Brick wall PSA

January 20, 2006 4:01 PM

A few years ago, I saw a PSA narrated by what sounded like a black man in his 40s or 50s. It described how one summer he and his brother were told by their father to build a brick wall for no apparent purpose. He talked about how hot it was, how they didn't spend any time with their friends, and they had to rebuild parts that weren't up to snuff. At the end, the father said something like, "Now don't ever tell me there's anything you can't do." I loved the ad, and was wondering whether it was available online. Any ideas?
posted by ykjay to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

You might try contacting the Ad Council at their Corporate Communications email address; it might have been a United Negro College Fund PSA or something similar.
posted by Gator at 4:49 PM on January 20, 2006

dabitch, who runs AdLand, might have an idea.
posted by shoos at 5:56 PM on January 20, 2006

I swear I heard Will Smith tell this exact story in an interview once. And he used that exact same quote coming from his father. I've never seen this PSA though. Either he's a huge liar, or they got the idea for the PSA from him.
posted by shucks at 6:20 PM on January 20, 2006

Shucks is right. Here's the story.
posted by acoutu at 6:25 PM on January 20, 2006

Yep, I remember will smith telling the story too.
posted by Radio7 at 12:25 AM on January 21, 2006

I remember that ad. I'm pretty sure it was one of a whole series of similar pieces from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. No luck from Google, though.

Off-topic: Greets from a Yellowknife ex-pat!
posted by ZaphodB at 9:13 AM on January 21, 2006