A Tale of Two Cities.
[PREVIOUSLY on BLACK FRIDAY]
PRESIDENT SAILOR
With the Choice License, anyone who does not wish to serve or interact with people of a specific race, sex, gender, color, creed, or orientation will be free to do so. Provided that they apply, pay for, and receive a Choice License.
The Choice License must be displayed at your place of business or carried with you at all times. The Choice License must also be renewed every four years.
To ensure that the license is accessible to all Americans, its cost will be proportional to your gross annual income. The less you make, the less you pay.
Any individual or business who discriminates without a Choice License will be fined. The fines begin at $10,000 for the first offense, and this number will increase tenfold for each subsequent offense.
The money raised by the Choice License fees and fines will be collected in a special pool account. The money from the pool will then be re-distributed to individual Americans to compensate them for the insidious and negative effects of discrimination.
For example, if you or your business do not wish to interact with people affected by the Black Friday phenomenon, you can simply apply for a Choice License. The fee you paid for the license will be redirected to individuals affected by the Black Friday phenomenon.
This is a radical re-thinking of our society. It is only possible because we recognize - United Mankind recognizes - that the only way America survives is by focusing on you, the individual. We can only move forward by giving you the tools to solve your own problems. The Choice License is one of these tools. It returns power to you, the individual.
(beat)
At midnight, we begin anew the work of our founders. Only by facing the truth can we truly be free. Only then can we achieve the goals set out in the Declaration of Independence. Only then can we build a more perfect union where each individual has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
(beat)
At midnight tonight, America begins a new chapter of peace, harmony, and liberty. Join me. Join us in the rebirth of a nation.
(beat)
Thank you all.
God bless you.
And God bless the United States of America.
[INTRO THEME]
DOCUMENTARIAN
Between 1870s and the beginning of world war one black pioneers settled more than one hundred towns all black towns in the west. Each with the goal of economic independence. Among the most well known was a black district in Tusla, Oklahoma known by its residents as Greenwood.
CUT TO
CONSTRUCTION NOISES
NARRATOR (V.O)
A new city rises on the banks of the Westsylvania river. The city of New Greenwood.
CUT TO
THE NEWSREADER
This is the story of a dream.
MLK (from another universe)
It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream
CUT TO
THE NEWSREADER
A community.
An ideal
CUT TO
NARRATOR
A city powered by the hopes and dreams of people that have been forgotten by history.
CUT TO
THE NEWSREADER
A dream we build together.
MLK (from another universe)
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed.
THE NEWSREADER
Welcome to New Greenwood.
CUT TO
NARRATOR
A city that is dedicated to one purpose, and one purpose only. To provide a safe community for Black people where they can determine their own destinies.
(beat)
This city is named after Greenwood, in Tulsa Oklahoma. The original Greenwood was a prosperous Black community. Either through hatred, jealousy, or envy, the white citizens of Tulsa could not stand to see such a community prosper.
(beat)
[RIOT SFX]
And so, on May 31st 1920, the white citizens of Tulsa descended upon Greenwood and burned it to the ground.
[RIOT SFX END]
(beat)
New Greenwood has many parents. Their spokesperson is Byron Wexler.
WEXLER
Well, this idea that Black people should create communities of their own goes way back. In the years after the Civil War and Reconstruction, it was a practical necessity. Black people were forced to live on the wrong side of the tracks, and work low-paying menial jobs. A lot of Black communities trace their origins to the era of Black Codes and segregation. Black people needed to be self-sufficient. They also needed to be tough and take care of each other.
NARRATOR
So why now? Why is a place like New Greenwood still needed?
WEXLER
New Greenwood was always necessary. It’s just that now, thanks to the FOCUS Act, we have the resources, as well as the ability to coordinate what we needed to get this project off the ground.
NARRATOR
How has the FOCUS Act helped?
WEXLER
For the most part, financially. The revenues from the Choice Licensing system began to trickle to Black people. After a while, it became obvious that the amounts we were getting through the Choice License were significantly higher than expected.
NARRATOR
How much higher?
WEXLER
(laughs)
Enough that several of us got together and decided to pool our resources. We considered creating scholarships, or new hospitals or … (beat) you name it we considered it. In the end, though, we decided that the best way to achieve all our goals was to build a brand new community. A model community.
NARRATOR
A Black-only community?
WEXLER
A Black-led community, first and foremost. We’ve debated whether or not to apply for a Choice License for our community. We came to the conclusion that there are better ways of managing conflict in New Greenwood without just ... banishing people.
NARRATOR
How do you feel about the fact that much of the money for New Greenwood comes from your fellow citizens? Americans who specifically don’t want Black people in their own communities and businesses?
WEXLER
You mean how do I feel personally?
NARRATOR
Personally, and as the spokesperson for New Greenwood.
WEXLER
Personally, I was a little surprised that there was so much … animosity isn’t the right word ...
(beat)
I suppose … hostility? Yes, that’s it. I was surprised there was so much hostility towards Black people after so many years. We’ve had more than one Black president since Barack Obama. But I guess that shows not much changed.
(beat)
As for New Greenwood, well, isn’t this what the license payers wanted? They don’t want us in their communities so here we are making one of our own. They’re welcome to visit though!
NARRATOR
And this is an interesting community. I’m looking at the rendering you have on the wall here. It looks very impressive. You’re planning on having a university here?
WEXLER
Yes. New Greenwood will primarily be a university town. We are hoping to attract stellar academic talent that has otherwise gone unrecognized. They will help power the knowledge economy we want to grow here.
NARRATOR
So things like tech companies? Social media?
WEXLER
No, at least not ideally. For example, we’ve already pulled in a commitment from a few materials science researchers. They’re working on fantastic new textiles and metal alloys for all sorts of applications. I have an example …
(beat as WEXLER reaches out)
In this vial right here.
NARRATOR
(beat)
What is that?
WEXLER
It is a paramagnetic nanomaterial. This is nearly the finished product. Okay, let's say you break a bone. In the past we had to use surgery, metal pins, or a cast to fix the break. Now we can actually inject this stuff right into the fracture and guide it in place with a magnet. It then binds directly to the bone! Once it's set, you don't need a cast and it cuts recovery time by 75 percent on average. Its molecular structure is based on hemoglobin, actually.
NARRATOR
And it stays in you forever?
WEXLER
Sort of. Once you’re healed up, your body uses the material to make more red blood cells.
(beat)
This is also the base technology for our artificial blood project, as a matter of fact.
NARRATOR
Wait, artificial what?
WEXLER
Artificial blood.
(beat)
Most blood we have in the national blood supply comes from people. It’s donated directly or produced in the lab from donated blood. But ever since the FOCUS Act came along, hospitals have had to identify the specific backgrounds of each donor. If they use blood from a source that a patient specifically forbids on their Choice License, the hospital could be on the hook for a lot of money. That’s a lot of liability for them. Even if they use lab-grown blood, they have to be able to account for the race, gender, or even orientation of the original donor. It’s actually an administrative nightmare.
NARRATOR
I would think that in an emergency you wouldn’t care where the blood that will save your life comes from.
WEXLER
And you’re right. Most people don’t think about it as they lie dying. But once you’re recovered and see how deep the hospital’s pockets are, you might as well sue to see what you can get. If any blood came from a forbidden source, you could get a pretty decent settlement.
(beat)
So anyway. Artificial blood does away with that risk. It’s entirely engineered with raw materials, so there’s no donor information to track. It works just like regular blood does with some advantages. It facilitates oxygen transport, but we can actually significantly increase the amount of oxygen it can carry. Imagine being able to scuba dive for hours without a huge tank strapped to your back. Or infusing a bunch of oxygen directly into someone’s bloodstream when their lungs are damaged. Sky’s the limit really.
(beat)
Plus since it’s completely artificial, we can engineer it so that it is naturally resistant to viruses, bacteria, and pathogens. It doesn’t have a blood type either so anyone can receive it.
(beat)
Someday in the future, people might actually have all their natural blood replaced with artificial blood. But we’re still some ways away from that.
NARRATOR
Wow. That’s … that’s amazing.
(beat)
I didn’t know any of this was possible.
WEXLER
Yeah. Well. We can go see what we’ve managed to build so far. We can get a decent view from the roof.
NARRATOR (V.O)
New Greenwood faces many challenges. From this height, though, I’m struck by how much work is already completed. In the near distance I can see what looks like a water treatment facility - the bright blue tanks stand in contrast to the dark soil. Closer by, I can see what looks like a concrete pit with a partially constructed dome covering it.
NARRATOR
Is that your water treatment plant?
WEXLER
Yes. It was the first thing we built here actually. The closest city to us is Philadelphia, and at first, we thought we would link up our water supply and augment their processing capacity with our facility.
(beat)
WEXLER (cont)
But they didn’t want to join up. When we asked why, they said that it was an ecological issue.
NARRATOR
An ecological issue? Did they explain why?
WEXLER
All we know is that we never saw their environmental impact analysis. We spent months asking for it but never got it. We couldn’t wait forever to figure out our water supply, so … we went our own way.
NARRATOR
(beat)
That’s a pretty serious accusation. Philadelphia doesn’t have a Choice License, so it can’t just … refuse you because you’re a Black city.
WEXLER
They never told us why they refused us. As far as we know, the proposal is still under consideration. It's just that their decision took so long that we had to find a new solution to meet our deadlines.
NARRATOR
Still, that’s a plausible case you have. Have you considered legal action?
WEXLER
What for? It will just take time and resources away from our project. Besides, our solution builds for the future. Most water systems are basically one-way from source to the sea. We manage to redirect gray water from all sorts of uses. Then there’s-
NARRATOR
(shocked)
Hang on a second. Is that what I think it is?
NARRATOR V.O.
It was here that many of the doubts that I had about New Greenwood evaporated.
A large metallic object shaped like a donut encased in an orange ceramic coating was being hoisted from a crane and being lowered into the concrete pit.
NARRATOR (cont).
That’s a … that’s a tokamak [toe-ka-mak]!
WEXLER
(laughs)
I’m surprised you know what that is. And yes, it’s a tokamak.
NARRATOR
You’re going to have a fusion reactor? Here? In New Greenwood?
WEXLER
I did say we were building for the future.
(beat)
Philadelphia wasn’t the only city taking its time figuring out permits. The state is taking its time figuring out how to connect us to the state grid. More delays add cost so -
NARRATOR
So you’re generating your own power using a fusion reactor?
WEXLER
Right now we can generate our energy entirely through wind, solar, and hydro power from the river. The fusion reactor will allow us to be an energy exporter.
NARRATOR
That must cost a fortune.
WEXLER
The way we see it, the reactor will pay for itself once it’s operational. We’ll sell energy to anyone who wants to pay for it!
NARRATOR (V.O)
New Greenwood is doing what many Black communities before it have done. It is making do. It is deploying its ingenuity and resources to face its challenges and overcome them. New Greenwood is choosing to move forward into the future. And they even have a fusion reactor. All of this is only possible because of the FOCUS Act.
NARRATOR
I want to ask you about New Byzantium, out in Oregon.
WEXLER
I’m not sure how insightful I can be.
NARRATOR
It’s another model city, but this one is being built by United Mankind. But they’re not relying on revenues from the Choice License.
WEXLER
They don’t have to - the federal government is providing the seed money for the project. Whenever the US government gets behind a project, it gets a pretty solid boost.
(laughs)
NARRATOR
But isn’t that unfair?
WEXLER
Yes, I think so. But that’s never stopped us from trying to complete our work. If anything, these delays - whatever is causing them - usually turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
NARRATOR (V.O)
Wexler is not exaggerating. New Greenwood plans to install tracks for its metro and high speed rail system. The federal railway network will not connect to New Greenwood citing incompatible designs. However ...
WEXLER
(laughs)
It turns out that the federal railway network is ancient. So it’s better for us to redeploy our resources to build other infrastructure here in New Greenwood.
NARRATOR (V.O).
For all the resources the FOCUS Act has directed to individuals and communities, the Choice Licensing system is not without its flaws. State and local governments can avoid the charge of discrimination without a license by using a pretext. The one that New Greenwood seems to encounter is foot-dragging by the government.
New Greenwood is unique. But there are other obstacles as well.
WEXLER
One thing we’ve learned is that it is still really easy to use pretext for discrimination. Some suppliers will lose a shipment, or send us sub-standard parts. All of this adds costs to us. Costs that the Choice License can’t reach because these businesses and individuals can always plead some other excuse. And we don’t really have any option other than to make do.
NARRATOR (V.O).
On the other side of the country, another model city is coming up. This one is New Byzantium in Oregon. It, too, will focus on the knowledge economy and it, too, will try to draw the top talent in each field. There is a catch though. Here is Conlon Macdonald, the spokesperson for New Byzantium.
MACDONALD
Because of New Greenwood, we opted to get a Choice License. Our license permits us to exclude people of African descent. We also prohibit individuals affected by the Black Friday phenomenon from living and working here - at least until they take Tenebra [ten-eh-bra]. If New Greenwood is going to be a model of Black excellence, well New Byzantium is going to be a model of what White civilization has to offer. I also want to point out that New Greenwood is using technology and techniques developed and perfected by White people. We also have a sophisticated water reclamation system. Our fusion reactor has been online for some time now. But it’s typical for the liberal media not to care.
NARRATOR
I’m going to read a couple of things to you, and you tell me what you think.
MACDONALD
Okay.
NARRATOR
New Greenwood still hasn’t been allowed to connect to the Westsylvania’s electric grid. Your project was connected to the mains from the very beginning.
MACDONALD
I’m not sure what you’re getting at.
NARRATOR
The same goes for the water system. New Greenwood had to engineer their own system because the state would not partner with them. You, on the other hand, are working directly with the state and local government on the same issue.
MACDONALD
It’s not our fault that New Greenwood chose to build in a highly regulated state. I mean, from what I hear they’re trying all sorts of new technologies. More power to them, but I’d focus on getting things up and running first. Personally, I don’t think they’re ready to run a fusion reactor.
NARRATOR
So you don’t think the local authorities are trying to sabotage New Greenwood?
MACDONALD
They might be, I honestly don’t know.
NARRATOR
Because from an outsider’s perspective, it looks like you’re having a much easier time getting your project running.
MACDONALD
Look, if anything, New Byzantium is actually subsidizing New Greenwood. The money from our Choice License is going directly to Black people, and they’re putting it into this project. The fact that they don’t know how to handle local bureaucracy isn’t our fault.
NARRATOR
On that point, I have paperwork here from the License Registrar’s office. It says that New Byzantium actually paid only one hundred dollars for the license.
MACDONALD
I can’t confirm or deny that amount but-
NARRATOR
Subsidizing New Greenwood? A hundred bucks? For a four-year license? Really? Isn’t that the minimum cost of the license?
MACDONALD
Remember what President Sailor said. The less you make, the less the license costs you. Our project hasn’t yet generated any revenue, let alone any profit. But our backers strongly believed in our ability to manage our community.
NARRATOR
So in another four years when this place is all built up, the Choice License will cost a lot more?
MACDONALD
I can’t really say. I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the registrar.
NARRATOR (V.O).
We did ask the registrar, but they never got back to us. However, a confidential source showed us just how easy it is to avoid paying full freight for the Choice License. A city like New Byzantium will officially be run by volunteers who, in exchange for housing and in-kind compensation, will manage the city. Officially, New Byzantium will collect no taxes and have no revenues. As a result, the Choice License will cost next to nothing.
NARRATOR (cont)
The city will be run by volunteers. You won’t collect taxes. You won’t have official revenues.
MACDONALD
That’s right. New Byzantium’s currency will be civic pride. We won’t be motivated by money. The government officials of New Byzantium will work for the betterment of their community.
NARRATOR
And these workers will all have day jobs? In addition to free housing and childcare?
MACDONALD
Yes, many will have jobs. We just don’t tax their income, or their property, or their sales. This is a completely business friendly city.
NARRATOR
What do you say to those who claim you’re basically just creating a Whites-only city with government help? New Greenwood can’t get connected to the state power or water systems. You can. That’s effectively a state subsidy.
MACDONALD
You’ll have to ask the Westsylvania government about that.
NARRATOR
And, since New Byzantium’s government is run by volunteers, you collect no taxes, your official revenue will be zero. You’re basically getting a subsidized Choice License from the federal government as well.
MACDONALD
We are paying what we are legally obligated to pay. Nothing more.
NARRATOR (V.O).
For all the press the Choice License has gotten, it remains an imperfect system. But as New Greenwood and New Byzantium rise, maybe, just maybe, the Choice License will show us a new way to live together.
MLK
(in a different universe)
I have a dream today!
MLK
(in a different universe)
I think the biggest problem now is we got our gains over the last 12 years at bargain rates, so to speak. It didn't cost the nation anything to get the right to vote established. And now we're confronting issues that cannot be solved without costing the nation billions of dollars. Now I think this is where we’re getting the greatest resistance. They may put it on many other things, but we can't get rid of slums and poverty without it costing the nation something.
MALCOLM X
It costs us higher - more money - to live in the slums than it costs them to live in Park Avenue
THE NEWSREADER
The secondary market for Choice Licenses is only getting hotter. Companies can avoid paying a premium for a Choice License if they buy one from a real person. It is unclear whether transferring a Choice License is actually legal, but the Sailor administration has decided to do nothing about it. For now.
JAMES BALDWIN
(in another universe)
Now this is the evidence. You want me to make an act of faith, risking myself, my life, my woman, my assistant, my children on some idealism, which you assure only exists in America, which I have never seen.