news >> they will continue looking for survivors... >> the potential for energy production is huge... >> no noise, no clutter, just real reporting. the new al jazeera america mobile app, available for your apple and android mobile device. download it now on "america tonight", news of a ceasefire brings hope to gaza amid growing desperation as the people search for any safe haven. also - on borrowed time. new york city's water facing the risk of catastrophic failure. >> the tunnel, if it's under pressure from to collapse, it'd have to be shut. >> reporter: what would happen? >> 50% of the water supply would cease to exist. >> in our series crumbling america, christoph putzel taps

into an infrastructure crisis, and why it may be tough to keep the water flowing. and the new god father of soul, and how he taught us so much about living in america. >> back then you didn't describe yourself as black, you were negro. so i'm black and proud came out. it was on. and good evening. thank you for join us, i'll julie chen. what appears to be a big development in the gaza israel crisis takes hold. hamas confirmed a humanitarian ceasefire, hopefully paving the way to longer lasting release. before the announcement the united nations warns that shelters are filled to capacity,

and disease is starting to take hold. the white house made a harsh criticism to close allies after the deadly attack on a u.n. shelter, sa school and thousands of displaced gazans. the military says it destroyed 90% of tunnels used by separatists. binyamin netanyahu vowed to blow up all the tunnels with or without a ceasefire. >> al jazeera's nick schifrin is standing by in gaza city. 72 hour ceasefire sounds like a significant development - that is, if it holds. >> absolutely. if it doesn't, this is a significant development. the best ceasefire lasted a few hours and none of them lasted without a rocket flying from her into israel or israeli air strike in the gaza. as to the language that secretary of state john kerry, and u.s. secretary-general ban

ki-moon is using it's more definite and concrete than any ceasefire we have seen. both parties are supposed to hold fire for the three days. they'll stay in place. that applies to the israeli military, who will stay on the gaza israel border, and may continue operations on the tunnels leading from gaza into israel, so long as the tunnels, the access points are inside of israel. the main point here is two things. one, to start the diplomacy for a long-term ceasefire. you see israeli officials, hamas officials and intermediaries go to cairo, and that will start the process that so many people wanted towards a long-term ceasefire, regardless of whether a long term ceasefire can hold, it's about getting the humanitarian needs of those people. it's been so difficult for the last three weeks, and three days of pause, even if it's three days will be released for so many gazans who have fled

their homes, who have lost family members, and dealt with what the u.n. called a humanitarian crisis. >> the aid workers said that this is overwhelming to them. there's an enormous amount of pressure on the international relief agencies. >> there is. it goes from top to bottom across the strip. let's look at power, for example. you can see little behind me. the lights, by the way that you see are probably israel. there's a huge blackout. there is no power in gaza city. so the first step will be getting emergency workers towards the power plant that was destroyed to fix that water. there's a huge shortage of water, 30-40% of gaza, according to the u.n. does not have enough drinking water. aid workers have to figure that out. sanitation has not been functioning because of electricity. they'll try to fix that. the list goes on. add to that this number -

400,000 people. that is the number of displaced, according to the u.n., a number we have not heard up until earlier when valerie amos, the u.n. special representative said this in front of the u.n. security council, she said 440,000 people, one in four of gaza strip. that is a huge number, and that is the number of people fleeing the home. they'll go back to their homes, they'll have time to pick up the dead. care for the wounded who fill the hospitals, and they will figure out what to do for the rest of their lies. they may not feel so secure as to go back, move back to the homes, but all of the peel we talked to. the people sleeping outside the hospitals, people sleeping in u.n. shelters, they are desperate for some space, and this three days will give them a little bit of space, even if they are not sure it will lead to a permanent ceasefire.

>> they want breathing room. >> we appreciate you being with us. the israeli campaign placed heavy pressure on gaza. they try to provide humanitarian assistance. "america tonight"s adam may reports on the need and efforts to help. >> the terrifying sound residents across gaz re dread. those -- gaza dread. those holed up in their homes and those sheltering in the united nations war run by relief agencies. >> translation: the fear is unimaginable. we are living in sad conditions. we are. >> afraid to go to the toilet, to eat, to dripping. i would rather be buried alive than wait for the air strikes. >> reporter: the u.n. says 44% of gaza is a no go military zone, as the military orders further evacuations. fleeing u.n. schools. what they find is an overwhelmed

cash-strapped agency bursting at the scoops, at a breaking -- scenes, at a blacking point. barely able to provide water, food, sanitation or protection. >> i want to go and die in my own home. rather than in a u.n. school. there's no safety here, none whatsoever. >> this man was planning to leave with his family and take their chances back home. there's 240,000 palestinians sheltered in 86 u.n. schools. that puts around 2,500 it's placed people ber school, and 80 sleeping people crammed into classcrimes. dozens of -- classrooms. dozens have been killed, including u.n. workers. >> they are told fully areas, get out of areas, but to where. where should they go? again, we

don't have the april for them. >> -- the answer for them. >> despite the challenges and what the humanitarian crisis looming out of control. it offers the only life line providing food aid to those in shelters, but residents hungered down in their homes too. >> if it weren't for a n.r.a. we would have nothing. we'd be destroyed. we are joined by former white house represent tist to the israeli police talks robert hunter now a senior fellow for trans-atlantic relations at john hopkins. let's talk about a 72 hour humanitarian pause, an opportunity and the possibility of additional discussion spending negotiators to cairo. >> i suspect what happened is the secretary of state got up on his hind legs and said to hamas

"you're never going to get a better deal out of the israelis, because they are prepared to go for break", he probably said to the israelis "ever any day you carry on with this, and every time a missile kills civilians, whether you intend it or not, we assume it's an accident, you look force and force." not just countries around the world, but in the united states. i think he probably got a little angry with the israelis and the president about having gone out there and come back with nothing. i think he's pressing right now. this is the moment to try to move beyond this. he has 72 hours to work with. >> by the way, there were other developments in this as well. i mean the latest strike on the school. so many civilians, 15, who died. and the white house issuing a strong condemnation, is that part of what you think brought israel to the table here?

>> i think so. it's for the united states to condemn things israel has done. israel is being attacked. the enormity of seeing the civilians killed in this way, in places that nowhere remotely near were there might have been a military objective, i think finally got through to the white house, and particularly as i have already said, if the secretary of state went out there, dealt with israel, israel has no other friends but the united states in the entire world. i think they finally said "look, you got to cut this out, we'll get to the best deal in terms of disarming hamas and moving in a direction where you'll be secure, but you have to work with me, john kerry and president obama. >> secretary john kerry has tan some hits as he came back with nothing to show, as you say, and criticised for pushing too hard on the short-term ceasefires.

is he getting vindication in this? >> first, i think it was unfair to push the secretary of state ch way. people are expecting the united states to do it. we are deeply engaged in this. you raise a good point which is if you get a ceasefire and go back to where we were, nothing will accomplish what happened again. on the one hand you have to find a way for hamas to do less in terms of attacking israel. israel has to recognise that it has got to lift the siege. in fact, if i were to advise the israelis, do you want to empower hamas, keep up the siege. if i want to undercut hamas - i'd open up the border, get controls on bad things going on. open up the border, get in, get an investment and then the people of gaza will turn against hamas. they don't have a love for hamas. they are the only people providing them with things.

>> the only game in town. >> the other part of that is binyamin netanyahu said that he wanted those tunnels shut down. now he's at 90% plus. it's not clear that the ceasefire necessarily refers to not doing any work on trying to eliminate the rest of the tunnels, if the objective is accomplished, it's an opportunity to bring israel in. >> first, they said in the past with ceasefires we'll work against the tunnels. they have been exaggerated in terms of a threat to israel, except psychologically. there's not much you can do with it, not much has been done with it. if they've gotten rid of 80-90 rz, the israelis can afford to back off. stop losing in world opinion and american opinion, for the first time i remember and i have been doing this for 45 years, with

the american people wondering what is israel up to using our weapons. this is the time to make it stop. i think john kerry and president obama is doing it right. >> dr hunter is a former peace talk for middle east talks. after the black, a break down much america's infrastructure, and how an ageing aqueduct could leave new york city high and dry. >> reporter: what would happen if it was shut down? >> 50% of the water supply would cease to exist.

>> al jazeera america presents a breakthrough television event. borderland. six strangers. >> let's just send them back to mexico. >> experience illegal immigration up close and personal. >> it's overwhelming to see this many people that have perished. >> lost lives are relived. >> all of these people shouldn't be dead. >> will there differences bring them together or tear them apart? >> the only way to find out is to see it yourselves. >> which side of the fence are you on? borderland, sunday at 9 eastern, only on al jazeera america. some incredible views as a watermain burst at the university of california, los

angeles, this week, flooding the karm us -- campus, causing tens of millions. this spectacular failurion a harsh -- failure on the har harsh ---ion a harsh light on crumbling infrastructure your. in our series, crumbling america, christoph putzel takes us to new york, investigating another leak that could leave the city high and dry. >> reporter: every day new yorkers consume more than a billion gallons of some of the purest water in the country. >> this is good clean water, maimously delicious new york city water. >> this is some of the large scale aqueduct work. >> professor kevin bone is an expert on infrastructure that keeps new york city taps flowing. >> can you describe how massive the infrastructure is. >> it's the largest single

capital invest. that new york city made, including the subway system. new york city has been building water supply infrastructure continuously for 20 years. >> why is that necessary? >> it has a population growth exceeding expectations. >> to quench the thirst, new york city built a network of aqueducts. >> at one point there were 20,000 people deployed in the construction of the systems, thousands of engineers deployed for the cities of new york. the rain captured was pure fied as it passed through the forest and reservoirs. by the 1930s the city was again running out of water. they built the delaware aqueduct, a deep rock tunnel delivering up to 850 million gallons of water from new york city to the we were mountains.

>> finished in 1945, the delaware aqueduct became the longest tunnel in the world. >> it was the biggest and best that the world had seen. new york city moved water collection and the science of hydrology to a level never seen before. >> reporter: as new york was more dependent on the aqueduct residents from an upstate town notices something odd. >> the water was up to here. there was no place for it to go, it was coming out of everything. . reporter: come rain and shine, david's basement and dozens of others in the area would flood with water. how high was the water gotten in here? >> this panel was here. >> reporter: the water was that high. >> yes, up to here. >> reporter: it caused thousands in damage, rotting out the stares, destroying appliances.

>> it is all kind of fun. >> reporter: what are we approaching? >> in is our property, our house. >> reporter: edlived for 50 years in a home where this availabling apt field lies -- vacant field lies. when did you notice something was wrong. when we bought the house there was a little bit of water, as the years went on it got more and more. finally it was up to four feet. >> reporter: what did you think would happen? >> we didn't know, we thought there was a lot of water in the area. there were a lot of people having problems here. >> reporter: eventually many suspected na the dalea ware aqueduct, running 6 -- that the delaware aqueduct was running under the ground. >> the city said no, a tunnel wasn't leaking. >> reporter: but it was. this is a weir, it's a dam, the water nos over it. there's a gauge. that tells you how much water is

going over it. for years residents near rows tonne, 35 miles south-east thought the stream was bubbling from an art eeshian well. >> we are looking at flow from an aqueduct 600 feet below ground that is leaking. >> bill is from a watchdog group monitoring the water that supplies new york city. >> the leaking water is coming up to the surface. >> new york's department of environmental application or dep acknowledged in the early 1990s, that it had discovered cracks in the delaware aqueduct. >> how much water is leaked as a result? >> between the leek here and you'llster, 35 million a day. >> that's a lot of water. >> very much. >> reporter: in fact, that's enough to supply water to nearly half a million people a day. did the dep admit there was a problem? >> the city knew there was a leak. it's not a matter if they

conceal it. it's a matter of not being proactive and doing something about it. 25 years later new york city's water supply is living on borrowed time. >> worst case scenario is you have a catastrophic tale. if the tunnel is under pressure and collapsed, it'd have to be shut down. >> reporter: what would happen? >> 50% of the water supply would cease to exist. >> reporter: a report found if the ayeah duct was -- aqueduct was shout down the city would be out of oil in 8 of days. >> if -- water in 8 days s. >> the city is taking action. the report and a new mayor forced the dep to confront the problems. paul rush is deputy commissioner of the de perform, helping to lead a -- dep, and helping to lead a challenging project.

>> there is billion will instruct a bypass tunnel and do additional grouting in other sections. >> the new tunnel, upped the hudson, will bypass the locks. in the last face, the aqueduct will be shut for eight months to klent the bypass. >> where does the city get water when you shift the aqueduct. >> that's an excellent suggestion. improvement could be made to the kat skill, to restore its capacity. >> the dep is push, new yorkers to use less water. >> no one should notice. >> they shouldn't. this is a big deal for us. >> reporter: after decades of denying responsibility the d. >> p is stepping up -- dep is stepping up and addressing the

human impacts. >> we are looking at creating a buy back programme. >> most have taken the money, mostly empty lots and demolished houses will remain. >> reporter: how would you describe what it's like to leave your house after 52 years? >> for us and me - sheer joy, actually. >> you are happy to have it behind you. >> i was happy to get out of here, as are a lot of people. >> reporter: a few hold outs are here, forced to pay the price for new york city's abbing we duct. >> i amount go no choice. i'd take a $50,000 lose. >> this is the place we are moving into, the place we were happy with. you know. the flooding came, now i know. ain't too darn much i can do. >> reporter: and not much new yorkers can do about it, except cross their fingers and hope the leaks are repaired before

disaster strikes. ageing infrastructure, a crisis going beyond roads and bridges that we have heard about. we are joined by casey, from the american society of civil engineers. this event in los angeles this week - an incredible amount of water and it escaped our consciousness. >> you know, watermain breaks happen 240,000 times a year in the united states. every two minutes there's a watermain break. it's a growing problem. one of the situations we have is many systems are reaching the end of design life. 50-year-old systems, 80-year-old, they are parts of water systems dating back to the civil war. >> we think of l.a. being a new city. it has the ageing pipes as well any place in the country is vulnerable in this way. >> absolutely. >> what is the connection between water and sewerage

piping. both systems are ageing. we did a report card on the nation's infrastructure. we graded 16 categories of infrastructure, water and waste water systems. both got ds. not good grades considering how important the systems are. >> because we have to think about health issues when we do that. any kind of repairs, christoph noted would be expensive to do the replacement work. if you talk about the country... >> it's expensive. if you are looking on the drinking water side, there's a million miles of drinking water mains. if you replace that system, and we are not saying you need to. if you were to, it would cost $1 trillion, there is technology in the industry that allows experts to monitor the systems and to zero in on the parts of the pipes that are weakest. we could go about a programme of replacing the weakest and vulnerable parts of the system.

>> that would be expensive. it would be expensive. you can look at it - we like to see it as been investment. we did an economic analysis showing if we don't make the investments in water and waste water, we put at risk the g.d.p. and hundreds of thousands of jobs in the united states. between the years 2011 and 2020, if we invest 84 billion over the 10 year period, we can protect over 700,000 jobs in the united states in over 400 billion in g.d.p. these are investments that pay off for the economy. people respond to what they see in front of them. people understand bridge repair and road repair. would it make sense to point out this is where we are getting to the point where we are drinking unsafe water. should be drink bottled water?

>> no, the grades on the infrastructure is the systems, not the quality of the water. there's high quality of water in the united states. we are losing trillions of gallons of treated water that we have invested in treating into the ground. water disruptions are bad for business and households. and other infrastructure is impacted. a mainliar university campus was impacted. >> thank you very much. coming to us from the merp society of civil engineers. >> thank you. >> ahead in the next segment, the u.s. border crisis, and why it may bring in new recruits to a crim and awful old cause. >> these are little kids coming over and you are calling for a shoot to kill, little kids. >> to me they are breaking the law. if we can't turn them back, we

pop a couple, leave the korms corpses on the border, maybe they'll see we are serious. the clan and back. how white spremists are using the immigration issue to flame a new fire of hate. psh psh clz

now a snapshot of stories making headlines on "america tonight". a team of international

investigators finally reach the location where malaysia airlines flight mh17 went down the the crash site has been badly compromised in the two weeks since the plane was shot out of the sky. it's a first step for family members desperate for the situation to move forward. u.s. health officials issued a travel warping for the three countries hit by the ebola crisis. >> guinea, sierra leone, and liberia. security forces went house to house in the capital looking for patients, and others exposed to the disease, the outbreak claimed for than 700 lives. congress sets off for a five week break. the last-minute move was a surprise after the republican leadership failed to bring enough conservative support on board. it may be bad news for another group with strong feelings about

imentrance, the ku klux klan. infamous as a white supremacy movement. the plan is seizing on anti-immigration measures as a way to recruit members. a police department fires several officers for involvement in the group. we travel to find out more. there's language in the report that some may mind objectionable. >> reporter: it looks perfect. rolling hills, nice homes and quaint churches. but residents say around them is the invisible empire, the ku klux klan. they arched us to meet here, and we'd drive from there somewhere to do the interview. here they are. they are pulling up now. turn the camera.

they have the hoods. hello, guys. hello. this is the right meeting spot. where you told us to come, rite? >> yes, follow us. it will take five minutes. >> sounds good, we'll do that. >> the k.k.k. has been around since the 1960s. classified as a hate group, members have been convicted of crime including murder, torture, hate and intimidation. they say they are not a hate group, but rather white separatists. >> we'll pull it forward here and get out. >> this group in north carolina is called the loyal white nights, and they claim to be the largest active k.k.k. operation in america. we were taken to this field with

thousands of sunflowers, a place where the k.k.k. gathers, plans recruitment and still burns crosses. >> these days they have a thu call to arms, illegal immigrants. the immigration crisis going on on the border, when we called the hotline for the k.k.k. there was a call for a shoot to kill law. how do you describe that. that seems incredibly full of hate. >> these people are criminals to begin with. they come in here, they get here, cross the borders and are breaking the law. once they get across the border what makes you think they'll continue to stop breaking the law. they continue to break the law, they bring in the third world diseases. >> these are little kids coming over, and you are calling for a shoot to kill, little kids. >> to me, they are breaking the law when they come. if we can't turn them back, pop

a couple of them, leave the corpses on the border, they'll see that we are serious about stopping immigration. >> in the u.s. there's more than 150 groups affiliated with the k.k.k., according to the posterity law center. a few years ago there were more than 200, a spike. just after president obama was elected. what do you think of the current administration in washington? >> i think barack obama sold out the american people, i truly do. it's the job of the federal government to stop the immigration problem and put a stop to it. now they are pouring in by the million. >> the only thing acceptable to you is european descent. >> yes, a white homeland yp. >> this is the united states of america, it will never happen. >> we'll have it one day. more people will join the clan and are getting fed up with immigration. >> you have 8,000 members around the country, you used to have

millions. how is that on the rise. >> it's picking up. we are doing recruitment, doing interviews. >> leaving bags of candy and flyers in the neighbourhood with messages like on the hot line. >> time to arm yourself, black or white crime is unreported by the government-controlled media. june 19th a 65-year-old white man beat to death. >> reporter: you realise the perception of most people in america and around the world when they see the hoods and listen to what you say. they think it's idiocy. you know that. >> yes. >> i asked them to take off the hoods. instead the imperial wizard went on to another tire aid and showed us this. >> when i walk the streets during the day i wear a clan shirt, like this one. i go into gas stations with

shirts like this. >> what does it say. >> aids cures fags. >> yes. you don't think it's hateful. >> people thank me for the shirt. i keep a trunkful and people buy them. >> you don't think it's hateful. >> no. >> reporter: what are your imper fctions, it seems like you see them as imperfect people, what are your appearance. >> it's a mental disease, i don't think it can be cured. >> reporter: you don't believe your belief is a mental disease, and you have a mental disability. >> i have the holy book. >> reporter: you don't think you have a mental illness. >> no. >> reporter: and you. >> no. >> reporter: yet you wear shirts like that and those are the thoughts you propagate. >> yes. >> reporter: and you are not mentally ill. >> no. >> reporter: i look at this, i see little girls dressed like princesses, you are dressed similar. am i right or wrong. >> in the ordinarily traditions, it's like a catholic robe for the catholic church.

you are not pointing the finger at the catholic church who go out and rape children. >> they vented their rape for immigrants, yet said they were christians. the fbi says the kx kk is involved in-- k.k.k. is involved in domestic terrorism. the guys insist the influx is precisely what they need to recruit new members. >> i prefer to go and get back in the truck. >> reporter: they offered no proof, except rhetoric, but insists strong action on immigrants and the border crisis is a new rising up. coming up next queer, with no get out of gaol free, an investigation into the price of freedom. a preview of a faultlines investigation into chasing bail. next.

. >> american justice bears unique hallmarks, one the bail-bond system, allows charged defenders to await charges out of bail for a price. on any given day several have not been convicted. they can't afford to make bail, giving rise to an element. judicial system - the bail bondsman. a multibillion industry that

serves as a lender truly of the last resort. for al jazeera's "faultlines", sebastian walker investigates. >> reporter: it's 4:00 pm in the sack ramento suburbs. we are riding with a team of bounty hunters looking for a fugitive. this is someone who is charged with drug possession, on a $20,000 bail, and failed to turn up to court in december. around 15,000 bounty operators operate in the united states. bail bond companies hire them to track down criminal defenders who skipped their court dates. we are with rob, one of america's yamous bounty hunters. this is his partner.

>> it's here. on the left side. >> hey. >> it's in the court. the house to the last one on the left side. >> reporter: they are hunting for a woman charged with drug possession. if they can't find her the bondsman who bailed her out of gaol will owe the court $20,000. >> it is her. i'll do something like "hey", that's your key to come in. let's go. >> reporter: bounty hunters and the bail bond companies they work for are the core of a uniquely american industry. commercial bail. >> bail pond companies in the

u.s. earn over $2 billion every year. in all but four states the companies are able to take any measure necessary to capture a client, including crossing state lines and breaking into homes. it's an attention business for everyone involved, with few rules and little overside. >> get your arms back, or a shoot them. >> get your arms back before i shoot them. get your dog in the room, now. >> what the hell. we'll deal with the warrants, no big deal, okay.

put some pants on, let go. whatever you need. be careful what you are grabbing for, you know. >> reporter: seven months soing stevie was arrested for growing marijuana with an expired permit and possession of cocaine. >> where is your id. a judge set her bail at $20,000. she couldn't afford it. her father went to a bail bond company. for 10% down, $2,000, the company bailed her out of gaol. >> watch your head. there you go. >> reporter: when stevie didn't show up to court, the with respect became liable for the full 20,000. >> how old are you? >> 21. i'm 22 in october. >> what do you think will happen next? >> i'll be locked back up and

probably stay in there until the court date. and now - i'll have to do it and get it out of the way. that's how the system works. at the end of the day everywhere is doing their job. >> the u.s. and the philippines are the only countries in the world that allow private companies to bail people out of gaol at a profit. under california bail rules stevie can get out of gaol by paying the same company another $1,000. the assumption that defendants who pay money up front are more likely to return to court is central to the way justice works in the united states. >> every time someone is arrested, a judge must determine

if they should be ipp cars rated or released before gaol. >> we would ask for low bail. >> most defendants ask to be released for three, on the understand that they show up for a court date. >> i am concerned about the likelihood of returning. >> i will, i promise. >> most have to say. >> i'll set the bail at $20,000. >> reporter: for bail bonds men the court is where the market is set. each bail condition can mean a new pay day when defenders are willing to come up with 10% of bail to buy their release. it's the reason why this courthouse, like most others around the country, is surrounded by bail bond shops. >> in california, if it's a $25,000 bond, and you amount got

the money, i understand that you are innocent until proven guilty, but you will stay in gaol before you go to trial. >> leopard is the face of the bail business in sacramento. >> this is some of you have. >> rattle snakes, heard of them. stick your tongue out. >> returning to wildlife. >> now semiretired. he says he spend more time in his office talking to his parrot than chasing fugitives. >> leopard and rob used to star in a tv show. >> tracking down fugitives no one else can find. >> reporter: leonard told us in sacramento courts set $12 million in bail every month. >> $12 million a month, 144 in a year. that's 10% of the total penal amount in california, usually between a billion and a half and

two billion. you take 8% of that, that's a big chunk of cash. you have people saying if we can get our hands on some of this, we'd be in good shape. >> from your perspective it's better that people get arrested. then you'd have to bail them out of prison. >> the more arrests, the more people are needed for bail. the more that skip, the better off i am. were it not for crime, there's a lot of jobs that would not be available. we are the only ones in the business that don't make the money off the taxpayer. >> which business? >> everyone is in the crime business - criminals, judge, defendant, ascertattorney, the that builds the gaol. they make money. it's a business. "chasing bail", saturday on "faultlines", on 7:00pm eastern. ahead in the final segment.

say it loud. he was the godfather of sole. james brown, get on up. there's more to his story. we wering james brown in a new movie about his life.

. >> and finally from us this hour, you can't say james brown without someone breaking out with a little "i feel good", or "living in america", a new movie about the god father of soul reminds us his sound and story was more complex than a lot remember "get on up" hits the cinemas tomorrow. [ sings ]

>> reporter: these moves and greaves laid the foundation for -- grooves laid the foundation for pretty. every soul and rock'n'roll to follow "get on up", a biopick hits the theeters this week. it shines a spotlight on his life and evokes memories from these that knew the god father of soul. mick jagger is a film's producer. >> i saw him many times. he was the best. >> reporter: jagger met brown in 1964 at the "tammy" show, an all-star concert filmed in california. the rolling stones took the stage after brown. one of them calling it the biggest mistake of their career. brown was not going to let a bunch of kids steel the show from him. this may be the james brown most know, but brown's corrections

went -- contributions went beyond music. those that knew him best say that legacy should be sell brighted. who is james brown? >> it's a different question. he had a lot of different personality. >> reporter: film-maker thomas hart produced the documentary "james brown - the man, the music, the legend." >> he expressed him on stage. he was a different guy offside. he believed in the community. he came from dirt poor circumstances. he never forgot where he left. not poor, poor. he was someone that wroo reach down and -- would reach down and

help someone come up. he opened the door and left it open for others to come behind him. >> reporter: brown's influence on the black community is based on words and deeds. as the 1960s wore on. in 1968, after the assassination of dr martin luther king they turned to him for help. >> it was a dramatic time in his life, and the life of the nation. urban centers all around the country blew up in flames. >> this concert in boston took place the day after dr king was killed. many urged brown to cancel it. he justed the though go on. it was put on tv and kept people at home and off the streets. boston was spared.

washington d.c.'s u street corridor, historically black, was not as lucky as boston. it was the scene of intense rioting. then brown showed up. >> then he came to washington d.c. and did the same thing. walked around the nation's capital, and telling people in the community to take the second thought, don't react emotionally, don't destroy your community, rebuild the community. >> james brown was a people's person. >> reporter: robert mousey thompson was a drummer, and we met him footsteps from where brown perform. what sticks out the most? >> he was more than a mousse sirn. he sings "i feel good", the songs that make people smile, bring them toot. >> is that the true -- bring them together. >> is that the true message of james brown. >> the true message.

>> it was not just love, but pride. in 1968, "say it loud - i'm black and i'll proud", was the first song to boldly celebrate black culture. it became on anthem. joe is the music director for whur radio is the howard university. >> of course, with the song "i'm black and i'm proud." that is a lot for african-americans then. back then you didn't describe yourself as black, you were a negro. i'm black and i'm proud came up. and it was on. you know, the afros got bigger, and the pride was something to see back then. >> dwayne is the curator of art for african american culture. >> everything about james brown is about pride, uninhibited,

being proud of who you are, where you come from. james brown exuded pride and people fed off of it. rrges "i'm black and i'm proud" is touches everything. >> it touches everybody. you may not say i'm black and i'm proud, but you can see whoever i am i'm proud of what i am and who i am. that's the confidence and self-esteem that james brown gave to everybody - whether you were rich or poor, black or white, women are man. you could say "i'm proud of who i am.". >> reporter: what is it like to watch this over and over? you know every word. >> it's emotional though. no matter how many times i see it, i get emotional about it. that was the glory years. and we lost a soldier when we lost him in 2006.

like richard said, before him, there never was. and after him there'll never be. >> that's it for us here on "america tonight". on the programme this sunday night, taking on teachers. should public school teachers have jobs, meet the man in relation to tenure. if you want to comment on stories, log on to the website aljazeera.com/americatonight. you can join the conversation with us on twitter or at our facebook page. goodnight. i hope you join us again for "america tonight".

a ceasefire is reached in the middle east will the 7 it our break -- 72 our break lead to a lasting peace. >> and patrick buchan n on richard nixon's resignation. i'm antonio mora, more on "consider this". . >> both sides agreed to a 72 hour humanitarian tr