Get on the Bus is a 1996 film about a group of African-American men who are taking a cross-country bus trip in order to participate in the Million Man March. The film was directed by Spike Lee and premiered on the one-year anniversary of the march. This section has been identified as trivia. ... This section has been identified as trivia. ... Reggie Rock Bythewood is a film director and writer, with credits such as the writer for Spike Lees Get on the Bus, and the writer/director for Biker Boyz starring Derek Luke and Laurence Fishburne. ... Richard Belzer, born August 4, 1944, is an American stand up comedian, writer and actor. ... Andre Braugher (born July 1, 1962) is a two-time Emmy Award-winning American actor. ... Thomas Jefferson Byrd (born in Georgia), is an American actor. ... Albert P. Hall (born November 10, 1937) is an American actor. ... Hill Harper (born Frank Hill Harper on May 17, 1966) is an American film, television and stage actor. ... Harry Joseph Lennix (born November 16, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor. ... Bernie Mac (born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on October 5, 1957 (sometimes incorrectly given as 1958) in Chicago, Illinois) is a two time Emmy Award-nominated American actor and comedian. ... Wendell Pierce (b. ... Roger Guenveur Smith in Final Destination (2000) Roger Guenveur Smith (born July 27, 1959 in Berkeley, California) is an American writer, director, and actor. ... Isaiah Washington IV (born August 3, 1963) is an American film and television actor. ... Ossie Davis in The Green Pastures, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1951 Ossie Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an African American film actor, director and social activist. ... Charles Dutton (born January 30, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American actor/director. ... Terence Blanchard (b. ... The Columbia Pictures logo from 1993 to the present Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. ... October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... The Million Man March was a Black march of protest and unity convened by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in Washington, DC on October 16, 1995. ... This section has been identified as trivia. ... An anniversary (from the Latin anniversarius, from the words for year and to turn, meaning (re)turning yearly; known in English since c. ...

Plot

The trip begins in Los Angeles, California and ends in Washington, D.C. where the March is being held. Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State California County Los Angeles County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... Nickname: Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: , Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government  - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)  - City Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack...

The members of the group are:

• George (Charles S. Dutton), the bus driver and trip organizer
• Jeremiah (Ossie Davis), a downsized senior citizen who is an expert on African-American history
• Evan and Evan Jr. (Thomas Jefferson Byrd and De'aundre Bonds), an estranged father and son who are court ordered to be shackled together after Junior's arrest for petty theft
• Kyle and Randall (Isaiah Washington and Harry J. Lennix), a gay couple in the midst of breaking up
• Flip (Andre Braugher), a self-centered actor
• Gary (Roger Guenveur Smith), a police officer who is half black and half white
• Xavier (Hill Harper), a UCLA Film School student who is making a documentary
• Jamal (Gabriel Casseus), a former gangster turned Muslim seeking redemption
• Jay (Bernie Mac), a bubble gum company owner
• Mike (Steve White), a member of the Nation of Islam who remains silent for the entire trip
• Craig (Albert Hall), the original bus driver who is dealing with his teenage daughter's pregnancy.

Along the way, the men get to know each other and discuss various topics including their personal lives, their political beliefs and even the O.J. Simpson murder case. The stately Jeremiah reveals that after he lost his job, he became an alcoholic and eventually lost his family. He hopes the March will revitalize him and inspire him to turn his life around. Evan Jr., who fancies himself as a gangster named 'Smooth', manages to escape from his father at one point. In a visual reference to African-American slavery, he is running through the woods with his chains still attached. Evan Sr. finds Junior and realizes that he ran away from his son. He expresses regret and promises to make a sincere effort to be there for Junior. Charles Dutton (born January 30, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American actor/director. ... Ossie Davis in The Green Pastures, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1951 Ossie Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an African American film actor, director and social activist. ... Downsizing refers to layoffs initiated by a company in order to cut labor costs by reducing the size of the company. ... Old age consists of ages nearing the average lifespan of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. ... Look up expert in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... African American History or Black American History, a history of American blacks or Black Americans in the United States from their arrival in the Americas in the 16th century until the present day. ... Thomas Jefferson Byrd (born in Georgia), is an American actor. ... A court order is an official proclamation by a judge (or panel of judges) that defines the legal relationships between the parties before the court and requires or authorizes the carrying out of certain steps by one or more parties to a case. ... A shackle is a U-shaped piece of metal secured with a pin or bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Everyday instance of theft: the bike which fits on this wheel has disappeared In the criminal law, theft (also known as stealing) is the wrongful taking of someone elses property without that persons freely-given consent. ... Isaiah Washington IV (born August 3, 1963) is an American film and television actor. ... Harry Joseph Lennix (born November 16, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor. ... GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ... Andre Braugher (born July 1, 1962) is a two-time Emmy Award-winning American actor. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... Roger Guenveur Smith in Final Destination (2000) Roger Guenveur Smith (born July 27, 1959 in Berkeley, California) is an American writer, director, and actor. ... A police officer is a warranted employee of a police service. ... The terms multiracial, biracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestors are not of a single race. ... Hill Harper (born Frank Hill Harper on May 17, 1966) is an American film, television and stage actor. ... The UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television (TFT), located in Los Angeles, USA, is unique in that it combines all three (theater, film, and television) of these aspects into a single school. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Gang. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... For other uses of the word, see Redemption Redemption is a religious concept referring to forgiveness or absolution for past sins and protection from eternal damnation. ... Bernie Mac (born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on October 5, 1957 (sometimes incorrectly given as 1958) in Chicago, Illinois) is a two time Emmy Award-nominated American actor and comedian. ... Bubblegum is a type of chewing gum that is especially designed for blowing bubbles. ... Look up company in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Steve White is an African-American stand-up comedian and actor best known for his roles in Spike Lees films. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Albert P. Hall (born November 10, 1937) is an American actor. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The O.J. Simpson murder case was a highly publicized U.S. criminal trial in which former football star and actor O.J. Simpson was charged with the murder of one of his ex-wives and her friend. ... King Alcohol and his Prime Minister circa 1820 Alcoholism is the consumption of or preoccupation with alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the alcoholics normal personal, family, social, or work life. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Gang. ... The Atlantic slave trade was the trade of African slaves by Europeans that occurred in and around the Atlantic Ocean. ... Regret is often felt when someone feels sadness, shame, or guilt and primarily regret after commiting an action that the person later wishes that they had not done. ...

Xavier aka X begins interviewing the passengers and is seated next to Flip. Flip is an aspiring actor who boosts his ego and sexual prowess and seems more concerned with getting a film role opposite Denzel Washington than the purpose of the March. Flip further reveals that he is homophobic discovering the relationship between Kyle and Randall. Flip is also relatively confrontational questioning X for going to UCLA (Flip is a graduate of rival USC) and Gary for his very light complexion. Gary reveals that he is a biracial police officer working a beat in South Central Los Angeles. Gary has often been made a target of resentment from other African-Americans due to his complexion and profession. He was inspired to become a policeman after his father, a black cop was killed by a black gang member. Being of a biracial background, Gary is further picked on by Flip when he reveals that his white mother did not physically punish him (All the black men talk about how their black mothers engaged in physical punishment). Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, generally known as UCLA, is a public university whose main campus is located in the affluent Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. ... Doheny Library. ... Complexion describes ones physical appearance. ... The terms multiracial, biracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestors are not of a single race. ... South Los Angeles is the official name for a large geographic and cultural area lying to the south and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Predominantly Christianity and Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... For the band, see The Police. ... The terms multiracial, biracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestors are not of a single race. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Corporal punishment. ...

Gary then gets into a conversation about his job where bus member Jamal reveals that he is an ex-Crip who has converted to Islam. Since his conversion to Islam, Jamal works with children in his community to prevent them from joining gangs. In a tense conversation, the two debate over the causes of gang violence and the limits of repentance and forgiveness. When Jamal reveals that he committed murder and rape in his past, Gary states that he intends to arrest Jamal when they return to Los Angeles. Xavier captures as much as he can on his camcorder but the group often dismisses the earnest amateur filmmaker as "Spike Lee Jr." The level-headed George acts as sort of a referee and a counselor throughout the trip. The blue bandanas worn by most Crip gangs. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with gang. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Forgiveness it is the mental, emotional and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment or anger against another person for a perceived offence, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution[[:Template:American Psychological Association. ... Sony DV Handycam A camcorder is a portable electronic device for recording video images and audio onto an internal storage device. ... Look up amateur in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... This section has been identified as trivia. ... A referee is a person who has authority to make decisions about play in many sports. ...

Kyle is a Gulf War veteran who reveals that he was purposely shot by his own platoon because of his race and sexual orientation. Being gay, African-American and Republican, he feels persecution from all sides which has made him bitter. Although they are having problems in their relationship, Randall, tries to comfort his lover but makes a point of outing Kyle when he refuses to talk. Kyle is harassed further by the homophobic Flip who mocks him claiming "Oh my god, a gay black Republican, now I have seen everything!" with additional homophobic statements rants. Flip also picks on Randall for his effete gay mannerisms following Kyle's outing. A heated argument between Flip and Kyle turns violent when Flip punches Kyle. In the resulting fistfight, Kyle is victorious and Flip is embarrassed. Combatants UN Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf, Peter de la Billière, Khalid bin Sultan, Saleh Al-Muhaya, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 378 dead, 1,000 wounded see section below The Gulf War or the Persian Gulf War (16 January 1991... Platoon of the German Bundeswehr. ... Sexual orientation refers to the direction of an individuals sexuality, normally conceived of as falling into several significant categories based around the sex or gender that the individual finds attractive. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... // While outing often refers to an outdoor excursion, in the late twentieth century, the term acquired an additional meaning, taking someone out of the closet, that is, publicising that someone is secretly homosexual. ... Homophobia is a term used to describe: A culturally determined phobia manifesting as fear, revulsion, or contempt for homosexuality. ...

During the trip the bus breaks down and the group board a new bus. The new driver is Rick (Richard Belzer), who is white and Jewish. Eventually, he feels the need to speak out against Louis Farrakhan's Anti-Semitic statements. Rick talks about his parents' and other Jews' participation in the Civil Rights Movement but some members of the group fight back using Jewish stereotypes. At a rest stop, Rick quits the trip in protest telling George: "I wouldn't expect you to drive a bus to a Klan meeting." George drives the bus for the rest of the trip, with help from Evan Sr. who, while not licensed a bus driver, has experience driving trucks. Richard Belzer, born August 4, 1944, is an American stand up comedian, writer and actor. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Martin Luther King is perhaps most famous for his I Have a Dream speech, given in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom This article is about the civil rights movement following the Brown v. ... In modern usage, a stereotype is a simplified mental picture of an individual or group of people who share a certain characteristic (or stereotypical) qualities. ... In the United States, Canada and parts of Europe, a rest area, rest stop, service area, or service station is a public facility, located adjacent to a highway or interstate, at which drivers and passengers can eat and drink, take a stroll, let their children play in grassy park-like... Demonstrators march in the street while protesting the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on April 16, 2005. ... KKK may refer to: // Ku Klux Klan, white supremacy group(s) Katipunan (Society), a revolutionary group from Philippine history; full name Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan Anak ng Bayan (roughly translated: Supreme and Venerable Society of the Sons of the Nation) Kokusai Kogyo Kabushikigaisha, a Japanese bus and taxi company AG K...

The group meet various people at rest stops including fellow travelers, White American Southerners (who, to the group's surprise, are friendly) and women (with whom Flip tries to flirt). At a diner, the group meets Wendell (Wendell Pierce), a Lexus salesman whom they invite to join them. On the route, Wendell reveals that he is a successful businessman who graduated from Vanderbilt University and is a Republican. In the process Wendell reveals himself as a self-loathing bigot who is only attending the march in hopes of networking business deals in Washington. He is physically thrown off the bus. While driving through Knoxville, Tennessee, the bus is pulled over by Tennessee state troopers (Randy Quaid in an uncredited cameo). They are stopped on suspicion of drug trafficking and searched with drug-sniffing dogs despite the pleas of Gary who reveals his police officer identity to the troopers. The term White American officially refers to people of European, Middle Eastern, and North African descent residing in the United States. ... Historic Southern United States. ... This article is about flirtation. ... A diner in Freehold Borough, New Jersey This article is about a type of restaurant. ... Wendell Pierce (b. ... Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. ... Vanderbilt University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university in Nashville, Tennessee. ... Self-loathing in general refers to an extreme dislike of oneself or of oneselfs characteristics, often a symptom of Depression; in this sense, it is more or less synonymous with self-hatred, although neither are clinical terms. ... A bigot is a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own. ... Nickname: Location within the U.S. State of Tennessee. ... ... Randall Rudy Randy Quaid (born October 1, 1950) is an Academy Award-nominated actor and former comedian. ... Martin Scorsese appears briefly in an uncredited role in this scene from his feature film Taxi Driver. ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... A detection dog getting ready to search a car for explosives. ...

As the bus approaches Washington, D.C., Xavier discovers Jeremiah slumped over and unconscious in his seat. They rush him to a hospital and watch the beginning of March on television as they await word on Jeremiah. A doctor later informs the group that Jeremiah has died of heart disease. The men are shocked and saddened by Jeremiah's death. They end up watching the rest of the March from the hospital. George tells the men that the March should be seen as merely the beginning of a larger movement. Nickname: Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: , Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government  - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)  - City Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack... For the record label, see Hospital Records. ... Heart disease is an umbrella term for a number of different diseases which affect the heart and is the leading cause of death in the United States as of 2007. ...

Trivia

• In an effort to reflect the spirit of the March, the budget for the film was financed entirely by contributions from wealthy African-American men. Among the contributors were Will Smith, Danny Glover, Wesley Snipes, Robert Guillaume, Charles D. Smith and Johnnie Cochran.

• Although Louis Farrakhan headed the Million Man March and is talked about throughout the film, he is seen only very briefly from the back in the archive footage of the March.

• The end credits song, "On The Line", is composed by Babyface, sung by Michael Jackson and was recorded for this movie. It wasn't part of the soundtrack CD and later versions were released only on a special edition boxset for Michael Jackson's "Ghosts" (1997), and then again on his limited edition boxset "The Ultimate Collection" (2004).

• The actors who portray Flip (Andre Braugher) and Kyle (Isaiah Washington) had previously co-starred on Homicide: Life on the Street where like their characters on Get On The Bus they had gotten into a confrontation. This occurred on the episode "Black and Blue" where Braugher's character Frank Pembleton was investigating Washington's character C.C. Cox as a murder suspect. Additionally, Homicide co-star Richard Belzer was cast into the film.

See also William Smith and Will Smith (disambiguation) for other people with similar names. ... Danny Lebern Glover[1] (born July 22, 1946) is an American actor and film director. ... Wesley Trent Snipes (born July 31, 1962, in Orlando, Florida) is an American actor, martial artist and film producer. ... Robert Guillaume in 1980. ... Charles Daniel Smith (born July 16, 1965 in Bridgeport, Connecticut) is a former professional basketball player in the NBA. As a college player, Smith was named Big East Player of the Year. ... Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. ... Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. ... Stock footage, also termed archive footage, and file footage is a film either in the public domain or available for a set fee that can thus be put into any other film. ... Kenneth Babyface Edmonds (born April 10, 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an R&B and pop singer, songwriter, keyboardist, record producer, film producer, and entreprenuer. ... Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the King of Pop, is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. ... GHOSTS is a short feature film by Michael Jackson which could also be classified as a long-form music video. ... Andre Braugher (born July 1, 1962) is a two-time Emmy Award-winning American actor. ... Isaiah Washington IV (born August 3, 1963) is an American film and television actor. ... Homicide: Life on the Street is an American television drama series chronicling the life of a fictional Baltimore police homicide unit. ... Detective Francis Xavier Pembleton is a fictional homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Andre Braugher. ... Richard Belzer, born August 4, 1944, is an American stand up comedian, writer and actor. ...

Additional cast

• Wendell Pierce as Wendell
• Joie Lee as Jindal
• Kristen Wilson as Shelly
• Paula Jai Parker as Jamilia
• Gina Ravera as Gina

Wendell Pierce (b. ... Joie Lee (born Joie Susannah Lee on June 22, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York, USA) is an American screenwriter, film producer, film director and actress. ... Kristen Wilson (born November 11, 1969) is an actress who was born and raised in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, near Boston. ... Paula Jai Parker (born August 19, 1969) is an African-American actress and comedian. ... Gina Ravera (Born May 20, 1968 in San Francisco, California, USA) is an American actress. ...

External links

• Get on the Bus at the Internet Movie Database
• Get on the Bus review by Roger Ebert