School Daze is a 1988 musical comedy-drama film written, directed, and produced by Spike Lee. The film is set on the campus of the fictional historically black Mission College during homecoming weekend. The main conflict of the film is between the Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity, the Gamma Rays sorority, and the rest of the student body.
The film follows the story of Dap Dunlap (played by Larry Fishburne), a politically active student who is fighting against the school's administration and the Greek letter organizations. Meanwhile, his cousin, Half-Pint (played by Lee), is desperate to join the Gamma Rays sorority but faces discrimination because of his dark skin.
As the homecoming weekend festivities unfold, tensions rise between the Greek organizations and the rest of the students. It all comes to a head during a step show competition in which the Gamma Rays and the Wannabes (a new non-Greek group on campus) clash with the Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity, leading to a physical altercation.
Throughout the film, Lee explores themes of colorism, identity, and the divide between African Americans based on socioeconomic background. The film’s soundtrack features original music by jazz musician Branford Marsalis along with songs by Public Enemy, E.U., and Teena Marie.