A Soldier's Story (1984)

Adolph Caesar: Sergeant Waters

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Quotes 

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : You know the damage one ignorant Negro can do? We were in France in the first war; we'd won decorations. But the white boys had told all them French gals that we had tails. Then they found this ignorant colored soldier, paid him to tie a tail to his ass and run around half-naked, making monkey sounds. Put him on the big round table in the Cafe Napoleon, put a reed in his hand, crown on his head, blanket on his shoulders, and made him eat *bananas* in front of all them Frenchies. Oh, how the white boys danced that night... passed out leaflets with that boy's picture on it. Called him Moonshine, King of the Monkeys. And when we slit his throat, you know that fool asked us what he had done wrong?

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : Them Nazis ain't all crazy. Whole lot of people just can't seem to fit in to where things seem to be going. Like you, CJ. See, the Black race can't afford you no more. There used to be a time, we'd see someone like you singin', clownin', yassuh-bossin'... and we wouldn't do anything. Folks liked that. You were good. Homey kind of nigger. When they needed somebody to mistreat, call a name or two, they paraded you. Reminded them of the good old days. Not no more. The day of the Geechee is gone, boy. And you're going with it.

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : And if it wasn't for you Southern niggers, white folks wouldn't think we was all fools.

  Private First Class Peterson : Well, where are you from? England?

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : They still... hate you! THEY STILL HATE YOU!

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : You're a noncommissioned officer in the Army of a country at war. The penalty for being drunk on duty is severe. So don't bring me no: "Us colored folks can't do nothin' unless they're drunk" shit as an excuse. You're supposed to be an example to your men.

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : You're in the Army. Colored folks always talkin' about what they'll do if the white man give 'em a chance. You get it, and what do you do with it? You wind up drunk on guard duty. I don't blame the white man. Why the hell should he put colored and white together? You can't even guard your own quarters.

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : We're men. Soldiers. And I don't intend for our race to be cheated of its place of honor and respect in this war because of fools like C.J.

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : Army's not for my son. See, when this war is over, things are gonna change. I want him to be ready for it. I'll send him to some big white college. Let him rub elbows with the whites. Learn the white man's language, how he does things.

  Sergeant Washington : White don't rub off.

  Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : Well, what are we gonna do? Stay behind in everything? Hell, you can see it in the Army. The white man's running rings around us.

  Private Wilkie : Lot of us ain't had the chance them white boys had, Sarge.

  Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : That ain't no excuse.

• Private First Class Peterson : You ain't got to come in here calling us names.

  Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : The Nazis call you "Schwarze". You gonna complain to Hitler that he hurt your little feelings?

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : Got everybody on the post thinking he's a strong, black buck. White boys envy his strength. His speed. Power in his swing. Then this colored champion lets those same white boys call him "Shine" or "Sambo" and he just smiles. Can't talk. Can barely read or write his own name and don't care. He'll tell you they like him or that colored folks ain't supposed to have but so much sense.

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : My daddy told me, we got to turn our backs on his kind. Close our ranks to the chitlins, collard greens, cornbread style. We are men, soldiers. I don't intend for our race to be cheated out of its place of honor and respect in this war because of fools like CJ.

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : You're just like the rest of them, Wilkie: ignorant, scared. Stop thinking like a nigger!

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : Let me tell all you fancy-assed ballplayin' negroes something. The reasons for any orders given by a superior officer is none of you-all's business. You obey them. This country is at war. And you niggers are soldiers, nothin' else.

• Private First Class Peterson : What kind of colored man are you?

  Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : I'm a soldier, Peterson. And the kind of colored man that don't like lazy, shiftless negroes.