Juma has a very good work ethic. So far he has managed to stay out of trouble. He has managed to find himself a Job and he has worked since he came in this country.
Unfortunately, he has been very unhappy with his work situation. Since he does not have the right immigration documentation, he can not find a descent job. He is paid through cash as a kitchen help in a small restaurant in Minneapolis.
His frustration with his circumstances force him to re-evaluate how long can he keep up with this dream, an American dream that has eluded him since he lacks the necessary papers.
This epic film is about his life and his decision making process answering the main question of whether he should continue to chase the American dream or give it up and go back to Bongo. His main question “Would you rather be a well fed slave or a hungry free man.
Most of Juma’s friends are advising him otherwise. They are telling him to stay and face the music like they did because, they believe life will eventually get better.
Juma would often talk about the concept of “suffering in comfort” where he explains how this country is full of comforts and luxuries, cars, nice apartments, clothes etc, but at the same time having to deal with lack of opportunities, separation from family for prolonged period of time, and lack of proper pay even if one had a job. This according to Juma is suffering in comfort. He equates this situation to giving a blanket to a wrongly accused prisoner who sits in jail so that he can no longer experience the cold floor when he goes to bed. As much as this prisoner needs this blanket, his true help would be to get him out of jail. Only Juma can explain his plight through this example.