Zoey: Historically, American colleges and universities
have been hotbeds of social change
and grassroots political movements.
In recent years, college students
challenged the status quo more than ever,
protesting everything from student loan debt
to sexual assault to police brutality.
And for Aaron, who waited his entire college career
to lead his own political movement...
This one's "Black Lives Matter," I got "I Can't Breathe,"
"Michelle 2020."
...the time had finally come.
Turn around, put your hands behind your back.
He recently learned about Cal U's investment
of the school's endowment in private prisons
and was arrested while protesting on campus.
♪ Back to sinnin' like a week later ♪
[ Cellphone chimes ]
♪ Oh, oh, oh, mm, mm, mm, mm ♪
♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm ♪
[ Cheering ]
What up? What up?
Babe, you're home. Hey.
I was so worried about you.
Bro, I was just about to put some money
on your books, man.
Man, will you stop?
They just held me in campus security for a few hours.
Did you see how much your arrest video blew up?
#RattailRevolution is trending hard.
I'm sure it will all calm down by tomorrow.
No, it won't. Because Angela Rye just DM'd me an hour ago.
She wants to interview you.
Man: Hey, G.
So now that Aaron finally had the political spotlight,
the question became, what was he gonna do with his platform?
♪ Watch out, world, I'm grown now ♪
♪ I'm grown ♪
♪ Learn something new every day ♪
♪ I don't know, so I'm-a feel my way ♪
♪ Got the weight of the world on me ♪
♪ But no regrets, this is what I say ♪
♪ Watch out, world, I'm grown now ♪
♪ I'm grown ♪ ♪ You can tell me ♪
♪ My heart beating so loud ♪
♪ Mama, look, I'm grown now ♪
♪ I'm grown ♪
While Aaron spent the next few days
gearing up for his national interview,
I was winding down and enjoyig a couple of free days
before I had to return
to the whirlwind of "Hurricane Joey Bada$$."
Hey. Hey!
Are you coming to Hawkins to watch Aaron's interview?
Oh, no.
I figured I'd watch it here.
Cool. See ya. Hmm.
Oh, you know, it's just that we had that weird situation
where I embarrassed myself by telling him how I felt,
and then he embarrassed himself
by telling me he had a girl.
The whole thing was terribly, equally embarrassing.
Sounds right.
You embarrass yourself all the time.
Mm-hmm.
W-- It's just that I feel like
it may be best if I stay here.
I don't want to be in Hawkins,
sitting there all awkward.
But this is a huge deal for Aaron.
I'm sure he could use his friends' support.
It's not like you were there for him when he needed a job.
But in your defense, you were, uh,
prepping for that big photo shoot...
that you didn't even go to.
Damn, being nice is so hard.
Rodney's been giving her some feedback
on her bedside manner,
and now she's working on being more human for him.
Apparently, he didn't like it
when he said "I love you" and I said "bet."
Look, Doug and I are on weird terms right now, too,
but I'm gonna put my big girl panties on,
go to Hawkins anyway, and you should, too.
Okay? Bye!
♪
I cannot believe Aaron
is doing a televised political interview
before I ever do one.
I cannot believe that we're actually here,
supporting this guy. Wha--
I mean, I support the cause.
I just -- The dude was kind of a dick to you
when we met with him about the auditorium.
Republican pep rally inside the auditorium.
Uh, we'll just have to make sure that our sprinklers
are high-functioning for all those tiki torches.
Oh. Well, t-that's just our dynamic.
You know, it's -- it's a -- it's complicated.
But, no, I promise you'll like him once you get to know him,
or at least find him mildly tolerable.
Reassuring.
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Came from the mud with a pack and a strap and a gang full of thugs ♪
Jazz: How they treated Aaron was so foul.
They just didn't want to hear a Black man
challenge their racist-ass investment policies.
They never would have treated a White student like that.
Mm. The cops caught our mom's one White friend, Nancy,
starting a garbage fire once, and all they did was tase her.
[ Scoffs ] And on the lightest setting.
White Nancy got hit harder
by the laser from her hair removal.
Okay, wait.
You guys, this is perfect for the documentary.
Can you just repeat some of the stuff you just said?
Sure! We think this is an unfortunate disagreement
between the administration and the students.
We understand that the BSU has filed paperwork
requesting that the administration divest.
We hope they can reach a quick resolution.
Uh, okay.
Can we just maybe try and dig in a little deeper?
So as Black students, do you have any personal feelings
about your friend Aaron being involved in the conflict?
I'm quite sure all Cal U students
hope this matter gets resolved swiftly.
We sure do.
Okay.
So, I decided to set aside my ego
and join everyone.
Watching alone while picking off my nail polish
could have never compared
to this communal display of support.
Guys, it's time.
[ All cheering ]
Vivek: Hey, hey, hey!
Everybody shut up so we can hear my best friend.
We go way back.
Welcome back to "Pressure Points."
I'm Angela Rye.
And joining me today is Aaron Jackson,
a student from California University
who was recently detained after protesting
his school's investments into private prisons.
Tell us about the events
leading up to your detainment.
No problem.
Uh, well, I've recently made the disturbing discovery
that a portion of Cal U's endowment
was being invested in private prisons,
which is particularly disturbing to students of color,
considering the disproportionate incarceration rate
of minorities in this country.
And as you know, Angela,
Black people make up 35% of the prison population,
yet only 13.2% of the national population.
So, essentially, Cal U is using our tuition dollars
to enable the mass incarceration
of our Black brothers and sisters.
Woman: Nice. [ All cheering ]
My man! My man!
On his Marcus Garvey!
I'm actually planning a huge demonstration as we speak.
We're gonna protest not only the school's investment policies,
but all other injustices.
I'm talking about predatory student loan debt,
as well as the lack of resources for Black mental health
and Cal U's eradication of the black boards
in favor of their "white boards only" policy.
♪
Woman: Huh?
Wait. Is that a real thing?
Oh, yeah. I don't think anything
gets realer than that, Angie-Ange.
I thought he had moved past
the whole white board thing.
I mean, you can't hit them all out the park, right? Yeah.
As we continued watching,
Aaron went from being polished and prepared
to being neither.
And why isn't anyone talking about
the food deserts in these inner cities?
Happy birthday, Grandma! She's a retired teacher.
Speaking of which, are we gonna talk about
the state of public education in this country?
Is anyone gonna do it?
Nope? Well, I just did.
"Pressure Points."
If you ask me, I-I-I think that there's a --
Well, honestly, I didn't.
And, unfortunately, we are now out of time.
Are you sure? So -- Yeah. I'm positive.
Thank you so much for joining us today.
Um, when we come back, we'll be talking to a mother.. I mean, Aaron and I are cool, but Doug and I are best friends.
We -- We are not. ...who thinks her 4-year-old s not too young to wear makeup.
4 is definitely too young.
♪
Even though he'd always pictured his first big moment
as an activist in the spotlight differently,
a small part of Aaron held out hope
that no one else thought he performed as poorly as,
deep down, he knew he did.
Hey, yeah! Alright, man! Yeah! My boy!
These were the faces of a bunch of people
about to lie to their friend.
Whoo! Dude, that was, uh, sick!
Yo, my G! You bodied it.
Really? You guys think I did okay?
Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sick.
Your diction was excellent.
Posture was next level.
I unfollowed you.
I think I could use a drink.
Okay, it doesn't matter
how awkward things are between Aaron and I,
because right now, he needs a friend.
And you know what a friend would do?
Go over there, smile, and focus on the good.
And that is exactly what I'm gonna do.
Hey. Don't listen to any of the noise, babe.
It was only your first time. Alright?
You're only gonna get better.
Thanks.
♪
You know what?
I can congratulate him some other time.
Jillian: Okay. So, we should figure out
when Aaron's demonstration is
so I can get some footage of you two there.
Oh, we're not going to that.
But [chuckles] don't you want to go and show your support?
I mean, obviously, you two have very specific opinions
about the issue.
And we also have very specific goals,
like keeping our scholarships,
which we are not gonna risk
by demonstrating against the administration.
But you have such great platforms
that you could possibly use to effect change.
We didn't sign up to effect change.
We signed up to be athletes.
Yeah. We're not activists.
But you could be.
I mean, look at Billie Jean King or Muhammad Ali.
Their legacies go beyond sports.
Do you want to go down in history
as two women that ran fast
or two women that ran fast
and used their platform to make a difference?
♪
Javi: So, you really shit the bed earlier, huh?
[ Chuckles ]
Okay, you got that one off.
Yep.
Here.
Wow.
You might be the only right-wing
Republican Christian weed smoker I know.
Even believe in climate change.
Don't tell Ana. [ Chuckles ]
Seriously, you raised some good points
in that interview, man.
You were just all over the place.
Yeah, I guess I panicked a little bit.
I just wanted to get the message out about all the issues
I've worked so hard on over the years,
cover as much as possible, you know?
I do know.
Actually, I used to be the same way.
I used to try to tackle everything.
I didn't start getting results
till I learned to focus my message.
How'd you do that?
I worked backwards.
I thought about the outcome I wanted.
Then I realized you can't just complain.
You have to have solutions.
Then the message comes easily.
There you are.
Smoking with Aaron, 'cause why wouldn't you be?
[ Groans ]
Alright, man. Handle that.
Good luck out there. Yep.
Zoey: What has happened to our world?
I can't even speak to Aaron on his big day.
Everything just feels so weird.
I know. It was really strange
being in the same place as Doug
and not getting to laugh or joke with him.
Yeah.
Guess this is our new normal?
Yeah. Ana: [ Unenthused ] Hey.
Hey. What's wrong?
Church was closed?
No. [ Snorts ]
It's just a little Aaron/Javi thing
I'm trying to figure out.
And I want to be sensitive
to what Zoey's going through with Aaron.
Oh, be as insensitive as you want,
because there is nothing happening
between me and Aaron.
We are completely friend-zoned.
So are we.
And it seems like Aaron and Javi are friend-zoned, too,
and I'm wondering if I have to tell Javi
about the intersection of our, you know, zones.
You mean like how Aaron used to be all up in them guts?
Ooh, wow!
I'm actually gonna tap out of this conversation.
I appreciate your sensitivity, though.
Sky...not yours.
Okay, guys, seriously, does he deserve to know?
Yes! Unless you want him looking stupid
out here in these streets.
If you were interacting with some girl that he messed with,
wouldn't you want to know?
Absolutely. Okay.
That is because Ana is a crazy stalker, okay?
We are talking about Javi here.
Most guys would rather stay in the dark
when it comes to who has blown their girl's back out. Hmm.
What is that sweet-faced Rodney doing to you?
Excuse you?
That's personal.
♪
The next morning, I was gettig ready to go shop for Joey
and feeling more at peace
with the new normal between me and Aaron.
Whoa!
Sorry.
Zoey, I need you.
♪
So, what can I do you for?
Zoey, come on.
You don't have to be a weirdo around me, okay?
And by the way, I saw you leave
without speaking to me yesterday.
Was I that bad? No. G--
No, no, not at all.
It's just, like, you were obviously upset,
and I didn't feel like it was my place to check on you.
Checking on me isn't your place?
Are we not cool?
Of course we are.
Uh, matter of fact, why don't you come in?
Please come in.
So, how are you doing with everything?
And not just the interview,
but the arrest, all that? Yeah.
Uh, well, if I'm being honest,
it was a little rough.
I'm so sorry that happened to you. Yeah.
But, look, I-I can't afford to focus on that right now.
Right now I need to funnel my anger into the cause.
And that's where you come in.
Okay. Yes.
So, do you remember the conversation that we had
about fashion for a purpose
when you were trying to figure out your major?
Mm. You mean the one where you made fun of me
for saying fashion isn't political?
Correct. But then you started talking
about the Suffragettes, the Black Panthers,
and how fashion unified their movement.
And I feel like that's what I need right now.
I need something that people can wear that --
that unifies them, but also sends a clear message.
Wow. God, I love that.
You know I'm your girl!
I mean, you know, not your girl girl,
'cause, obviously, you have a girl.
She's really great. Uh, whatever. Never mind.
Uh, I am -- I'm so in.
Thanks.
♪ Baby, let me be your waitress ♪
♪ I'm about to serve it up ♪
♪ They be handin' me the blank checks ♪
♪ I be gettin' what I want ♪
♪ Like you more if you say less ♪
♪ You can't tell me nothin' ♪
♪ Ooh, I wanna see you shake it ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
♪ You got it right there ♪
Alright, so, I'll just pick everything up
and bring it to Hawkins.
Dope. Thanks again, Freshman.
Oh, I thought you weren't calling me that anymore.
Yeah, well, uh, "Dropout" seemed a little sad, so...
Oh. [ Chuckling ] Wow! Yeah.
[ Gasps ]
[ TV playing indistinctly ]
[ Cellphone vibrating, ringing ]
Hey!
Sorry for the late call.
I just had a quick spark of inspiration
I kind of want to run by you.
Listening.
Okay. So, what do you think
about adding an accessory to the protest --
something that people can take with them and wear every day,
just like, uh, those LIVESTRONG bracelets?
I love it.
Oh, dope!
I actually got the idea
watching "Real Housewives of Potomac."
Did you know that one of the housewives
actually wears a bracelet every day
to raise awareness for her daughter's color blindness?
She's so brave.
You still watch that trash?
Um, you're the one who put me onto that trash
in the first place.
You're right, you're right.
Hey, babe, it's getting kind of late.
I'm gonna go to bed.
Okay. I'll be there in a minute.
Hey, I should get going.
Um... Uh, yeah.
No, I'm so sorry. It is late.
Uh, viva la Rattail Revolution.
Okay, bye. Bye, bye, bye.
♪
[ Sighs ]
Attention, California University administration
and board of directors.
We, the students of Cal U, demand to have a say
in your investment of our tuition dollars
in the private prison system.
A system that profits
off the mass incarceration of people of color.
So we will sit here in silence
until you allow us to have an open dialogue
and give us a seat at the table.
♪ Uh ♪
♪ Can't change the world 'less we change ourselves ♪
♪ Die from the sicknesses if we don't seek the health ♪
♪ All eyes be my witness when I speak what's felt ♪
♪ Full house on my hands, the cards I was dealt ♪
♪ Three K's, Two A's in AmeriKKKa ♪
♪ I'm just a black spade spawn out the nebula ♪
♪ And everything I do or say today that's worthwhile ♪
♪ Will for sure inspire action in your first child ♪
♪ I'll begin my verse ♪
♪ In the land of the free, is for the free loaders ♪
♪ Leave us dead in the street, then be their organ donors ♪
♪ They disorganized my people, made us all loners ♪
♪ Still got the last names of our slave owners ♪
♪ In the land of the free, it's for the free loaders ♪
♪ Leave us dead in the street, then be their organ donors ♪
♪ They disorganized my people, made us all loners ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
I just want to thank all of you for your support.
Uh, it's because of you guys
that we now have an invitation to the next board meeting!
Yeah! [ Cheers and applause ]
Whoo! Yo!
Whoo!
Hey! What's up, man?
Congratulations, bro. Thank you.
And I appreciate all your help for real. I do.
You're welcome.
We used to have sex!
Whoa!
What is wrong with you?
I'm sorry.
[ Exhales sharply ] [ Clears throat ]
I saw you guys getting all bro-y,
and I was worried he was gonna say something,
and I-I just didn't want you to find out that way.
So you thought this was best way? [ Chuckles ]
You know what?
I'm gonna let you two lovebirds process this.
Excuse me.
♪
Well, that was crazy.
I'm sorry. [ Chuckles ]
I thought you deserved to know, and I panicked.
It's okay. I already knew.
You did? He did tell you?
No. I picked up on it
the moment you said it was complicated.
Have things ever been complicated
between two people who haven't smashed?
Maybe next time, pull me aside?
Shoot me a text?
Okay.
Yeah? Mm-hmm.
[ Both laugh ]
Um, hey. How amazing was today? Hey!
You should be so proud of yourself.
Yeah. Hey, and I'm proud of you, too, you know?
We would have been nothing without your jumpsuits.
They killed it.
Well, I'm happy that I could actually come through for you.
Although, don't get used to it,
'cause it probably will never happen again.
Oh, I know. I figured that.
[ Both laugh ]
I'm gonna grab a drink. Do you want something?
Uh, no. Actually, I'm good.
But, again, this was incredible,
and congratulations.
♪
Alright, explosion.
[ Both chuckle ]
I'm gonna grab that drink.
Yes. Go.
So big deal, Aaron has a girlfriend.
Even if our dynamic changes,
I know that we'll always make a good team
and that I'll always have a place in his life.
Hey, Zoey. Hey.
You got a sec?
Uh, yeah, of course. What's up?
You and Aaron really killed it today.
Aww! Especially your jumpsuits.
Thank you. Today was amazing.
Yeah. And, like, I mean, he was amazing.
Yeah. [ Chuckles ]
Um, look, I got to ask you a small favor.
Anything. I just don't help people move,
nor do I do drives to the airport.
I-I need you to take a couple steps back from Aaron.
From here?
No. Um, in -- in life.
I know you guys have a history,
and, um, you obviously have a bond,
but please put yourself in my shoes.
And I'm -- I'm not asking for you guys to not be friends.
I'm just asking that you please give us a chance
to form our own bond
without any old feelings coming between us.
Of course.
I-I-I totally get it.
Thanks. Mm-hmm.
♪ Sooner or later, every boy's gotta grow outta this phase ♪
Zoey: As I stood in the middle of all those orange jumpsuits,
I realized something.
Aaron ultimately learned
that sometimes silence says everything.
And I learned that even though
you may know something deep down inside,
sometimes you need to hear it said
out loud. ♪ At least that's what I'm telling myself ♪
Happy birthday, Grandma. She's a retired teacher.
Speaking of which...
Aww! My baby wished me a happy birthday!
[ Giggles ] Of course I did, Gam Gam.
Well, I just did.
Now, if you want to talk recidivism,
we can talk recidivism.
Have you ever tried playing basketball
with no basketball nets? Mm.
It's impossible.
How do you know if you made it or not?
And why isn't anyone talking
about the food deserts in these inner cities?
If you ask me, I think that there's a --
Look, Aaron, I didn't. We are now out of time.
Are you sure? So -- yeah, I'm positive.
Thank you so much for joining us today.
Um, when we come back, we'll be talking to a mother.. You need to keep my name out your mouth.
But, Gam Gam... ...who thinks her 4-year-old is not too young
...I'm sorry! ...to wear makeup.
4 is definitely too young.
I'm still your favorite grandson, right?
Grandma?!