Overview

From Ernest J. Gaines, author of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," comes a deceptively simple, yet emotionally complex tale of a young boy's discovery of what it's like to be black in Louisiana during the 1940's. James, the boy in question, has a raging toothache that necessitates a trip to the dentist. His mother (played by Emmy-winner Olivia Cole), accompanies James to town on an eye-opening odyssey where the boy gains valuable insights into poverty, racism - and his own sense of pride. With an exciting musical score by Webster Lewis, this multi-award winning film explores a child's discovery that the world is a complicated place... where things are never truly black or white... only shades of gray.

Genres

Cast

Olivia Cole

Octavia

Margaret Avery

Rosemary

Cleavon Little

Monsieur Bayonne

Clinton Derricks-Carroll

Student

Hal Williams

Preacher

Beverly Johnson

John Lee's Mother

Macon McCalman

Ernest

Henry Fonda

Self - Series Host (uncredited)