Get on the Bus

As the Spotted Owl Bus rumbles out of Los Angeles, a diverse group of twelve African American men, bound together by their shared destination and demographic, embark on a journey towards Washington D.C.'s Million Man March. This motley crew, comprised of individuals from all walks of life, finds common ground in their experiences as black men in America, despite their vastly different backgrounds.

There's George (Charles S. Dutton), the driving force behind the trip; Jeremiah aka "Pop" (Ossie Davis), an 80-year-old senior citizen with a wealth of knowledge on African-American history; and Evan & Evan Jr. aka "Smooth" (Thomas Jefferson Byrd and De'Aundre Bonds), a father-son duo struggling to reconcile their differences following Junior's arrest for petty theft.

The group also includes Kyle & Randall (Isaiah Washington and Harry J. Lennix), a same-sex couple on the brink of separation; Flip (Andre Braugher), a self-absorbed Hollywood actor with questionable values; Gary (Roger Guenveur Smith), a LAPD officer grappling with his mixed heritage; Xavier (Hill Harper), a UCLA Film School student chronicling their journey through documentary filmmaking; Jamal (Gabriel Casseus), a former gangster seeking redemption through Islam; Jay (Bernie Mac), the proprietor of a bubble gum company; and Mike (Steve White), a conspiracy theorist convinced that the march is a plot to gather one million black men, only to be rounded up for mass extermination.

Craig (Albert Hall), the bus driver, is preoccupied with his teenage daughter's pregnancy, while Jeremiah shares his own tale of heartbreak, revealing that after losing his job and succumbing to alcoholism, he lost his family. He hopes the March will serve as a catalyst for personal transformation.

As the journey unfolds, the men engage in lively discussions about their personal lives, political beliefs, and even the O.J. Simpson murder case. While they may differ on many fronts, they find common ground in their perception that Simpson's acquittal was a form of "payback" for systemic racism against black people in America.

Throughout the trip, these strangers-turned-traveling-companions discover shared experiences, forge connections, and confront their own demons as they converge towards Washington D.C.'s Million Man March.

As Evan Jr., aka "Smooth", seizes the opportunity to break free from his father's grasp, Evan Sr. finally grasps the truth about Junior's rebellious behavior - a desperate cry for attention stemming from his neglectful parenting. With a heavy dose of regret, he promises to make amends and be present in Junior's life.

Meanwhile, Xavier, aka "X", sets out to capture the essence of the March through his humble video camera. As he conducts interviews with the passengers, each individual shares their unique perspective on life, revealing the complexities and contradictions that define them. Despite his earnest efforts, Xavier is often dismissed as "Spike Lee Jr." by the group, a label he wears with pride.

Tensions escalate when Flip takes center stage, regaling the group with boasts of his sexual conquests and fixation on securing a role opposite Denzel Washington. However, beneath his braggadocious exterior lies a bigoted individual who revels in homophobia and racism. This toxic behavior prompts Kyle and Randall to confront Flip about their sexuality, while Gary, a biracial police officer, shares the painful story of his father's murder at the hands of black street gang members - an incident that drove him to become a law enforcement officer.

Gary's emotional revelations spark Jamal to open up about his troubled past as a Crip gang member who found redemption through Islam and community outreach work. As they engage in a tense discussion, the two men debate the root causes of gang violence and the limits of forgiveness. Jamal's shocking confession that he committed murder and rape during his gang days prompts Gary to inform him that he will be arrested upon their return to California, serving as a stark reminder of the consequences for past actions.

As Kyle's troubled past begins to unfold, it becomes clear that his experiences as a 1991 Gulf War veteran have left deep scars. Having been deliberately targeted by his own platoon due to his race and sexual orientation, Kyle feels like he's caught in the crossfire of societal prejudices. As a gay, African-American Republican, he's faced persecution from all sides, leaving him with a sense of bitter resentment. Despite their relationship woes, Randall tries to offer Kyle some comfort, but ultimately ends up outing him when Kyle refuses to open up about his feelings. This sparks a torrent of homophobic abuse from Flip, who can't resist taking cheap shots at Kyle's sexuality. The insults only escalate until Kyle finally fights back, emerging victorious in the process.

Meanwhile, the bus itself becomes a symbol of the group's fragility as it breaks down, forcing them to board a new vehicle under the guidance of Rick (Richard Belzer), a white Jewish man who's keenly aware of his own heritage. As they journey on, Rick can't help but speak out against Louis Farrakhan's anti-Semitic remarks, which he believes are a form of hate speech. His words spark a heated debate with George and others in the group, who begin to use Jewish stereotypes in their responses. The tension boils over at a rest stop when Rick quits the trip in protest, citing his refusal to support a march led by someone who's made racist statements against both white and Jewish people.

In a surprising twist, George accuses Rick of being a racist for not supporting the march, despite Farrakhan's own bigoted remarks. While Rick maintains that he's not a racist, George refuses to accept this and instead chooses to agree to disagree with him. As Rick departs, George is left to grapple with the complexities of his own beliefs and the true nature of their group's mission. With Evan Sr.'s help, George takes the reins once more, navigating the bus through the rest of the trip amidst the simmering tensions and unspoken prejudices that threaten to derail them at every turn.

As the bus traverses the American heartland, the group encounters an eclectic assortment of individuals at rest stops and roadside diners. Among them are affable White Southerners, whose warm demeanor surprises the group, as well as women from diverse backgrounds, including African Americans, with whom Flip attempts to strike up conversations. It is during one such encounter that they meet Wendell (Wendell Pierce), a Lexus car salesman who, despite George's reservations about the potential consequences of his actions, manages to secure a spot on the bus by bribing the driver.

As the bus makes its way toward the March, Wendell reveals himself to be a die-hard Republican, driven by a desire to capitalize on the event by peddling cars. His remarks, which paint liberal African Americans like Jesse Jackson as misguided and conservative blacks such as Colin Powell as exemplars of success, are met with growing incredulity and eventually, outright hostility from the other passengers. Wendell's condescending tone and derogatory language, including his use of the term "niggers" to describe several individuals on the bus, ultimately prompt the group to forcibly eject him from their midst.

The bus is next pulled over by Tennessee state troopers (one of whom makes a cameo appearance courtesy of Randy Quaid), who suspect it of being involved in drug trafficking. Despite Gary's attempts to intercede, showing his LAPD badge and explaining that they are merely a group of travelers heading to the March, the troopers remain unmoved, subjecting the bus to a thorough search using drug-sniffing dogs. Fortunately, their efforts yield nothing illicit, and the bus is eventually permitted to continue its journey.

As the group approaches Washington, D.C., tragedy strikes when Xavier discovers Jeremiah slumped over and unconscious in his seat. The men rush him to a hospital, where they anxiously await news of his condition while watching the early stages of the March on television. A doctor later delivers the devastating news that Jeremiah has succumbed to heart disease, leaving the group stunned and grief-stricken.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the bus is redirected to a local hospital, where the men are forced to watch the remainder of the March from afar, their initial goal now impossible to achieve. George, in an attempt to put the events into perspective, views Jeremiah's passing as merely the beginning of a larger movement, rather than its end.

In the film's poignant final scene, George leads the group in a prayer written by Jeremiah before his untimely death, as they stand solemnly before the iconic Lincoln Memorial.