I was told by someone years ago who traveled to Europe extensively that if I wanted to see racism, go to Europe.
No. Go to Japan.
Naw
Watch “Paris Blues” with Sidney Poiter and Paul Newman.
Very different attitudes at that time.
Eddie Cook:
Look. Here, nobody says, “Eddie Cook, negro musician.” They say, “Eddie Cook, musician,” period. And that’s all I want to be.
Connie Lampson:
And that’s what you are here.
Eddie Cook:
That’s what I am here. Musician, period. And I don’t have to prove anything else.
Connie Lampson:
Like what?
Eddie Cook:
Like: Because I’m negro I’m different. Because I’m negro I’m not different. I’m different. I’m not different. Who cares? Look, I don’t have to prove either case. Can you understand that?
Connie Lampson:
There isn’t a place on the face of the Earth that isn’t hell for somebody. Some race, some color, some sex.
Eddie Cook:
For me, Paris is just fine.