Customer Reviews

10,000 Black Men Named George

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's the 1920's and finding work is hard, but if you are a black man it's even worse. So if you happen to have a job as a Pullman on the trains, you work that job with pride, you don't complain, and you keep your mouth shut. It does not matter that you have your own name, it does not matter that you are seen as less then a man, it does not matter you have dirty shoes thrown at you to shine, you smile and you take it. But what happens when you finally realize enough is enough? What can you do, who do you turn to, how much are you willing to sacrifice to get what you truly deserve? Will you continue to stand for what you believe in, no matter how much others will dissuade you, or beat you down?

Those are the questions that will be asked while watching this film. I found this to be a poignant film. I don't have Showtime, and I had never heard of this film, and found a copy in the library. I enjoyed this film so much I plan to add this to my collection. The historical content alone is what kept me riveted to the screen, and you feel the pain of the men in this film. I mean to have your own name, but to be called "George" every day, and working for a meager $60 a month? The acting in this film is stellar. The only reason I'm not giving this film a 5 is because I felt it could have been a little longer. Andre Braugher is a great actor, and one who should receive more accolades. Mario Van Peebles does his best performance in this film especially. Mario is an excellent actor who needs to make better film choices. I have yet to see Charles Dutton in a bad film role. This is a movie you must see!!!

A simple movie in a college, something other than the usual lecture, a few hours to relax during an early morning Saturday class... That's how this movie started; yet it opened my eyes, taught me some history and made me wonder where the strength of the "Georges" came from. Captivating, enjoyable and action packed, this story also teaches the viewer an important history lesson, as well as a lesson of life and freedom and our fellow man. Maybe the directing wasn't perfect - I don't remember. Maybe the actors weren't the best - I don't remember that either. But for what I walked away with - I give the movie: Five Stars!!!

Excellent - should be a must see for all high school seniors and college freshmen. This movie showcases excellent African-American talent as they present the hardships and struggles of A. Phillip Randolph and the Pullman Porters in trying to establish a union. It is an almost forgotten part of our history that should be remembered.

This film covers the 12-year period from 1925-37, and all of the struggles that the African-American porters who worked for the George Pullman Railroad Company went through on their way to becoming successfully unionised. It seems so unthinkable and morally reprehensible that not so long ago in history, these hard-working men were allowed to be treated this way, like being beaten up, all called "George" instead of by their real names, ordered around, given tips for doing things like shining passengers' shoes or even barking like a dog, being at the white passengers' beck and call, being accused of stealing company property when it was the white passenger who had been attempting to steal the train's linens, and fired just because they'd dared to attend meetings about unionising. And because of the situation at the time, they couldn't protest, since making only $60 a month was still better than having no job.

When the movie starts, in 1925, American society is on the up-and-up, with unions, organised labor, and Socialism not exactly being very popular or approved-of causes, with a lot of hatred, mistrust, and fear directed towards them. Initially, Asa Philip Randolph meets with a lot of resistance when trying to even start a movement for organising the porters. However, he has the advantage of not being a porter and therefore being unable to be fired from that line of work, and he has such great organising skills and such persuasive and impassioned rhetoric that eventually even people who were initially against the idea come over to his side. Along the way the porters and their allies have to put up with things like spies, attempted intimidation by the white men running the Pullman corporation, firings, accusations of Bolshevism, criminal violence, and attempted bribery by the Pullman execs who want Randolph to step down and stop what he's doing. Even when things finally seem to be going their way when FDR is sworn in as president, with more sympathy for organised labor and the working-class, there are still obstacles put in their way by the white establishment, people who just can't grasp that this union is going to happen whether they like it or not, that there's much too much support for it for their old tactics of fear, intimidation, and random illegal unjustified firings to still succeed and go unprotested. They thought it would or could never happen, but it finally did.

This movie is a powerful and moving history lesson and should be required viewing for everyone, whatever their race. Though there's still a lot of racism in America today, at least it's not as awful or as institutionalised as it was back in the Twenties and Thirties. Thanks to people like A. Philip Randolph, Milton Webster, and Ashley Totten, today African-American laborers have a right to be paid more than just $60 a month, the right to speak up when they're mistreated by racists, and most of all the right to be treated like human beings instead of sub-humans all branded with the name George.

A very moving, truthful account of the horrid treatment of black men, in an era of Prejudsice and discrimination. When the governemnt 'freed' blacks, it wasn't true freedom, and treatment of them was horrid, as many people did not progress in their own ways, holding on to the whole 'you are beneath me' attitude. This should be shown in schools nationwide!!

The movie based on actual accounts of history.., The conditions of employment during that post WW1 era for those railroad porters were criminal at the least.., And a few of the porters considered their rail line employment in the early 1900's a social step up from their sharecropping/slavery jobs... At one point in the movie, the porters told the journalist some passengers rode the rail lines (JUST) to treat the porters badly... Which goes to show the dregs-of-society in that era felt it was their birthly-right, social privilage to subject the porters with disdain & contempt.., The cultures civil laws & rules permitted & encouraged the dregs to randomly choose a person of color and destroy thier existence out of spite, at a whim.., The peculiar thing about the porters struggle for the union and work conditions didn't change their cultural standing but it was the begining., As the railroad owner inquired " The 10,000 George Movement was instrumental in changing the American culture".., Rate this movie "A" (rushed at the end)

African American piece of History ... Love having it in my collection to share with younger generation.

I remember seeing this film when I went on a bus ride to a Black Museum a few year's ago. Integration and assimilation has destroyed us to stand together to fight for what is right for all of us as a people. Let me not forget to mention that their is always a Judas amoung us who will sell out for 30 pieces of (silver).

This is a good movie that tells an important story of our nation's history. I do wish it was longer. I enjoyed the acting and Robert Townsend's direction. This made me want to do some research on Randolph myself. This is a wonderful that's a must see.