Hosea Williams Tour of Atlanta script
Posted by live apt fire on January 7, 2009
“all right ladies”
#1 104
He emerges from an office on Peachtree Street, a sometime politican, and perennial local legend.
“we gotta get over– OK, lovely”
#1 150
But this was a new hat for Hosea Williams — minister by faith, professional chemist by trade, civil rights agitator, and advocate for the hungry and homeless.
“go ahead and take a right”
#3 234
It is Williams as tour guide, leading us through the streets of his adopted home town.
“Auburn Avenue. probably the most celebrated black economic area, other than Harlem, in America.”
#1 450
And the Hosea Williams tour is more than a drive through Atlanta. It is a look in the mirror. At — who else?
“so this was like paradise to me. I was one of the playboys. I would get sharp as a tack. Coz I was supposed to be real good looking with slicked hair back in those days.”
#1 720
“and i would come to auburn avenue.
#1 705
“it’s loaded with beautiful women.”
#1 630
“you were scopin’ babes the whole time / oh yes sir”
#1 805
“the most beautiful women “
#1 900
“and they got the prettiest women in the world / laff”
#1 920
If Williams sounds a little single minded, well perhaps he’s earned it.
((nat sound from 1987 march, file 87-109, 3430))
He’s made a career of leading high-profile and often ill-fated protests. From Forsyth County Georgia to Selma Alabama.
“been in jail 133 times. bled in 20 states.”
((#2 602 under file video from selma, file A03, 0030))
(nat sound door slam) “where you want to go now? / I want to go to Hunter Street.”
#3 550
Now at age 73, Williams is retired from politics, more or less.
“you do any driving any more / oh yeah. not right now.”
#3 400
He also says he’s quit driving, at least temporarily. The result of a license suspension that followed more than his share of traffic tickets.
“did you ever see that story where they followed you around driving? / i think i did.”
#3 420
“i got to the stop sign and turned right. there wasn’t no traffic coming:”
#3 440
“commissioner williams, at the wheel, running this stop sign…”
file 93-230 25:00
“they talked about how i ran over stop signs and ….”
#3 420
“did you know i was one of the first black race car drivers in the nation?”
#3 433
“hey baby! hey sweetie!”
#2 110
“she’s really crazy about me.”
#2 300
“hi baby baby baby baby baby”
#2 130
even across town from his own neighborhood…
“these are middle class Negroes.”
#2 430
…the territory is home turf to Hosea Williams.
“this is the first nightclub they integrated in the Southland.”
#2 610
“and i bet you were there / oh i was there”
#2 620
“Atlanta was known for having some of the most beautiful black women in the world.”
#2 700
“now on that corner? that was jacob’s drug store. that was one of the popular places where all the pretty girls hung out”
#2 1100
“what was reverend williams like as a young man? / he was fast”
#2 945
“and all the young ladies would walk in and give him a kiss. / ha ha”
#2 955
“just give me a little kiss on the jaw / mmm hm / god bless you”
#2 1009
“hey hosea! / hosea is old and ugly. I am young and handsome.”
#2 1200
“i was telling him the one thing that brought me to atlanta / what was that / atlanta had the most beautiful women in the world.”
#2 1220
“i’m the most popular dude that ever lived in the city. Let’s get out in the street. Take me to Buckhead!”
#3 720
And for williams, it all started a half century ago
“should i go left here? go left here”
#3 550
…with what he cheerfully admits were some less-than-righteous pastimes.
“poker, dice, i mean some of the biggest games i’ve been in in my life / and you were good at it? / oh yes. i was a pro.”
#3 805
“so you were a friend to all the racketeers / all the racketeers. you know i was popular and good looking and dressed well.”
#1 1300
“i sang and i danced. i was a professional dancer at one time.”
#1 1505
“well we used to do the– you know, that was the boogie back in those days. and the other one was the chigger toe.”
#1 1600
“i was good”
#1 1615
“that’s the way i got the attention of them girls”
#1 1620
((nat sound door open #1 1700))
Such a career. And all of it makes perfect sense through the tour-guiding eyes of the reverend hosea williams.
“you were a race car driver once? a race car driver, yes.”
#3 1750
“i’m uncontrollable. but i’m happy. and that’s what life is all about.”
#3 1330
