Analysis of Historical Accuracy of "Remember the Titans"

I have chosen the classic movie of “Remember the Titans”, a film directed by Boaz Yakin. The great story headlines a community getting tested to their wits when their school, of an all-white school, is forced to integrate with an all-black school. In 1971 in Virginia, high school football was everything to the town of Alexandria. Friday night football game were seen as a weekly holiday that must be celebrated in the late summers into the duration of fall for T.C. Williams. So with such recognition and notoriety there’s no question that there will be uprise when integration is forced. This film illustrates the struggle of racial prejudice for blacks that was still prevalent in the south and how a group of teenage boys formed an inseperable bond no matter the color of skin. The film is an excellent candidate for a film to be watch in this class as it demonstrates racial inequality, the struggle to make it just and how a simple event can change the whole moral of a community no matter the issue at hand. Every movie Hollywood creates there will be true fragments and then altered events to make the movie more cliche and happy ending esque. Remember the Titans is no exception. Actually there was a lot of false portrayal that is contradictory to actual events that happened. To further encourage the players and single them out, head ball coach Herman Boone, an African American, states to his players that other schools don’t have to worry about race.

But that T.C. Williams does. According to the history books that is not true. In fact, all the schools on T.C. Williams schedule that year were indeed integrated years previously! Having coach Boone say that to his players demonstrates the uphill battle that they wage internally amongst themselves and then externally amongst others in and outside community. It furthers the notion of racial tension and the plot in the movie of how to overcome the difficulties they’re inflicted with. Coach Boone saw the tension cause severance amongst the players in the locker room. At a summer camp at Gettysburg college the heat was the hottest then concerning the integration policy. The film shows the players being woken up by coach Boone to go on a 3 mile hike onto the battlefield and resting places of fallen Gettysburg soldiers to explain if we can’t get along and come together as a team right now, then we will falter like them. Coach Boone embarks his teams journey with the convergence of white and black and preaches that it’s what's in your heart and not the color of your skin. This was also not true and did not occur to the T.C. Williams team. Giving the element of Hollywood in the film and it gives the audience insight on what the tension was concerning integration during the 1970’s in southern America at the same time.Remember the Titans demonstrates the morals and values of what modern leaders preach to the youth, elder, and everyone in the world. About ending racism. T.C. Williams starts a black quarterback. One white offensive lineman in particular expresses how much he dislikes him privately to his other white teammates.

One play during the movie the white lineman purposely missed a block and allowed a bone crushing hit to the quarterback. Tu ending in the quarterback breaking his hand and ending his season. Ensuing the game after a victory the team captain which is white confronts coach Boone knowing he missed the block on purpose and asks for him to be kicked off the team. This shows the connection for white and blacks to be progressive with some and regressive and subjectile with others.Forthgoing with the several examples where racial tension is prevalent. Gerry Bertier’s mother denies several times to meet Gerry’s new friend Julius. Julius is black. The film progresses on and Gerry’s mother pushes through her previous thoughts about blacks and decides to open her heart and meet Julius. This shows progressive action amongst the racial integration. Which there are consistent examples in this film to show that.I believe this film is a superb candidate to show in this class because it shows a true, actual event that illustrates a modern highly debated social issue and the struggles they went through and dealt with them. Additionally it adds the element of the hollywood in the film which better suits this film solidly for this class.