THE BUTLER - THE SIT-IN SCENE - AT THE RESTAURANT

AT THE RESTAURANT

The second part of the scene takes place in a segregated restaurant. A group of students, both black and white are sitting at the counter.  At that time, restaurants in the south  were segregated .  Blacks were not allowed to sit at the counter. The students are taking part in a sit-in  so they are breaking the law in a peaceful way. They say they would like to be served but they are sitting in a section reserved to white people.  The white customers are shocked; they can’t believe what’s happening.  The waitress refuses to serve them. They stay for hours without moving. Then a small group of angry white men come in and attack the protesters violently.   They insult them, they punch and kick them, they throw food in their faces... But the black students still don’t react (they are poker face) . They never break down. Finally they are arrested but they don’t resist arrest.   We can consider that they win even though they are arrested: they are courageous,  the white men are cowards. SO THE BLACKS STUDENTS BECOME MORE POWERFUL THAN THE WHITES  BECAUSE THEIR CAUSE IS RIGHT AND THEY FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY -  THEY HAVE TO FIGHT TO GAIN POWER -