GET ON THE BUS

US, 1996, 120 minutes, Colour.
Richard Belzer, D’aundre Bonds, Andre Braugher, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Gabriel Casseus, Albert Hall, Hill Harper, Harry Lenix, Bernie Mac, Wendell Pierce, Roger Guenver Smith, Isaiah Washington, Steve White, Ossie Davies, Charles S. Dutton, Randy Quaid.
Directed by Spike Lee.

Get on the Bus is well worth seeing, one of Spike Lee’s very serious “joints”.

Lee would consider himself one of the most significant African- American directors, beginning in the 1980s, making an impact with Do the Right Thing, moving on to political films in the 1990s, especially his portrait of Malcolm X with Denzel Washington. For the next quarter of a century he made all kinds of films, including thrillers like The Inside Man, the The 25th hour and Old Boy.

This film works as a narrative with a wide range of characters as well as using documentary footage about the Million Man March on Washington DC in 1995. Part of the response to the film will be to that of the leader, Louis Farrakhan and his place in that Nation of Islam, his status in the 1990s, his pro-African- American stances, his anti-Semitic utterances and his use of Hitler’s name. There are other speakers in the film including the poet Maya Angelou.

The film was sponsored by significant African- Americans like Will Smith and Wesley Snipes. And there is substantial support from the range of actors who take on the role roles of the men who go on the march, some drama in their backgrounds, the relationships but, especially in the interactions on the bus, the driver moving off, emotional clashes, prejudices amongst the men themselves. This makes the film particularly interesting on a dramatic level.


With stops in various states along the way from California to DC, there are also some interesting reactions from white people and the exhibiting of prejudice.

Veterans like Ossie Davis appear as wisdom-figures along with some of the younger actors, with serious intent or playing like upstarts.

Still worth watching even after some decades.


1. The films of Spike Lee, his perspectives on African- American life in the US? This film in his cannon, a moral plea to African- Americans?

2. The story, The Million Men March 1995, use of the actual footage, including the speeches, Maya Angelou, the crowds?

3. The importance of Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, his status in the 1990s, patron of the March? His stances, pro-black, anti-Semitic, invoking Hitler? White response to Farrakha? The importance of the discussions about him on the bus, for and against, the importance of the cause despite the status of Farrakhan?

4. The importance of men only? The sequences of the film, especially with the two young women talking about the importance of the sisters in change for African- Americans?

5. The title, the 15 men, the final credits and the 15 significant African-Americans? who contributed to the financing including Will Smith, Wesley Snipes, Robert Guillaume?

6. The film as road movie, on and off the bus? The musical score, the range of songs, their spirit?

7. The locations, California, the Californian countryside, Arkansas, Memphis, Washington DC?

8. The preparation of the trip, Gary and his wife, her concern? Jeremiah, his age? Evan and his son, the court order and the cuffs? George and his organising the trip?

9. The background of white attitudes and the men wanting to go to the March, the friendly approach in Arkansas and the bar, the conversations? The police in Tennessee, assuming drugs, setting the dogs throughout the bus?

10. Racial tolerance? Sexual tolerance? Homophobia? The gay couple, their breaking up, in public, angers? The actor and his homophobic denunciations? Jeremiah and his tolerance? the earnest talk? Going outside the bus and the fight? The reserved gay, his background of being in the military, being shot? The couple remembering their life together? Plans for the future?

11. Xavier, the young photographer, capturing the moments, his discussions with Jeremiah, Jeremiah teaching him to play the drum, the explanation of the drums and messages in Africa? Back on the bus at the end and playing the drum for Jeremiah?

12. The driver, skidding, the phone call, the new driver, his being white? His being uncomfortable, discussion with George, opting out, his own prejudice, but never using the word, nigger?

13. George, guide, talking, enthusiasm, driving the bus, allowing Evan to drive the bus? Discussions about whether Wendell should continue? His discussions with the white driver and the opting out?

14. The actor, his extraverted behaviour, self-centred, explaining his life, discussions with Gary, taunting him about being bi-racial? His talk about sexual activities and his flirting with the girls? The build-up to the fight? His getting the part, the lack of response of the men on the bus?

15. Jeremiah, his memories of 1963 not going to the March to keep his job, the long story about his life, his job, pleading for it, new companies, the takeovers, downsizing, his drinking, losing his wife and daughters? His prayer at the opening of the journey? His explanation about field slaves and house slaves? His intervening? Playing the drum, singing? The rodeo story to the white man in the bar? His final speeches, his collapse, in the hospital, his death? The men staying at the hospital’s to keep vigil?

16. Jamal, his Muslim prayer, his wariness of the homosexual in the toilet, washing his hands? His Baptist background, his mother, his being on the streets, in the gangs, explaining things to Gary, murder? Gary’s response, as a policeman, as human, his father, black, being killed by street gangs? His demand of Jamal that he be arrested or give himself up on return? The background to discussion about Gary’s mother lecturing to correct and the others whipping their ass?

17. Wendell, the car dealer, his bravado, wanting to go, the money, the vote for him to come, cigars, his big car, his pride in education, thinking O.J. Simpson guilty, his stances, the men ousting him? Raising the issue of Republicans and Democrats, the gay man who was a Republican voter?

18. The importance of the discussions, the dialogue raising all the issues about black men in the United States, the past, prejudices, racism, civil rights, the different stances, black men and leadership rather than perceiving themselves as suppressed or victims? The screenplay giving an overall view of issues concerning African-American? men?

19. The march itself, the men not getting there, not hearing the speeches, the death of Jeremiah, George getting back on the bus and the morale-boosting speech about what they had experienced, different when they got home? The future?