African-American singer Georgia Martin arrives in Stockholm as part of a concert tour, accompanied by her manager, Herbert Thompson, and her personal assistant and surrogate mother, Alberta Anderson, a widowed black woman. As Georgia is the most popular American singer in Europe, several reporters meet her at the airport to ask her opinions, which she flirtatiously provides, on current issues, such as mixed marriages, Vietnam and American defectors in Sweden. However, when they ask questions about black ethnicity, Georgia becomes agitated and has Herbert end the interview. Herbert then introduces her to American photographer Michael Winters, a young, white Vietnam veteran who has been assigned to do a picture story on Georgia for Scandia magazine. Later, while traveling to the hotel, Georgia and Herbert joke about the reporters, who erroneously presume she is interested in black causes, and offend the humorless Alberta, a bigot who feels her companions are slighting their own race. After checking into the hotel, where a homosexual desk clerk makes overtures toward Herbert, Georgia spots a vase of roses in her room and throws them to the floor, demanding that they be removed. When Georgia’s anger subsides, she removes her wig, after which Alberta offers to brush her hair, a ritual that they do to comfort Georgia. As if a child, the weary Georgia sits on the floor next to Alberta, who gently brushes her hair, as they quietly sing the song, “This Little Light of Mine.” Meanwhile, Bobo, an angry black man, demands that the hotel clerk tell him Georgia’s room number and, when refused, curses the clerk, then pounds on hotel room doors in an unsuccessful search for her. Later, Georgia phones Herbert, interrupting his tryst with the clerk, who comments that his relationship with Georgia is like a marriage. When the clerk ventures to say that Georgia “does not act like a negro,” the offended Herbert sends him away. Meanwhile, sensing that Michael has made an impression on Georgia, Alberta, who believes in the separation of the races, warns her to be careful around white men who “think” they understand blacks. When a flippant remark by Herbert agitates Alberta, Georgia feels compelled to calm the tension between them. At a nearby diner, Bobo meets with other black men, who, like him, are Vietnam deserters. When Michael enters, Bobo asks him to arrange an introduction to Georgia, whom he wants to publicize and raise funds for black deserters in Sweden. Michael refuses, because he feels it is unethical to use his professional relationship with a client for anything other than the agreed-upon purposes. This enrages Bobo, who instigates a fight but is stopped by his friends. When Michael arrives for the photoshoot, Herbert insists on attending and meddling. Ambushing them on the street, Bobo aggressively forces an introduction, but Georgia orders Herbert to keep him away. Later, Michael photographs Georgia in various locations around the city and piques her interest in him, but when he offers her a red flower from a market stall, she becomes upset, claiming that she gets hay fever, and soon after throws another tantrum. Jealous of the chemistry that, despite Georgia’s moodiness, is building between her and Michael, Herbert privately tells Michael that Georgia does not like to be touched. Meanwhile, Bobo approaches Alberta and manipulates her maternal feelings and loyalty to black causes. When Bobo explains what he wants from Georgia, Alberta confides that Georgia is estranged from her heritage, but says she will attempt to change her mind. That night, when the weary Georgia complains about the pressure of people “wanting things” from her, Alberta suggests introducing her to a “handsome young man from home.” Skeptical, Georgia takes off her wig and they begin their hair brushing ritual, but are interrupted by Bobo’s unexpected knock on the door. When Alberta answers, she tells him the timing is not right. During the evening Michael has a date with a young woman, but despite her desire to have sex, he puts her in a taxi and goes home alone. That evening, when Herbert suggests that Georgia sing a blues song at her upcoming performance, she sarcastically suggests that she call herself “mammy.” Offended, Alberta pointedly tells her that a black woman never turns her back on her responsibilities. Although Georgia calms the tension, she does it at the expense of her own peace of mind and, that night, is haunted by thoughts of people taking her soul. At the next photoshoot, Michael and Georgia sneak away from Herbert. Although she is warming to Michael, he says cryptically that he does not want her to be disappointed. Meanwhile, still scheming, Bobo invites Alberta to meet the other black deserters at the diner, and she is moved by their tales of homesickness. Claiming they could have been her children, Alberta alludes to her husband, who was castrated by white supremacists before they married. Later, when Michael returns Georgia to the hotel, she declares that it was the best day she has had in a long time. After Georgia’s concert that evening, Herbert and Alberta flatter and cater to her needs, but when Alberta tries to introduce Bobo, Georgia throws a tantrum, and her bad spirits last throughout the evening. At their next photoshoot, Georgia asks how to use a camera, and Michael takes her to his apartment to retrieve an old Brownie camera for her to use. There he confides that it was his family’s black employee who reared him after his father died and his mother married a wealthy alcoholic who made them miserable. Bristling, Georgia asks if the black woman was “a mammy,” but then apologizes. Although they are sexually attracted to each other, Georgia senses Michael’s reluctance, and he confides that he has been impotent since his war experiences. However, at her urging, he finds that he is able to consummate his passion for her and she loses her sense of isolation and insecurity. As they make love, Bobo, who arranged for them to be followed, informs Alberta of their activities. Although Michael is not Georgia’s first white lover, Alberta claims that this time Georgia “has shamed the entire race.” When Georgia returns to the hotel, planning to reunite shortly with Michael, Herbert tells her that he loves her in his own way and has made himself into what she needs. Later, as Georgia tries to explain her feelings about Michael to Alberta, the older woman offers to brush her hair, then strangles her. No longer suppressing her rage, Alberta roughly brushes Georgia’s hair, while loudly singing their special song, "This Little Light of Mine."