Watermelon Man 1970

Jeff Gerber, affectionately known as Jeff, leads a stereotypical suburban life with his apparently open-minded wife, Althea. His daily routine is marked by a peculiar combination of self-care practices, including sessions at a tanning machine, punching the speedbag, and downing health drinks, all culminating in a spirited run to work, almost as if he is endeavoring to escape the drudgery of his mundane existence. Despite putting on a cheerful face, many find Jeff’s personality grating, a characteristic that only seems to heighten Althea’s patience with her husband’s quirks.

As Althea tunes into the evening news, she becomes engrossed in the deepening racial tensions portrayed, gently admonishing Jeff for what she perceives as his lack of empathy. Unbeknownst to her, Jeff is about to embark on a surreal odyssey that will force him to reevaluate his very identity.

One pivotal morning, Jeff wakes up to a shocking transformation; his skin color has drastically changed. At first, he tries to dismiss it as a bizarre dream or a misfunctioning tanning machine. However, as the day progresses and his efforts to scrub away the newly acquired darkness prove unsuccessful, Jeff must confront the grim reality of his altered appearance.

Initially, Althea is taken aback, reacting with screams of disbelief as she sees “the Negro” standing in front of her. Throughout the day, Jeff retreats into isolation, terrified to face the outside world with his altered visage. In a desperate bid to revert to his original look, he ventures into the “colored part of town,” seeking out potions or elixirs that can restore his skin tone.

Come morning, Jeff’s dread transforms into a reluctant acceptance as he heads back to work. The day begins smoothly, but it isn’t long before he finds himself unjustly accused of robbery while sprinting alongside the bus, underscoring the harsh judgments often based solely on appearance. The treatment he receives from a police officer serves as a stark reminder of the systemic biases prevalent in society.

As Jeff navigates his new workplace dynamic, he encounters varying reactions—his boss’s suggestion to leverage his “Negro” charm contrasts starkly with an office secretary’s unexpected advances, as if his newfound appearance has suddenly enhanced his appeal. Amidst this chaos, Jeff starts to grasp the profound implications of his bizarre transformation—it serves as a wake-up call to the stark realities of racial discrimination and bias, challenging his previously held beliefs about himself and society.

As the sun sets, casting a warm glow across his domestic life, Jeff is unexpectedly drawn into a confrontation with the anonymous individuals behind the threatening phone calls he had previously received. It turns out that these seemingly unremarkable neighbors harbor ulterior motives; they aim to buy his property for a mere $50,000, motivated by their fears of declining property values. Determined to stand his ground, Jeff seizes the moment and elevates the negotiation to an impressive $100,000.

Simultaneously, the atmosphere within his household is shifting dramatically as Althea’s growing disenchantment with their life compels her to decide to send their children to live with her sister. As tensions flare, Althea ultimately opts to leave her husband, signaling a profound transformation in both Jeff’s personal and professional realms.

Throughout a series of poignant introspective moments, Jeff grapples with his identity, leading to a significant epiphany as he starts to accept the reality of being Black. This newfound self-awareness initiates a ripple effect of transformation in his life, prompting him to resign from his conventional job and venture into entrepreneurial opportunities, including the acquisition of an apartment building and the launch of his own insurance company.

As the narrative gracefully draws to a close, we find Jeff practicing martial arts alongside a group of everyday Black workers—a powerful testament to his personal growth, self-acceptance, and newly discovered sense of purpose.