the mother of his child and his baby.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25The other way is not go to school and try to find a job
0:15:25 > 0:15:29and he'll be in a position that he would probably be searching
0:15:29 > 0:15:32for a job for the rest of his life.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:15:39 > 0:15:43- TANNOY:- 'Jalena Jones, please report to the main office immediately.'
0:15:44 > 0:15:49Hey. Miss Johnson got her hair done.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51- You doing all right this morning? - I'm fine.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53I know it seems a little tense.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I brought Dr Peters in and Miss Harris,
0:15:56 > 0:16:00but the numbers are in and we've done our calculations and...
0:16:01 > 0:16:02..you are number one.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04Oh, my Lord.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05Right?
0:16:05 > 0:16:08I am valedictorian right now.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12This is significant.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15You are graduating number one in your class,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18so wherever you go from here, you take that with you.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21This is no small feat that you've accomplished.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Your mom, she's watching, you know it.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30But I want you to also know that your mom is very proud of you
0:16:30 > 0:16:33and so are we. All right?
0:16:33 > 0:16:35- Yes, sir, thank you. - Continue to work hard.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41See you later. All right, I'll be right there beside you.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56My mom didn't get the chance to go to college or whatever.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00I'm trying to be like the one to go to college, finish it,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04get a good job and take care of everyone and stuff like that.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11I feel like I'm alone because I don't have nobody being like,
0:17:11 > 0:17:12"Did you do this today?"
0:17:12 > 0:17:14And I think I need that tough love
0:17:14 > 0:17:18in order to make sure I get things done.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20You're by yourself.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Came in this world alone, leave this world alone.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46I really do feel like I won't be able to graduate this year.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52What if I'm really stuck here in Orangeburg like my mom and my aunts
0:17:52 > 0:17:54that could have went out in the world
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and did things and been successful,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01don't have to worry about their kids struggling or anything like that.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03That's what makes me sad, that's making me angry,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06because I don't want to feel like that at all.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08It always comes back.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21DISTANT CHEERING
0:18:22 > 0:18:25- COMMENTATOR:- 'It's 14 apiece. Man, this is tight.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28'Close to quit of play...'
0:18:28 > 0:18:2923, 23!
0:18:32 > 0:18:35'Number 17, Kordel Johnson ready to receive.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38'Number two quarterback.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42'Lets loose, it's long. Johnson in the end zone! Touchdown!'
0:18:42 > 0:18:44CHEERING
0:18:51 > 0:18:52Been four years, man.
0:18:53 > 0:18:54Four years.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59College, it's not going to be easy, I can promise you that.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03But you know... You got the 'tude to get it done,
0:19:03 > 0:19:07so just get it done, man.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10You always told me that you played with a chip on your shoulder.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11Yeah. A chip is a good thing.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15A real good thing. Keep it there
0:19:15 > 0:19:19because whenever you start thinking that you've
0:19:19 > 0:19:22already arrived, you know, you fall.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25And you don't want to do that, so, that's a good thing.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30I don't know if you know, but I never met my father in my life.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32So, like, when I came to OW,
0:19:32 > 0:19:37y'all took that role because, you know, y'all care,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40even when I got in trouble and the teacher called, you showed up,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42you showed me you cared.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Even the punishment on the field showed me that you cared.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47You wanted me to better myself.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52So I just thinking that, you know, you was like a father figure.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55I didn't really know what your relationship was with your father
0:19:55 > 0:20:00but all I knew was that I been taught that if you going to coach kids,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04you've got to at least show you care about them.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09I've got something to prove because I'm a product of you, Coach Brown.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10I'm one of your players.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13I've got something to prove.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16You don't want to let nobody down.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Especially, I want to make your name sound better.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22- COACH BROWN LAUGHS - Ain't gotta worry about that!
0:20:23 > 0:20:25You know.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Just be yourself. You'll be fine.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42It's the person I'm trying to prove it to,
0:20:42 > 0:20:47my father. You know, why he not here?
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Why he never came to see me?
0:20:50 > 0:20:5218 years, man.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54I know the last two years he'd have heard about me.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58I've been in the paper a bunch of times so I know he's heard about me.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00I've been on the radio. I've been everywhere.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04I know he heard about me so I had something to prove, you know?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07The reason why he should never have left.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Because I know who my real fathers are,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17the people that have actually been there for me.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:21:42 > 0:21:44This is crunch time.
0:21:44 > 0:21:45- This is your future.- It is.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- All right?- That's why I'm trying to stay as focused as possible.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Stop trying. Stay focused.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Do it. The time for trying is over. You're not a child any more.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57You're a young adult who is getting ready to go out in the world,
0:21:57 > 0:22:01continue your education, get a job, and make something of yourself.
0:22:01 > 0:22:02- Yes, sir.- All right?
0:22:02 > 0:22:04- All right?- Yes, sir!
0:22:04 > 0:22:06All right. I like that just now.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08I feel like you put something in me, like...
0:22:10 > 0:22:12"Don't try, just do!"
0:22:12 > 0:22:13That's right. Do it.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36ALARM SOUNDS
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- TANNOY:- 'Administrator needed immediately to the gym by the lockers.'
0:22:39 > 0:22:43INDISTINCT REPLY ON RADIO
0:22:43 > 0:22:47'We've got a 10-83 in the common area. 10-83.'
0:22:47 > 0:22:48'10-4. I'm on my way.'
0:22:55 > 0:22:57COMMOTION
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Let's go. This whole area needs to be cleared.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Let's go. Get back to class.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11I ain't talking to myself. Let's go.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19OK, we need to pull the cameras and get some licence plate numbers.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21We need to identify who those cars belong to.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24We are not amused.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28'All radio holders please assume your duties.'
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Did the balloons they dumped have water in them?
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Some did, some didn't.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44How many people, do you think? Five, six...
0:23:44 > 0:23:49- 12? 13?- 12, 13, 14.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- That's Rendull, isn't it?- Yes.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Wasn't that Rendull?
0:23:54 > 0:23:57He has a baby, getting ready to graduate
0:23:57 > 0:23:59and this is how he spends his time.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01OK.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05- Mr Jones.- We've got two kids hurt.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08One just had surgery.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Her mom is going to be livid and I don't blame her.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22PHONE RINGS
0:24:22 > 0:24:24OK, listen.
0:24:24 > 0:24:31The Sheriff's department is ready to come to your house to get you.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34And I asked them to let me handle
0:24:34 > 0:24:37what happens with you and the rest of the people that
0:24:37 > 0:24:39came into school with you.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40INDISTINCT REPLY
0:24:44 > 0:24:46'I ain't never been in no cafeteria.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48'You can send the cops in, but I didn't.'
0:24:48 > 0:24:50You didn't have to go in the cafeteria.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54We have you on camera coming into the school spraying a water gun.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56And the school was trashed.
0:24:56 > 0:25:02The best I can do for y'all today is to keep y'all from going to jail.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Y'all need to be up here at school at 8:30
0:25:04 > 0:25:06to meet with me in the morning.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09'OK. I swear to God, we going to be there. 8:30 on the dot.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11'We going to be there.'
0:25:11 > 0:25:14- I want all of y'all in the auditorium.- 'We going to be there.'
0:25:14 > 0:25:16All right. 8:30.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Meet with me in the morning and I want the mommas and the children.
0:25:35 > 0:25:41I have to do four to six weeks' worth of work in two hours.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46- HE SIGHS - Yeah.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51I won't be able to graduate because of this.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56'What is the probability that Claude will choose the red socks twice?'
0:25:57 > 0:26:00All right. I'm not sure.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04- We're going to try it. - 'Got to disagree with you there.'
0:26:04 > 0:26:08The correct answer is actually 1/25th.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Dang, that's what I did wrong.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12I added it instead of multiplying.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14'Are you ready to go on?'
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Yes, I am.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20'What's the probability of Claude choosing the red socks
0:26:20 > 0:26:21'on his first pick?'
0:26:22 > 0:26:27- I got the answer. - 'Regretfully, that's not it.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- 'The answer you should have got here is...'- How?
0:26:34 > 0:26:36PHONE RINGS
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Holy shit!
0:26:40 > 0:26:43I did not know I had to go to work today.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Huh? I didn't know they had me on the schedule for today.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50I will probably be there at 6.30.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Probably. Or later.
0:26:53 > 0:26:54I'm doing my work right now
0:26:54 > 0:26:56so I can finish my class so I can graduate.
0:27:04 > 0:27:05I'm done.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11If it don't work out, I tried.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14I tried. That's one thing I got to say.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32PHONE RINGS
0:27:32 > 0:27:35- 'Hello?' - Hi, Ms Middleton?
0:27:35 > 0:27:38- 'This is her.' - Yeah, Dr Peters at OW.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40- How are you?- 'I'm fine and you?'
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Not so good. Rough day today.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45'What's going on?'
0:27:45 > 0:27:51Rendull and about probably 15 other seniors
0:27:51 > 0:27:54came into our school today at lunchtime
0:27:54 > 0:27:58while the children were eating, the ninth graders,
0:27:58 > 0:28:03and they came in with masks over their faces and hoodies on
0:28:03 > 0:28:05and guns shooting water.
0:28:05 > 0:28:06'Right.'
0:28:06 > 0:28:10So we have two children in the hospital right now.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13I talked to my deputy and his first reaction was
0:28:13 > 0:28:17that somebody was coming in to rob the school
0:28:17 > 0:28:22and when he saw the bandannas, his hand went for his gun.
0:28:22 > 0:28:23'Right.'
0:28:25 > 0:28:29This could have been a very ugly situation.
0:28:29 > 0:28:35- 'Right.'- And I have no idea what he was thinking.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37So what we've decided to do is
0:28:37 > 0:28:41to tell them they can't come to any more senior activities
0:28:41 > 0:28:44and they will not be marching on Saturday morning.
0:28:44 > 0:28:49- 'What?'- They will not be marching in the graduation ceremony.
0:28:49 > 0:28:50No.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55I am begging you, I am telling you straight up,
0:28:55 > 0:28:59I am begging you when you get home today that you sit your son down
0:28:59 > 0:29:04and you tell him that today is the deciding day for him.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08He's going to have to decide to go one way or the other.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11He has a baby.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15That little girl, I told him months ago, when that child gets here,
0:29:15 > 0:29:16she's going to change you.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18And that change day is today.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21And if he doesn't change, Ms Middleton,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23I'm telling you I really have
0:29:23 > 0:29:27concerns about what's going to happen to Rendull.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28'Right.'
0:29:28 > 0:29:32- Sorry for the call.- 'All right.' - All right, bye-bye. Bye-bye.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57I've never written a speech before.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03I want to write something inspirational,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05not just something that makes people go to sleep.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09I want people to actually pay attention.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13This is for, I think, the spelling bee in, like, fifth grade,
0:30:13 > 0:30:15fourth grade.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Some of them are martial arts trophies.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22And this is my mother's Navy cap.
0:30:25 > 0:30:26My mother...
0:30:29 > 0:30:31..she died when I was seven years old.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36She liked to laugh and she was very pretty.
0:30:37 > 0:30:42She was shot and killed by one of our relatives
0:30:42 > 0:30:44while my siblings and I were at school.
0:30:47 > 0:30:52When my mom died, it made me a stronger person.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55It made me realise that it's OK to grieve
0:30:55 > 0:30:58but it's not OK to let the grief consume you.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05I let the memory of my mother build me into
0:31:05 > 0:31:06a stronger person.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10Any time I feel like I can't do something,
0:31:10 > 0:31:14I know that she's there encouraging me and I know that with her help,
0:31:14 > 0:31:15I can do it.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Girls! Move, now!
0:31:28 > 0:31:32- RADIO:- 'If anyone has a visual on student Rendull Middleton...'
0:31:33 > 0:31:34'He was in the gym.'
0:31:35 > 0:31:37All right, guys, start moving.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45It got real. Everything that we worked for, gone down the drain.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47HE CLICKS FINGERS
0:31:47 > 0:31:48Like that.
0:31:56 > 0:31:57But man...
0:32:04 > 0:32:07INDISTINCT CHILDREN'S VOICES
0:32:11 > 0:32:14All right, so I'm going to say good morning even though it's not
0:32:14 > 0:32:16a good morning for me.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20We are seniors getting ready to graduate. 17, 18-year-olds.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23What 17, 18-year-old plays with water guns?
0:32:23 > 0:32:24You need to be playing with your future.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30So y'all work for 12 years to have an opportunity to walk across
0:32:30 > 0:32:33the stage and get your diploma, but instead you want to play.
0:32:33 > 0:32:38- Yes, sir.- We just, you know, wanted to have a senior prank,
0:32:38 > 0:32:40have a little fun, run in, run right back out.
0:32:40 > 0:32:44We wasn't even planning on running all around the school,
0:32:44 > 0:32:47going in classes tearing down stuff, that was not the intentions,
0:32:47 > 0:32:51it was just to boom, just with the water gun and come back out.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54If we would have known it would be this deep, this right here,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56we didn't think it was going to go this far but it did.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59I don't think you had any intention of anybody getting hurt.
0:32:59 > 0:33:04- Yeah...- But there are people who kill people and go to jail for life
0:33:04 > 0:33:06who had no intention of harming anybody.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11While y'all are running through the building at OW spraying water guns,
0:33:11 > 0:33:16you got white kids all over America trying to figure out how they're
0:33:16 > 0:33:18going to get paid
0:33:18 > 0:33:21and how they're going to retire at 50 years old.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25You need to start focusing on the things that really matter.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30Right now we've got 13 of our African-American males from OW
0:33:30 > 0:33:32in jail, incarcerated.
0:33:32 > 0:33:39One thing can change the trajectory of your life, one thing.
0:33:39 > 0:33:45One mistake, one bad choice can change your whole life.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50Don't get it twisted. You don't get to load up on mistakes and say,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52"I'm young. Young people make mistakes."
0:33:52 > 0:33:54- Yes, ma'am.- I'm Rendull's mom.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57As a parent, hear me out for a minute.
0:33:57 > 0:33:58We worked hard to get our kids
0:33:58 > 0:34:00to this point, yet they chose to make a bad decision
0:34:00 > 0:34:02and did what they did yesterday.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04You want to let one day ruin their whole life?
0:34:04 > 0:34:07No, they are children, you understand what I'm saying?
0:34:07 > 0:34:08They are 17, 18-year-olds.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11Yeah, they supposed to know but they ain't at that age yet where they
0:34:11 > 0:34:16know everything. No, they know better than to bring water balloons.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Don't y'all? Y'all know better than to bring water balloons in the
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- building, right? Right? - ALL:- Yes.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24All right, then, this is y'all graduation and y'all chose to make
0:34:24 > 0:34:26a dumb decision so y'all need to make it right.
0:34:29 > 0:34:30Well said.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36Y'all are leveraging right now what your families did for you.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39Those of you who are here...
0:34:40 > 0:34:44..you're going to march on Saturday morning.
0:34:44 > 0:34:45You're going to march.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48And I'm going to tell you why you're going to march.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Because of your mamas...
0:34:51 > 0:34:54..and your daddies and your families.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55That's why you're going to march.
0:34:59 > 0:35:00Make it count.
0:35:01 > 0:35:02Make it count.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05All right, let's go to the gym.
0:35:06 > 0:35:07All right, you're welcome.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14You try to do something, just a life lesson, you live and you learn.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16# Everybody get in the groove
0:35:16 > 0:35:18# And let the good times roll... #
0:35:18 > 0:35:21'Another beautiful weekend in store
0:35:21 > 0:35:24'and a big one for senior students at Orangeburg Wilkinson High School.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26'Saturday is graduation day.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30'You ARE going to make your families and the whole town so proud.'
0:35:32 > 0:35:35# Time don't mean that much to me... #
0:35:35 > 0:35:37We're not in high school any more after this.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39It's time to just...
0:35:39 > 0:35:42put on your big boy pants, buckle up and...
0:35:44 > 0:35:45..face life.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49# Get in the groove and let the good times roll... #
0:35:49 > 0:35:52Life is not a walk on Gold Street.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54You're going to have a bunch of things that come at you...
0:35:55 > 0:35:58..and I'm going to try to make the best out of every opportunity.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01I'm just looking at it...as half-full.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03# All night... #
0:36:03 > 0:36:05I ain't worrying about college at all.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08I done seen the worst of them do it, so I know I can do it.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10- INTERVIEWER:- Where are you thinking of going?
0:36:16 > 0:36:17So it's just a matter of time.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22# It might be one o'clock and it might be three
0:36:24 > 0:36:27# But I don't care cos time means nothing to me
0:36:28 > 0:36:30# I ain't been swinging since I don't know when
0:36:32 > 0:36:35# And I might not be swinging this way again... #
0:36:35 > 0:36:38# Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh... #
0:36:40 > 0:36:42What's up?
0:36:42 > 0:36:46I just want to let you know that I completed everything online...
0:36:47 > 0:36:49..and this boy right here going to walk across the stage
0:36:49 > 0:36:50Saturday morning.
0:36:52 > 0:36:53- You are done!- Done.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56- 100%.- 100%.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58I'm so proud of you, Vernon.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01- I'm so proud of you.- And I wanted to let you know because I know you're
0:37:01 > 0:37:05- going to be proud of me.- I'm very proud, I'm more than proud of you.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10- Oh, boy!- I cried.- We got a graduate right here, 2016.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12- That's right.- He's come a long way. - A long way.
0:37:12 > 0:37:13A long way.
0:37:13 > 0:37:19Hey, when you come across that stage Saturday - dignity, dignified.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22I know you're happy but be dignified.
0:37:22 > 0:37:23I'm going to try to keep everything...
0:37:23 > 0:37:25You promise me you'll be dignified.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Vernon, Vernon, look at me.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31- I can try...- No, no, no, no, no. - I can try!
0:37:31 > 0:37:32Vernon, please be dignified.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35- I'm so excited.- Yeah, but you can be excited, but be dignified.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37- I promise I'll be dignified. - Because a high-school graduate
0:37:37 > 0:37:39is now a mature person.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42- You walk up that stage with your shoulders back...- All right!
0:37:42 > 0:37:46- ..chin up.- Chest looking up high. - No, not like that.
0:37:46 > 0:37:47Vernon, listen to me.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Be dignified. I'm proud of you.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52I'm so proud of you. Gimme something. All right, man.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54All right.
0:37:54 > 0:37:55HE LAUGHS
0:37:55 > 0:37:58I don't know if I can keep that promise, though.
0:37:58 > 0:37:59Oh, Lordy!
0:38:03 > 0:38:06It's kind of like a bittersweet moment because I'm going to miss
0:38:06 > 0:38:08high school, I'm going to miss coming here,
0:38:08 > 0:38:10joking around with my friends
0:38:10 > 0:38:14and then at the same time I can't wait to leave Orangeburg.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18If you're going to come over here to the US and you're thinking,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21"Oh, it's going to be champagne,
0:38:21 > 0:38:26"wining and dining on the side of a pool or the beach." No!
0:38:26 > 0:38:28You got to work to get to where you got to go.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31You got to work to get to where you want to be.
0:38:32 > 0:38:33Like me now.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37I feel like my future holds a whole lot for me, like,
0:38:37 > 0:38:38it holds a whole lot.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46TRAIN SIGNAL RINGS
0:38:46 > 0:38:50TRAIN RUMBLES
0:39:00 > 0:39:01Did you want...?
0:39:01 > 0:39:03Oh, baby, this is it.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07I'm not going to cry because you're going to be right in my back yard
0:39:07 > 0:39:09but I tell you one thing,
0:39:09 > 0:39:10don't bring your clothes home.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13So what's on your mind?
0:39:13 > 0:39:18You know, you've always been there through the thick and thin and when
0:39:18 > 0:39:22y'all there, I play ten times better than when y'all not there.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25I do this for you, I do this for me,
0:39:25 > 0:39:27I do this for everybody in the family.
0:39:27 > 0:39:28It's not just me.
0:39:28 > 0:39:33When I wear Johnson and when I wear it on my back, you know,
0:39:33 > 0:39:36it's not just Kordel Johnson, it's the Johnson family,
0:39:36 > 0:39:37everybody in the Johnson family.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39And you already know that.
0:39:43 > 0:39:44SHE SNIFFLES
0:39:47 > 0:39:49What's this?
0:39:49 > 0:39:50Some bad napkins.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56Any time you want a male point of view...
0:39:58 > 0:40:00..you got your brother, you got your uncles.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05They'll step right on in and fill in that little gap...
0:40:07 > 0:40:10..that you, you miss somewhere down the line.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13You were, like, stronger than I thought you would be
0:40:13 > 0:40:15and I'm proud of that.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19But, I mean, you really put it out there because you made it.
0:40:20 > 0:40:21Oh...
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Some things you have to do on your own.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30I got you. I'll get it done.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33That's what I'm trying to do.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01My man.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03Y'all be good. Be good.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Be good. For my next assignment,
0:41:07 > 0:41:11I have an opportunity to pursue my dream of leading a school district,
0:41:11 > 0:41:14of being the superintendent of that district.
0:41:14 > 0:41:20My influence will be broader and I'll be able to do more.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24I'll get to talk about policy and influence more students...
0:41:25 > 0:41:27..more teachers, more principals.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Take care. Take care of yourself.
0:41:29 > 0:41:30I will, I will.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36It's the last day that I'll ever do cafeteria duty.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40This spans 36 years,
0:41:40 > 0:41:44three decades of watching students,
0:41:44 > 0:41:48making sure they're safe, doing this...
0:41:50 > 0:41:53..and this is the last day.
0:41:55 > 0:41:56These are great kids.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01And I'm going to miss them.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04- Going to miss y'all.- I know, I know.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06I know.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08Y'all be good.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10INDISTINCT RADIO
0:42:11 > 0:42:15I am leaving 1,200 amazing human beings.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18I will never forget them.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22- I'm going to miss you.- I'm going to miss you too.
0:42:22 > 0:42:23- You better.- All right.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27The school that refused to quit.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:43:37 > 0:43:39So, when she lost her mother,
0:43:39 > 0:43:44when she went into martial arts and anything else, I would tell her,
0:43:44 > 0:43:45"Make your mama proud."
0:43:49 > 0:43:52I would say, "Your mother's going to be there with you."
0:43:52 > 0:43:57So everything was on the basis of her mother was with her...
0:43:59 > 0:44:01..watching over her.
0:44:01 > 0:44:02I feel proud, but...
0:44:05 > 0:44:06..life goes on.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:44:30 > 0:44:33It is my distinguished honour to welcome all of you
0:44:33 > 0:44:38to the commencement service for the class of 2016.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41CHEERING
0:44:41 > 0:44:45And this is the time for us to receive our applause.
0:44:45 > 0:44:48Kordel Jermaine Johnson.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54Rendull Middleton.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04Vernon Stevens Jr.
0:45:07 > 0:45:09Rhianna Davis.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14Dhoby Williams.
0:45:16 > 0:45:17Karen Kalil Ryan.
0:45:17 > 0:45:20CHEERING DROWNS SPEECH
0:45:20 > 0:45:21..Valdez.
0:45:23 > 0:45:26Angela Robinson.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31Loretta Jones.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Please stand.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40CHEERING
0:45:40 > 0:45:42Please turn your tassels to the right
0:45:42 > 0:45:44so we can deem ourselves
0:45:44 > 0:45:47graduates of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.
0:45:47 > 0:45:50CHEERING
0:45:58 > 0:46:00My fellow graduates,
0:46:00 > 0:46:04we have finally made it to this extremely important milestone
0:46:04 > 0:46:05in our lives.
0:46:05 > 0:46:10Graduating from high school is not the end but only the beginning.
0:46:11 > 0:46:15I challenge each of you to use your wisdom to dream and pursue
0:46:15 > 0:46:16those dreams.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20I dare you to defy the odds and defeat any obstacles which may
0:46:20 > 0:46:21stand in your way.
0:46:24 > 0:46:26I know a little bit about obstacles.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31When I was seven years old...
0:46:32 > 0:46:33..my mother died.
0:46:35 > 0:46:37And nobody expected me to do so well in school,
0:46:37 > 0:46:41let alone be valedictorian of the class of Orangeburg-Wilkinson.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43CHEERING
0:46:44 > 0:46:46- TEARFULLY:- I cannot go through my speech
0:46:46 > 0:46:48without mentioning my mother.
0:46:48 > 0:46:53Because she has been with me all of these years and I carry her
0:46:53 > 0:46:57within my heart and I'm so proud of you because I know that you have
0:46:57 > 0:47:01overcome obstacles to make it through this day.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:47:04 > 0:47:06Thank you.
0:47:42 > 0:47:46Graduating top of my class,
0:47:46 > 0:47:49going to college in the fall, I'm just, like...
0:47:51 > 0:47:53..following the American dream right now!
0:48:06 > 0:48:07Whoo-hoo-hoo!
0:48:20 > 0:48:21Whoo-hoo-hoo!
0:48:46 > 0:48:47Oh, my goodness!