Watch The 24th

The 24th is a historical drama movie released in 2020. It is directed by Kevin Willmott and stars Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, and Aja Naomi King in the lead roles. The movie is set in Houston, Texas, in 1917, during World War I. The story revolves around the 24th United States Infantry Regiment, which was comprised of African American soldiers who were mostly recruited from the South. The 24th Infantry was formed as part of the 8th Illinois National Guard and was later reassigned to the U.S. Army.

The movie starts with the introduction of Boston Lee, a young African American soldier, who is proud to serve his country and fight for his rights. Boston and his fellow soldiers arrive in Houston and are immediately confronted with the harsh reality of segregation and racial discrimination. The white soldiers and civilians treat the African American soldiers with disrespect, calling them names and making their lives miserable.

Despite the challenging conditions, the 24th Infantry Regiment continues to train and prepare for battle. However, tensions rise between the black soldiers and white locals, and the situation becomes explosive when a group of white policemen arrest a black soldier for intervening in a dispute.

The arrest triggers a chain of events that leads to a full-blown riot. The black soldiers feel unfairly treated and ignored by their commanding officers, who are mostly white. Hence, they decide to take matters into their own hands and retaliate against the white community that has oppressed them for so long.

The riot causes chaos in the city, and the army is forced to intervene to restore order. The soldiers are ordered to break up the riot, and they are met with fierce resistance from the locals, resulting in many casualties on both sides.

The movie explores several themes, such as racial discrimination, social injustice, and the tension between African American soldiers and their white counterparts. It highlights the struggles and sacrifices of black soldiers who fought for their country, only to return home to a racist and oppressive society.

Trai Byers plays the role of Boston Lee, who becomes the voice of reason during the riot. He tries to discourage his fellow soldiers from engaging in violent acts and instead, advocates for peaceful resolution. Byers does an excellent job portraying Boston's character, who is a proud and patriotic soldier, but also a man who wants to see change in his society.

Bashir Salahuddin plays the role of Sergeant Hayes, the commanding officer of the 24th Infantry Regiment. He struggles with his loyalty to his superiors and his duty to protect his men. Salahuddin's performance is impressive, and he effectively portrays Hayes' dilemma and the difficulties of being a black officer in a white-dominated army.

Aja Naomi King plays the role of Marie, an African American teacher who becomes involved in the riot. She represents the voices of the black community, who have suffered from years of oppression and segregation. King's portrayal of Marie is powerful, and she delivers an emotional performance that captures the struggles and resilience of black women during that era.

The 24th is a gripping and thought-provoking movie that sheds light on an important moment in history. It highlights the struggles and sacrifices of African American soldiers who fought for their country, only to return home to a society that denied them basic rights. The movie is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, social justice, and civil rights.

The 24th is a 2020 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 56.