Get On the Bus (1996)

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Get On the Bus Movie Poster

Directed by Spike Lee Get On the Bus is American Drama movie about A disparate group of African-American men climb on a bus bound for the Million Man March in Washington, D.C, who released on October 16, 1996 in United State. It starring

Plot

All the passanger

Twenty Afro-Americans get on a bus in Los Angeles for a six-day trip to Washington D.C. Where they plan to take part in the March of the Million Man led by Louis Farrakhan. These men come from various social backgrounds:

The tour guide (Charles S. Dutton) is going to be an inspiration and a referee. Another steady hand comes from the oldest man on board, Jeremiah (Ossie Davis), a student of black history who delights in reminding white cowboys that a black cowboy has invented steering wrestling. Also on board are the father (Thomas Jefferson Byrd) and his young son (DeAundre Bonds), who were shackled together by a court order; the irony of going to a chain march is not lost on the others. An ex-Marine (Isaiah Washington), who is gay, boards a bus with his lover (Harry Lennix) and is picked out for harassment by a homophobic actor (Andre Braugher). And a light-skinned man (Roger Guenveur Smith) isdiscovered to be a cop assigned to South Central. Then there's a UCLA film student (Hill Harper) who's filming a video documentary. And a member of the Nation of Islam (Gabriel Casseus), wearing a black suit, a bow tie and dark glasses, who says no word on the trip. [1]

The bus breaks down in the middle of the Californian desert and the passengers have to wait for another bus. The new driver, Rick, is white, and he's not so pleased with the situation. Hours and miles passing by, passengers get to know each other and stress is rising. Jay and Randall, two homosexuals, have to face the sarcasms of Flip.In the state of Tennessee, Rick decides to go back to L.A. alone. And George's tried to drive the bus. Highway patrolmen are stopping the bus and looking for drugs with racial biases. When they eventually arrive in Washington, D.C., Jeremiah has a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital. Some of the passengers choose to sit with the old man rather than follow the march.[2]

Controversy

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There's a scene in the film where the bus is pulled over by white cops in Tennessee The cops carry a drug-sniffing dog on board and handle it in a subtle yet unmistakably racist way that reflects, "Every black man in America has at one time or another felt charged by the police with the fact of being black."[3] It also shows from on of the characters how bad Hollywood think or the stereotype about the black people “Hollywood thinks they have us all figured out,” that blacks are all about “rap, rape, rob and riot.”[4]

Pros

In the movie shows group of black men are going to The Million Man March, hope it make a different in their life and depict the most important display of male black solidarity since the '60s who shows about unity, self-discovery, and taking responsibility of black people.[5] And with all the issues of race, identity, and responsibility they have been experience and shared they can be united for the goal of standing together at the front lines of the revolution.[6]

Reference