Coonskin

Sampson and Preacher rush to help their friend Randy escape from prison, but their plan is halted by a roadblock. A tense shootout with the pursuing police erupts on the road, forcing the fugitives to scatter and retreat. The escape attempt ends with gunfire still echoing as reinforcements close in.

While waiting for something to unfold, Randy talks with an escapee named Pappy. Their conversation hints at a larger, fable-like story that seems connected to their own predicament. Pappy's remarks foreshadow a tale about three people like them.

Pappy's tale is presented in animated sequences over photos and live-action footage. The device overlays a parable about three people and their friends, adding a surreal layer to the gritty escape story. The animation contrasts with the film's real-world events.

Rabbit, Bear, and Fox abandon the Southern states after their house is foreclosed and sold to a man who plans to turn it into a brothel. They travel north and ultimately arrive in Harlem, only to find a city that is hostile and unpredictable. The move marks a shift from personal survival to entanglement in Harlem's criminal underworld.

In Harlem, the conman Simple Savior runs a sensational stage show at his 'church', where he caricatures oppression with images of John Wayne, Elvis Presley, and Nixon while demanding donations. Rabbit immediately recognizes the scam and remains wary of Savior's power. The performance sets the tone for the tension between manipulation and control in the neighborhood.

Rabbit, wary of Savior's manipulation, tries to stir anti-revolutionary sentiment among the crowd at the venue. Savior responds by targeting him, signaling the danger that lies ahead for the trio's new life. The confrontation foreshadows the violent path Rabbit will tread to secure power.

Rabbit survives Savior's attempt to kill him, using reverse psychology to turn the situation to his advantage. Bear stands by Rabbit, and the two begin to formulate a plan to take control. The failed attack intensifies their resolve to challenge Savior.

Together, Rabbit and Bear kill Savior, ending his racket and seizing control of his operation. Rabbit begins his ascent in Harlem's criminal underworld, setting the stage for new rivals. Bear's loyalty is tested as they navigate this dangerous landscape.

Mannigan, a virulently racist and homophobic police officer who serves the Mafia, is assigned to track Rabbit. He embodies prejudice and brutality as he hunts the new crime boss through the city. His pursuit escalates tensions and hooks the law into the Harlem underworld.

Mannigan is lured to The Cottontail nightclub where a stripper distracts him as an LSD cube is dropped into his drink. He is forced into a depraved fantasy, forced into blackface and mammy attire, and tossed out back where Ruby and Bobby lie dead. The ensuing chaos ends with Mannigan going on a shooting spree that results in a police response and his death at their hands.

Sonny, the Godfather's eldest son, is tasked with killing Rabbit. The hitman wears blackface and minstrel-style attire as the mafia attempts to ambush Rabbit near his nightclub. Bear defends him, taking multiple bullets before Rabbit shoots Sonny, who crashes and dies; his mother mourns him and is killed by one of his followers.

A recovered Bear seeks Fox for advice on whether to continue with Rabbit or pursue a crime-free life. Following Fox’s counsel, Bear becomes a boxer for the Mafia, aligning himself with the criminal empire. This marks a personal shift as Bear trades friendship for survival.

During one boxing match, Rabbit uses a tar dummy to lure the Mafiosi into a trap. The opponents stab the dummy and get stuck in tar, allowing Rabbit to plant a bomb nearby. The group escapes the arena before the explosion destroys the criminals, highlighting Rabbit's growing ruthlessness.

As Pappy's fable reaches its close, Samson and the Preacher arrive to aid Randy and Pappy’s escape amid a hail of gunfire. The rescue acts as a counterpoint to the brutal Harlem world and ties the narrative back to the escape plot.

Throughout the film, animated Miss America vignettes intercut the main plot, depicting the United States as a seducer who ultimately harms the African American populace. These parables comment on power, race, and illusion while the main story unfolds. The sequence reinforces the film's thematic critique of American myth and oppression.