Sewell asked his students who was a mediator on the bus. All knew. The bus driver, George, played by Charles S. Dutton, always seemed to have something beneficial to say to placate guys with sharp differences. “Why was he effective?” Sewell asks.
“Because he always saw both sides,” a student says. “He was calm. He was knowledgeable. He touched on things they all had in common, like pride in Black history.”
“Are there conflicts among you guys?” Sewell asks. “Come on, I know there are,” Sewell says.
School has been in session for less than a month, but the guys say they already have clashed with roommates over issues like neatness and noise.
“Is there any one of you who is good as a mediator?”
“Yes, Marvin,” says one young man, and the other students agree.
One thing the learning community is about, Sewell says, is raising up more Georges, more Marvins.
The discussion about “Get On the Bus” was doubly relevant. Not only is Sewell’s mission to instill leadership values, but also, as it happened, the group was preparing to take their own bus ride to Washington Oct. 14 for the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March.
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
