American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"Glory" (1989)

Men of the 54th Regiment Gather for Prayer Meeting on the Eve of the Battle of Fort Wagner

Audio mp3 delivered by Jihmi Kennedy, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington

 Private Jupiter Sharts: Tomorrow, we go into battle. So Lordy, let me fight with the rifle in one hand and Good Book in the other. That if I should die at the muzzle of the rifle, die on water or on land, I may know that You, Blessed Jesus Almighty, are with me. And I have no fear. Amen.

  Sergeant Major John Rawlins: Lord, we stand before you this evenin' to say thank you. We thank you, Father, for your grace and your many blessins'. Now, I run off and left all my youngins and my kinfolk in bondage. So I'm standin' here this evenin', Heavenly Father, to ask your blessin! On all of us! So that if tomorrow is our great gettin' up mornin', if tomorrow we have to meet the Judgment Day, our Heavenly Father we want you to let our folks know that we died facin' the enemy. We want 'em to know that we went down standin' up, amongst those that are fightin' against our oppression. We want 'em to know, Heavenly Father, that we died for freedom. We ask these blessins' in Jesus name. Amen. Amen! Amen!

[to Private Trip]:  Trip! Come on!

Private Trip:  No, I ain’t --

Sergeant Major John Rawlins: Come on, come on. You better get your butt up there, boy.  Just say what you think.  Just say what you feel.  Go on. Go on now.  Go on.  Let it out.

 

Private Trip: I ain't much about no prayin' now. I ain't never had no family and...killed off my mama...   I feel funny...

 

Sergeant Major. John Rawlins: C'mon, now.   You doin' fine.

	Private Trip: Well, I just... Ya'lls...is the onliest family I got. And I love the 54th.

Private Trip: Ain't much a matter what happen tomorrow. 'Cause we men, ain't we. We men, ain't we....