During the height of the civil rights movement in 1963, Raymond Reed, a philosophy professor at the University of Alabama, experiences at first hand that freedom is more than just an abstract concept meant for scholarly discourse - for some, it is a matter of life and death. Struggling to abandon the idea of the white man's supposed superiority, Reed increasingly reflects on the trials and tribulations of his fellow Americans while trying to cope with the difficulties that his personal microcosm presents. He needs to juggle his roles as the divorced father of an eight-year-old girl, the academic who suddenly questions his ability to make sound professional decisions, and the man eager to embark on a relationship with an African-American activist. Each role tests his integrity and challenges his apathetic, cynical attitude toward life. As he becomes embroiled in the movement, circumstances force him to face up to the stark reality that holding his ground could prove fatal.