- I can see why Georgetown is Amira's first choice.
It's a very strong school.
- Strong. - Mm-hmm.
This the home of AI.
- Dad, they did not invent artificial intelligence.
- I'm talking about Allen Iverson, The Answer.
- Well, hello, there.
I'm Lynn Parsons, the admissions counselor.
Welcome to Georgetown University...
[chuckles] Unofficially, but hopefully officially.
- I'm Amira, and these are my two dads.
- I'm the biological. - And I'm married to her mother.
- Ms. Lynn, dig on this.
My daughter is cream of the crop, okay?
And if you want her to pick your school,
you got to come correct.
We want cars, shoe endorsements, the works.
I'm talking about, like, Jesus Shuttlesworth
in "He Got Game."
- You do know it's illegal for colleges to do any of that.
- I know. I was just taking your temperature.
- Oh.
- I fucks with you.
- Oh, well.
Thank you, I think.
The presentation will begin shortly.
- I'm gonna go say hello to my friends.
- I don't think I ever saw Amira this excited.
- Well, it's a really good school.
But you know what?
Don't take anybody else's temperature while we're here.
- Come on, you know I like to play night nurse.
Look... - Hmm.
Pull that off your face. - Right in the butt.
- I know where it go--
actually, people don't do that anymore.
[thunder booms]
- Okay, I want to cancel this storage locker.
So everything has to go.
You either take it to the trash
or to that donation center a few blocks away from here.
- Can't I just set it on fire?
- You want to be Casanova and an arsonist?
Don't test me today, boy, please.
Get your little ass in there and do some work.
[creepy music]
♪ ♪
- Hello, future Hoyas!
- AI!
Patrick Ewing!
- Dad, shh!
- Georgetown admits a record number
of National Honor Society scholars,
many of whom are with us today.
Please stand when your name is called.
Melissa Anderson, Chloe Barnes, Madison Brey,
Hannah Fulson, Josh Nolan,
Noah Turner, Elizabeth Ward.
Let's congratulate all our NHS attendees.
- They skipped Birkeland.
- Stand up anyway.
- No, no, it's okay.
- No, you earned this. Stand up.
[applause]
- Um, excuse me.
Excuse me, you forgot to call my name--Amira Birkeland.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
Your name wasn't on my list,
but congratulations.
And now, for the student-led portion of our program,
please welcome Georgetown seniors
Zachary Feldlin and Andrea Gruber.
They'll answer your questions.
- You right here in the front.
- Is it mandatory to live in the dorms?
- It's not mandatory, but it's recommended for freshmen
just to help make you familiar with the campus,
meet new people.
Saw some other hands. - You.
- Oh, um, I was just wond--
- Oh, no, sorry, behind you.
- Me? - Yes.
- Is the food in the cafeteria any good?
- You see this shit?
Amira had her hand up way before this one did.
And they can't be disrespecting my baby girl like this.
She ain't got to go to Georgetown.
She could go to Bronx Community College,
right uptown. - Tray.
You have to calm down. - I know people there.
- Calm down, okay? It's a little bit odd.
You're right, but let's not make assumptions.
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- [sighs]
♪ ♪
Oh, Grandma and Grandpa, no way.
- [giggling]
[creepy music]
- Oh, sh--
- Thank you all for coming.
Hopefully we'll see you in the fall.
[indistinct chatter]
- Um, I'm gonna go say bye to my friends.
- Think Amira is having second thoughts
about going to this school.
- Yeah, I wouldn't blame her.
- You know, she ain't ask one question out of her book.
And she worked so hard on it.
I never went to college, but I do know
you supposed to be way more excited than that today.
both: We're all going to Georgetown!
[all scream]
[indistinct chatter]
- She looks pretty excited now.
[hip-hop music]
♪ ♪
- Amira liked the presentation, but I didn't, man.
They ain't call on her once,
and she had her hand raised the whole entire time.
- You know what that is? Them goddamn microaggressions.
That's exactly why I dropped out of ITT Tech.
- That's online, right? - Yep.
Cyber racism-- it's the worst kind, my nigga.
- What up, young bull? - What up, Jay?
Yo, Dad, check out what I found in Grandma's storage.
- I hope it ain't them little black dolls she used to keep.
- No, those are still there.
- I remember when I was little, man,
I felt like they was following me around
like a couple of little Black Chuckies.
- I know what you mean.
Look at this.
[laughs] - Look at that.
That's your grandmother, and that's your grandfather.
- I know. - That's my man.
- I know. Did you, uh--
did you know Grandma and Grandpa were in a band?
- A band? - Uh, yeah, they made a record.
- Wow! This looks legit, like the co-ed O'Jays.
- That football murderer guy? - No, the R&B group.
And, plus, OJ didn't do it.
If he did, they wouldn't have gave him a Twitter account.
Yo, Jaybird, come here.
Check out these pictures of my parents
that Shahzad found, man. - Oh, word?
- They look so young and vibrant, full of life.
- Yeah, this had to be before you was born,
'cause look at your mama with these pre-Tray titties.
I like that. - Give me my mom's pictures.
Don't be looking at my mom's titties, man.
Focus on her big, beautiful smile.
- I'm focused. - Let's listen to the album.
- Well, we did have a record player,
but one of the kids out of the art class
made it into a pottery wheel, so that's out.
- I can't believe that my mom didn't tell me about this, kid.
I knew my pops had dabbled in music 'cause he had a voice,
but I ain't know he took it this far.
[R&B music]
- I know they didn't feed you at that little seminar.
- [chuckles]
- So how did it go?
- Grandma, it was amazing.
And... - Uh-huh.
- I've decided I'm going to Georgetown.
- Mm.
But you didn't do the Hampton presentation yet.
- Yeah, but I don't even feel like it's worth going to.
I just--I know that Georgetown will be a better fit for me,
and I will know people.
I just feel like I can be myself there.
- Just because something is familiar don't mean it's right.
I'm just saying, I think you should give Hampton a chance.
That's all. That's all.
- Ma? - What?
- Look what Shahzad found in the storage.
- Yeah, this is so cool.
- I did not know you and my pops was in a group.
- Grandma, you look so good.
- I don't want to talk about it.
- What? Why?
Ma, you look so happy in this photo.
At least tell me who the third dude is.
- I said, "I don't wanna talk about it."
- You know what?
You act like this every time I wanna talk about my pops.
Now, I got a right to know who he is and what he's about.
- You're right, baby. Let me see the picture.
[soft music]
♪ ♪
I said I didn't want to talk about it.
I asked you to do one thing--
that was clean out my storage unit.
I didn't ask you to rifle through my life.
♪ ♪
- Hey, Miss Miller. - Hey.
- How was class today? - It was good except for--
somebody got to talk to Mr. Drayton
and tell that man to put on some damn undergarments.
- What, his hernia balls dripped out again?
I'll give him a talk. I bought this for you.
- Thank you.
So sweet.
- Miss Miller, can I talk to you for a minute?
- Sure! Mm-hmm.
- You my mom's best friend, right?
- Since seventh grade. - Wow, long time.
So why won't she tell me anything about my father
and this band that they had--100% Pure?
I tried to ask about it, and she shut me down.
She won't tell me nothing. - Yeah.
This album.
- What? You knew about it?
- You know, I bet your kids had a bunch of hard-ass questions
for you when you got out of prison.
- Yeah, but I told 'em everything.
I even took them to the graveyard
and showed them where they were conceived at.
- But you're a very different breed, Tray Barker.
You get that from your daddy. But my point is,
is that this is a part of your mother's past
that she obviously doesn't wanna share.
- Yeah, but I deserve to know anything about my father.
- Sure you do, but that part of her life was traumatic.
And you owe her the grace and space
to let her feel about it the way she gonna feel about it.
And when she ready to share, she'll tell you.
- Thank you, Miss Miller.
I get it.
- Mm, mm.
- Sorry.
I forgot my water.
[hip-hop music]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter on TV]
- Can I help you?
- I just wanna say, Ma, I'm giving you the grace
for all the trauma you've been through in your life.
You could tell me whatever you want when you ready.
- Well, I would like to say something.
- Anything, Ma.
- Get the hell out of my face! - That's good.
Let it out. Let it all out.
I'm here for you.
- Could you be here for me in another room?
'Cause I am trying to watch my show.
[cell phone vibrating]
Hello? - I'm here for you, Mommy.
Love from the other room.
[cell phone thuds]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
♪ ♪
- Man, it smell like sex between Erykah Badu
and André 3000 in here-- magical, unicorn!
- Hey, I know it's not Georgetown,
but give it a chance, okay?
Smile.
- Hey, I'm Malia!
- Oh. [laughs]
Amira, and my two dads.
- He's the biological. - She got papers on him.
- [laughs] Welcome. She has your eyes.
- Are you guys having peach cobbler
or something cinnamon-y for lunch?
It smells really good.
- Oh, no, girl, that's just me.
Well, us.
This is basically a shea butter convention,
but I heard that lunch is shrimp and grits.
- Mmm. Sounds delicious.
- These bags are the shit!
Y'all got everything in here a Black person needs
except for a VHS tape
of "Three the Hard Way" and some Funyuns.
- You know that welcome bag is hers.
But I can grab some extra for y'all from the back.
Just take a seat. We're about to get started.
- It's like academic Wakanda in here, man.
I ain't seen this many smart niggas
since Diddy did fucking Broadway.
- All right, everyone, let's take a seat.
Let's take a seat.
Good morning, everyone,
and welcome future Pirates of Hampton University!
[cheers and applause] Home by the sea!
all: Home by the sea! - All right, all right.
As I look at all you prospective students,
I think about how I was sitting here just like you.
I went to a prestigious private high school,
extremely competitive, and, frankly, not very diverse.
At times, I felt invisible.
But at Hampton, I feel seen, heard, challenged.
At HU, we learn from new voices,
not white guy after white guy after--
My bad.
No offense.
I'm sure you're a nice dude.
But keeping it 100, it just feels good
to be around folks who look like us!
- Yes. - Am I right?
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- Hey, excuse me, do you know
if the Goodfill donation center is this way?
- Yeah, it's about two blocks up on the right.
Can't miss it. - Thank you.
- Oh, wow. Is this a fondue set?
Very nice, so retro.
Got yourself a rare beaut here.
- I don't know what fondue is, but you like it?
- I could take it off your hands.
I've got a nice herbed Brie
I'd love to get this thing wrapped around.
- Um, no, I'm actually selling it.
- I thought you were donating it.
- Nah.
- Ooh!
Can I get a package deal on these historical figurines?
- No, no-- you like these way too much.
But, uh, let's talk numbers on that fondue set.
all: HU!
We are Hampton U!
[stomping rhythmically]
[crowd whooping]
HU!
U!
[whooping resumes]
The home by the sea!
[grunting]
HU.
[cheers and applause]
- What do fraternities do at white colleges?
- They drink, party, and they drink again.
[cheers and applause continue]
all: ♪ Facing the rising sun ♪
♪ Of our new day begun ♪
♪ Let us march on ♪ - Let's march on.
all: ♪ Till victory ♪
♪ Is won ♪
- Thank you all for coming, and see you all next year.
[applause]
- How did you know the song?
- Beyoncé, Coachella.
It's pretty emotional, isn't it?
- Did you know there was a Black national anthem?
- Yeah, but I thought it was "Fuck Tha Police."
What's up with those extra gift bags?
Hold on, excuse me.
Uh, 'Mira. Amira.
Ha ha, that was dope, right?
I'm getting really good vibes from Hampton.
I think it's a good school, and I think it'd be great for you.
- Well, I'm glad you liked it. It was definitely something.
But I think I'd rather go to Georgetown.
- Wait a minute.
Was we at two different presentations right there?
'Cause what I saw on that stage is more than just something.
And you still choose Georgetown?
- Yeah, I just--I think I'd do better there.
- Amira, come here.
You're like a kid genius.
I'm still in awe that you come from me.
Now, Shahzad, I know he mines.
But you gonna shine wherever you go.
So, baby girl, what's the real problem?
- I just--
I feel like I'm not gonna fit in at Hampton.
What if I'm not Black enough?
- You Black enough to fill any space you choose,
so don't you ever question yourself.
- I'm sorry, Dad, but my decision is not gonna change.
I just--I want to go to Georgetown
where I'll feel more comfortable.
- Was you comfortable being ignored
at that Georgetown presentation?
- No. No, of course, not.
- So you'll be more comfortable
being uncomfortable around white people
than you would be around Black people?
- Yes.
[hip-hop music]
♪ ♪
- What's going on? - It's Amira.
She don't think she Black enough to go to Hampton,
so she's choosing Georgetown.
- What? Wait.
Amira, why are you calling your Blackness
into question all of a sudden?
- Can you not be a white dad
in an HBCU hat asking me that right now?
- Touché, right?
- As promised...
Can I borrow her for a second?
- Sure.
- I saw you back there.
It's a little overwhelming, huh?
- You could tell?
- Girl, I didn't even know there was
a Black national anthem until my orientation day.
- Okay, thank you for saying that.
- Look, I know it's a lot,
but it's not meant to isolate you.
It's meant to reassure you.
- I was totally having an identity crisis.
- I get it, but sometimes what feels like a crisis
is actually the beginning of an awakening.
And I promise I'm not trying to get all T.D. Jakes on you.
I'm just saying it because I've been in your shoes.
It took me a while,
but the thing I learned the most at Hampton,
is that Blackness is so many things.
There isn't one way to be Black,
and you decide what that means for you.
Well, you and Black Twitter. [both chuckle]
- Thanks for talking to me. - Of course.
Look, college is hard. It pushes you.
It's uncomfortable no matter where you choose to go.
But I know at Hampton,
you wouldn't be alone because I would be your big sister.
- Wait, for real? You would do that for me?
- [chuckles] - Why?
- Because that's what we do. We look out for each other.
♪ ♪
- I wonder what she said to Amira that I didn't.
- Well, sometimes it's not what you say.
It's how you say it.
♪ ♪
[door opens, closes]
- Tray, come in here for a minute?
I want to talk about what happened the other day.
♪ ♪
I, uh...
- Ma...
I'm sorry for the way I came at you the other day.
I promise to do a better job of listening
and respecting your boundaries moving forward.
That's all I want to say.
- Well, I appreciate you saying this.
Sometimes it's just hard to get--
- And I've got something else for you.
Your granddaughter listened to your advice...
and she's going to Hampton.
- What? Really?
Wow!
Well, that's wonderful news!
You know, I used to fantasize about you going to an HBCU.
- I would've went to Hampton and got everybody pregnant.
You know I got to spread this Black excellence, Ma.
- If you don't stop-- you are delusional.
[both laugh]
Well...
I just want to say, um...
I apologize for my reaction.
When your father got back from Vietnam,
he was dead set on pursuing this music career.
He wanted to be the next Berry Gordy,
and then had the nerve to talk me into it.
[both chuckle]
So I took all our savings
and put it in this record,
and we had a good time doing it.
- Wow. - [laughs]
- I can tell by looking at these pictures.
And you look good, Mommy.
- Thank you.
And Jimmy was sexy.
I mean, I'd never seen a man turn so many heads
with a powder-blue tuxedo and a ruffled shirt.
- And that big-ass bow tie. - That's true.
[both laughing]
Oh, gosh.
Well, the record bombed...
and, uh, we lost all our money.
We had to go on welfare for a little while,
which is no shame, but it broke him.
He could not accept the fact that he couldn't provide,
and that broke my heart.
- I just want to say to you, Mommy,
me and your grandkids
thank you for everything you did for us.
Ma, can I ask you a question? - Yeah.
- Who is this third dude?
- Oh, let sleeping dogs lie.
[laughing]
[upbeat R&B music playing]
- ♪ One by one ♪
♪ Save each other ♪
♪ ♪
♪ One by one ♪
[person vocalizing]
♪ ♪
♪ And we can ri-i-i-i-de ♪
[vocalizing]
♪ ♪
♪ One by one ♪