American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"O' Brother, Where Art Thou?" (2000)

Homer Stokes vs. 'The Soggy Bottom Boys'

Audio mp3 delivered by Wayne Duvall

Stokes: Gimme the microphone. Gimme the microphone. These boys is not white. These boys is not white. Hell, they ain't even old-timey. 

  Look, I happen to know, ladies and gentlemen, that this band of miscreants here, this very evening, interfered with a lynch mob in the performance of its duty. Well, it's true. See, I belong to a certain secret society -- I don't believe I gotta mention it's name -- and these boys, here, they trampled all over our venerated observances and rituals.

Now, this here music is over, alright? 

Listen to me, these boys desecrated a fiery cross. And this ...fugitives escaped off the farm. Now, folks, these boys gotta be remanded to the authorities. Criminals.

And, I have it from the highest authority that that negra sold his soul to the devil.

[audience expresses disapproval]

Wait, wait a minute folks. It's true. It's true. Now, wait a minute, folks. Is you is or is you ain't my constituency? Is you is or is you ain't my constituency? Is you is or -- [plug pulled]