Dave Davies

So the teenager – well, the young man who is at the heart of our story, Elwood, isn't a kid who has come from an abusive home. Do you want to just talk about this character and why he's the kind of kid you wanted to take us into this school?

And we should just note this. He's in Tallahassee, Florida, in the Jim Crow South in this late 50s, early 60s, right?

And we should just note this. He's in Tallahassee, Florida, in the Jim Crow South in this late 50s, early 60s, right?

And we should just note this. He's in Tallahassee, Florida, in the Jim Crow South in this late 50s, early 60s, right?

So what happened when you were pulled over in handcuffs? What happened?

So what happened when you were pulled over in handcuffs? What happened?

So what happened when you were pulled over in handcuffs? What happened?

Right, right. Or you could be misidentified by somebody.

Right, right. Or you could be misidentified by somebody.

Right, right. Or you could be misidentified by somebody.

Elwood is in high school in the early 60s when the civil rights movement is really rolling and he has a teacher, Mr. Hill, who's interested in this and kind of committed to the battle for civil rights. There was a very compelling moment when you described the first day of school when the kids in this segregated school get their textbooks. Do you want to share that with us?

Elwood is in high school in the early 60s when the civil rights movement is really rolling and he has a teacher, Mr. Hill, who's interested in this and kind of committed to the battle for civil rights. There was a very compelling moment when you described the first day of school when the kids in this segregated school get their textbooks. Do you want to share that with us?

Elwood is in high school in the early 60s when the civil rights movement is really rolling and he has a teacher, Mr. Hill, who's interested in this and kind of committed to the battle for civil rights. There was a very compelling moment when you described the first day of school when the kids in this segregated school get their textbooks. Do you want to share that with us?

So Elwood, he is committed to the principles of the civil rights movement and looks forward to participating. What's his attitude towards – You know, the life ahead of him where he's got to deal with segregation and deal with a white power structure and limited opportunities. How does he conduct himself?

So Elwood, he is committed to the principles of the civil rights movement and looks forward to participating. What's his attitude towards – You know, the life ahead of him where he's got to deal with segregation and deal with a white power structure and limited opportunities. How does he conduct himself?

So Elwood, he is committed to the principles of the civil rights movement and looks forward to participating. What's his attitude towards – You know, the life ahead of him where he's got to deal with segregation and deal with a white power structure and limited opportunities. How does he conduct himself?

So Elmwood, this optimistic young man, ends up in this reform school because he hitches a ride with a guy who happens to have stolen a car. He gets convicted of car theft and he's in this place. How do his values mesh with the experience that confronts him?

So Elmwood, this optimistic young man, ends up in this reform school because he hitches a ride with a guy who happens to have stolen a car. He gets convicted of car theft and he's in this place. How do his values mesh with the experience that confronts him?

So Elmwood, this optimistic young man, ends up in this reform school because he hitches a ride with a guy who happens to have stolen a car. He gets convicted of car theft and he's in this place. How do his values mesh with the experience that confronts him?

You know, I thought we would listen to a piece of tape from an NPR report. This is from 2012, a reporter named Greg Allen. And it's based on his conversation with a guy who survived Dozier named Jerry Cooper and what happened when he had committed some offense and was taken to the White House for some discipline. Let's listen.