The film “Remember the Titans” by Boaz Yakin tells a true story of a black American coach who dedicates himself to integrating a high school football team in various regions, such as Virginia and Alexandria, in the early 1970s (Caryl, 2019). The film portrays the struggles of black athletes in times of racial segregation and the strategies they put in place to overcome the obstacles faced together as a black team. They also come together as a team to overcome obstacles. The film adequately addresses the problem of racism in sports and provides insight into the strategies that were applied to overcome the issue of racism in sports.
The film depicts the role of sports in the struggle to break the barrier of racism in sports. In the film, there is a depiction of solid racial struggles between the whites and the blacks. It depicts an integration of a football team that creates a unique opportunity for the white and black players to create a strong team, play together, and work as a team towards a common goal (Duckworth, 2019). In the film, the players from different racial backgrounds come together; they view each other as individual players instead of a racial block and play together to meet their team objectives.
The Movie “Remember the Titans” also depicts racism in sports regarding the impact of leadership on team dynamics. The film depicts the football team’s coach, Herman Boone, as a leader who is determined to integrate the team and ensure that all the races present work together to achieve the team’s objectives (Duckworth, 2019). The leader is also a strong-minded individual working to impact the team enormously. The team leaders show others a good example and act as their role models in the integration process. He also uses his position of authority to challenge his players to stop relying on prejudices to judge others. Instead, he overlooks their racial differences to work together for the team’s objectives. The coach also ensures that the team gives the players s safe environment where they feel respected and safe. The environment the coach creates ensures that the racial differences herein are celebrated and not shunned.
The film was criticized for presenting an idealistic view of racism in sports then. During the 1970s, the process of football integration seemed more complex than the movie’s depiction. The movie is an unrealistic depiction because, during that time, the players witnessed and experienced a lot of racial discrimination and abuse from various parties, which included fellow players, coaches, and fans (Caryl, 2019). With all of the issues mentioned above happening around sports, it would not be realistic to point out that the movie caused integration or depicted a real-life situation. Additionally, inequality directed at some races, such as blacks, is still witnessed today; it would be unrealistic to point out that the movie presented an actual situation by fully integrating racial equality among players (Kalman-Lamb, 2020). The film fails to address the racial equality issue that is still happening in the current era.
Also, the film presents racism in sports as a personal issue that individuals can work out by simply changing their attitudes towards other races. Ironically, racism is a societal issue and deeply embedded in society; it takes the whole society to change the issue about racism and not just an individual, as it is a result of systematic and historical discrimination (Caryl, 2019). Despite the negative aspects of the move regarding racism in sports, it shed light on the issue of racism in society and the sports docket. It also provides strategies to overcome racism as a team and as individuals. It is an inspiration for change.
References
Caryl, C. (2019). Remember the Titans.
Duckworth, J. (2019). Team Success and the Importance of Strong Leadership.
Kalman-Lamb, N. (2020). The (African) American Dream. Sports in African American Life: Essays on History and Culture.
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