A Soldier's Story (1984)

Art Evans: Private Wilkie

Photos 

Quotes 

• Private Wilkie : Is it true, sir, that when they found him, his stripes and insignia were still on the uniform?

  Captain Davenport : Yes.

  Private Wilkie : Something's wrong, ain't it, sir? I mean, those Klan boys, they can't stand to see us in these uniforms. They usually take the stripes and stuff off before they lynch us.

• Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : Army's not for my son. See, when this war is over, things are gonna change. I want him to be ready for it. I'll send him to some big white college. Let him rub elbows with the whites. Learn the white man's language, how he does things.

  Sergeant Washington : White don't rub off.

  Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : Well, what are we gonna do? Stay behind in everything? Hell, you can see it in the Army. The white man's running rings around us.

  Private Wilkie : Lot of us ain't had the chance them white boys had, Sarge.

  Master Sergeant Vernon Waters : That ain't no excuse.