Remember the Titans Review

Last month middle school students watched a movie called Remember the Titans. The coordinators of “House” activities used the viewing as an opportunity to discuss important issues faced here at AST, specifically prejudice based on race.

Remember the Titans is based on a true story about football players who had to learn to set aside their differences and respect one another after their schools were desegregated and players of different races were joined together on the same team—the mighty Titans.

THE PLOT

The story begins when a school in Alexandria, Virginia, which previously had only allowed white students to attend, is forced to integrate and accept students of color.

What happens next is that the talented and beloved white Coach Yoast is replaced by Coach Boone, a black man of equal talent but who is not as accomplished or beloved by the school community. The team’s original players, who are white, become furious and stop playing for a time.

However, they eventually decide to stay on the team and head to a camp led by Coach Boone and his colleagues, including Coach Yoast. At camp, Coach Boone works hard to inspire the young men to accept one another, to play football to the best of their abilities, and to stand against racism, which Boone explains has divided their communities for far too long. By the end of camp, most of the players learn to respect each other and work together. Some even become friends with people who are different from themselves.

But when they arrive back home, many people aren't happy with these new friendships. The issues and prejudices of the “real world” cause great struggles for the team, and they nearly fall apart. However, most continue to learn to come together and end up winning big games, eventually even the State Championship.

However, one of their big wins is overshadowed when linebacker Bertier is paralyzed in a car crash. Although a tragedy, this accident leads to a sweet, climactic moment when Bertier, who is white, is visited by his new friend, a black player named Julius, in the hospital. In this emotional exchange, a nurse tells Julius that only family can enter the hospital room, and Bertier responds by saying that Julius is his brother. It’s a moving moment that causes viewers to shed more than a few tears while teaching an important lesson about the beauty of forming deep friendships with all people, no matter differences or social pressures.

Bertier would never be able to play typical football again, but he would go to the Paralympic Games, and despite this tragedy, the Titans’ struggles and victories made them go down in history.

The movie ends bittersweetly, though, because 10 years after the big game, Bertier dies in another car crash. The movie ends with his teammates, the coaches, some family and friends at his burial.

LESSON: The lesson of this story is that it isn't about the look of a man; it's about the soul. We should consider people for their character and not judge by race or culture. As Dr. Martin Luther King so wisely said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character..."

RATING: 5/5 stars

CONNECTIONS TO AST

Seventh grade English teacher Ms. Miller worked hard with the “House” coordinators to not only show this great movie to the students but create activities to educate us and foster conversation and growth. Here are some vocabulary words Ms. Miller wanted us to learn along with some “homework” she left for us.

Vocabulary -

• Segregation - the institutional separation of an ethnic, racial, religious, or other minority group from the dominant majority (dictionary.com)

• Discrimination - prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment (Merriam-Websterr)

• Integration - incorporation as equals into society or an organization of individuals of different groups (Merriam-Webster)

Our “Homework” -

1. ASK YOURSELF is there anyone you offended and should apologize to?

2. REMIND YOURSELF to be a leader and report ANY unfair treatment towards others.

3. CHALLENGE YOURSELF to become friends with one person at this school who is different than you.

4. ALWAYS REMEMBER to trust the soul of a person, and DO NOT focus on skin color.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP STOP RACISM

Sadly, racism is everywhere, and people have been standing up for their human rights for generations. Here are some ways you can fight back all the hate in this world.

1. DON'T JUDGE!

We shouldn't judge people by color, race, or religion.

2. Get to know someone who’s different from you.

Getting to know someone different will show you things you’ve never seen before.

3. DON'T MAKE RACIST JOKES!!!

Sadly, many kids in our school have been using inappropriate or racist language, and those words are hurtful. Some kids might find this funny, but it is no joke, and racist words or “jokes” have violent histories and can still lead to harmful behavior today.

(Photograph via the Washington Post)