American Crime Story (TV Series)

The Race Card (2016)

Courtney B. Vance: Johnnie Cochran

Quotes 

• Christopher Darden : Hey, Johnnie, can I have a minute?

  Johnnie Cochran : Big day today. You holding up?

  Christopher Darden : I don't want you to take this the wrong way. But, uh, that press conference you gave about me, that was a cheap shot. It was unfair and beneath the both of us as professionals. In this trial, we're equals. Everything from the past is out the window. So, um, it's my sincere hope that we can agree from this point forward to treat each other with respect.

  Johnnie Cochran : [smiles]  Brother, I ain't trying to be respectful.

  [he leans close to Chris, his tone changing to be more sinister] 

  Johnnie Cochran : I'm trying to win!

• [Darden's first words in court] 

  Christopher Darden : Your Honor, Detective Fuhrman is going to play a very small role in this case, but we believe when he's called to the stand, we're gonna be forced to go back 15 odd years to ask him about completely irrelevant statements that people have claimed he's made. These statements are racially insensitive and divisive. The question is: why bring them up? They're gonna ask him if he's ever made a racial slur or repeated a racial epithet. But why ask? There's no legal purpose for it. But Mr. Cochran and the defense have a purpose for entering this area, and that purpose is to inflame the passions of the jury and ask them to pick sides. The -- the "N"-word is a dirty, filthy word, Your Honor. It is so prejudicial and inflammatory that the use of it in any situation will evoke an emotional response from any African-American. We're talking about a word that blinds people. When you mention that word to this jury, it will blind them to the truth. They won't be able to discern what's true and what's not. It will impair their judgement. It will affect their ability to be fair. It'll force the black jurors to make a choice: whose side are you on, the Man or the brothers? So the People strongly urge the court, respectfully, to not allow that vile word to be uttered at any time during this trial.

  Johnnie Cochran : Your Honor, I did not plan to speak on this matter, but I would be remiss if I did not respond to my good friend, Mr. Chris Darden.

  [clears throat] 

  Johnnie Cochran : Mr. Darden's remarks this afternoon are perhaps the most incredible remarks I've heard in a court of law in my 32 years of practice. His remarks are deeply demeaning to African-Americans. And so, first and foremost, Your Honor, I would like to apologize to African-Americans across this country. It is preposterous to say that African-Americans collectively are so unstable that they cannot hear offensive words without losing their moral sense of right and wrong. They live with *offensive words*, *offensive looks*, *offensive treatment* every day! And so, Your Honor, I am ashamed that Mr. Darden would allow himself to be an apologist for Mark Fuhrman. Who are any of us to testify as an expert as to what words black people can OR CANNOT HANDLE? Your Honor... across America... believe you me... African-Americans are offended at this very moment. And so, for a friend that I deeply respect, I would say that this was outlandish, unfortunate and unwarranted. Thank you, Your Honor.

  [as Darden stares pensively at Cochran, Cochran leans forward so only Darden can hear] 

  Johnnie Cochran : [whispering]  Nigga, please.

• [Cochran is talking to Chris Darden in a private moment during the jury visit to O.J.'s house] 

  Johnnie Cochran : There's something I've been meaning to tell you.

  [leans in close to Darden; whispering conspiratorially] 

  Johnnie Cochran : Whatever happens, don't do Fuhrman.

  [beat] 

  Johnnie Cochran : Make the white people do him.