Washington, D.C., in the mid-to-late 1960s, vibrant soul music and exploding social consciousness were combining to become a unique and powerful effect. It was the place and time for Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene, Jr. to fully express himself and "tell it like it is." With the support of his irrepressible and tempestuous girlfriend Vernell, the new ex-con talks his way into an on-air radio gig. At the station, Petey quickly becomes an iconic radio personality. As Petey's voice, humor, and spirit surge across the airwaves with the vitality of the era, listeners tune in to hear not only incredible music but also a man speaking directly to them about race and power in America.