...In the screenplay “Fences,” written by August Wilson, he sheds light on important issues such as racism an African American family, the Maxsons. The play is set in the 1950’s where racism was still at its highest. Although during this time sports teams were becoming integrated, minorities were still not considered equal, thus making the fight for equality tiresome. In the article titled, “Racial Segregation: 1950s and Today,” published by Rollins College, elaborates how racism affected daily life during the 1950’s and compares it to today’s society. In Jay Plum’s article entitled, “Blues, History, and The Dramaturgy of August Wilson,” recaps on Wilson’s plays which contain overlapping themes relating to the struggles African Americans faced with discrimination. The message behind Wilson’s work along with the results of what being on the receiving side of racial inequality are important because…...
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...A difficult life of discrimination and racism began when Motley went to high school, and while on the football team was denied pads and a uniform. Despite not having the essential safety equipment to play the sport, he pushed through and prevailed.It was at McKinley high school where he was coached by future Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown. In 1940, Motley transferred from South Carolina State College to the University of Nevada. Both talented and versatile, he would become one of the university's star players. It was also here that the young player endured a constant battle for equality and justice. He rallied against racism both on and off the field, but never let that get in between him and his determination to play football. In a game against the...
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...successful effort to tell a story about a high school football team and the struggles they go through to win a grand championship. While telling this story, Bissinger is able to address a deeper message about an American addiction to football, and the toll that this takes on the players and students. Showing themes of racism and athletics over academics, this book gives a new perspective on what it means to be a student in this town. This book takes place in the small town of Odessa, a conservative Texas town where football reigns supreme, and every Friday, crowds of almost 20,000 gather at the Permian Football Field to watch the Panthers play. Roaring crowds and team spirit fill the arena. The town revolves around football, to the point of obsession. When the star player, Boobie Miles suffers a leg injury, the town’s social issues begin to become noticed, and the team must work to achieve success in the Texas State Championships. With the help of new coach Gary Gaines, the Permian Panthers work hard in a tale that exposes corruption and unhealthy...
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...Odessa is a town where football rains supremacy to everything else. Not school, not politics or any other major topic in the town or country can dethrone football as it is what the town and people live for. Odessa is not a town where one goes to find a successful life, it's a place one goes to have Permian football engraved in their mind. Through "Friday Night Lights" by H.G. Bissinger, we get to see the impact football has on Odessa and its citizens through the eyes of the 1988 Permian High football team and what they went through. The Permian Panthers of 1988 was a team that the author H.G. Bissinger spent a year studying to truly understand the importance that Permian football had on this town. He packed up his bags and moved to Odessa with his family. This is a big sacrifice he made in order to look at an enigma of high school football in Texas. By Bissinger doing this, he is able to give the whole country just a glimpse of what exactly Permian football is and what it stands for through his book. All of the characters stood for different virtues and had different traits, but one thing they all shared was there love for Permian football. Going from the players on the team, to the coaches,...
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...Orenthal James; The Person O.J. Simpson had a famous saying, “If I Did It”. Simpson was born on July 9, 1947 in San Francisco, California. He was the only child. O.J. Simpson was an amazing football player; he accomplished so much in life. He was accused of killing Caucasian woman. Orenthal James Simpson broke football records during his NFL tenure; however, his legacy will forever be named as are one of the best. O.J. was married to Marguerite Thomas in 1967. They had three children, Arnelle, Jason, Aaren. They were married for eight years but unfortunately they have gotten a divorce. In 1982, he got married again to Nicole Brown. They were together for ten years but they also got a divorce. They also had children, Sydney and Justin....
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...In the book of Fences Troy didn't want Cory to play football. Although he was a homerun king of the Negro Leagues, he couldn't graduate to the majors because of racial discrimination. Troy refuses to let his son play football, claiming that he doesn't want Cory to suffer from the same sort of heartache that he went through.Cory was a great football player, Troy a protective father, didn't want his son to go through the same hardships he went through, overlooked because of racism, and it would be a waste of time and he should focus on working at the A&P Company. Though Troy Maxson definitely wouldn't win any awards because of the color of his skin, he's widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the American stage. Knowing that...
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...Modern Urban World Torrence The differences Whites and Blacks, as well as their comparisons, are portrayed through two different movies of two different eras of American history. Remember the Titans centers around an integrated high school football team in Virginia in the 1970’s. The team has to figure out how to bond together as one in order to overcome racial adversity of the south in the 1970’s. The Great Debaters takes place in Texas during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Three black college students on a debate team, along with their coach Professor Tolson, travel the road debating more and more prestigious colleges, while developing as young educated black men (and women) in the racist 1930’s south. Character development is both films plays a vital role. In Remember the Titans, the relationship formed between Gary and Julius, and Boone and Yost symbolizes the White/Black differences coming together and actually forming stronger friendships then that of two of the same races. There were also the supporting roles of characters that helped integrate the football team such as Louie, Rev, and Blue who were the very first players who were able to set color aside as it has nothing to do with neither football nor the quality of a man. In The Great Debaters, the growth of Henry Lowe and the relationship between James Farmer Jr. and his father are crucial to watch. Henry Lowe starts off as a misguided young man who responds to conflicts with walking away and surrounds...
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...images and personalities has a negative effect on not only American Indian students but all students” (APA), This includes a number of different manners such as: forming stereotypes, creating discrimination towards a group of people, creating a hostile learning environment for American Indian students, and creating difficulties in allowing American Indians to accurately portray symbols and representations of their cultural and traditions. The APA is very decisive on their decision and determined that American Indian names and mascots have no place in schools, colleges, and universities. Lisa Thomas, PHD, APA representative summed it up nicely, "We know from the literature that oppression, covert and overt racism, and perceived racism can have serious negative consequences for the mental health of American Indian and Alaska native people. The discontinued use of American Indian mascots is a gesture to show that this kind of racism toward and the disrespect of, all people in our country and in the larger global context, will not be tolerated”. With that being said, the unfair discrimination and oppression of a group of people in...
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...silver medal in the 200 meter dash the 1936 Olympics. Jackie loved to play sports. In high school he ran track like his older brother and also played other sports like football, baseball, tennis, and basketball. He was the quarterback of the football and the star player on the baseball team. Jackie had a deal to racism all through high school. Most of his teammates were white. Most of the white people would cheer him on the field. He was treated second class citizen off the field. After college, Robinson went to play professional football, but his career to a quick end with the start of World War II. He was drafted into the army. Jackie met the famous boxing champion Joe Lewis at basic training and they became friends. Joe helped Robinson get accepted into officer training. Once Jackie finished his officer...
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...Fences, written by August Wilson, is about the journey of a man, Troy Maxon. Troy, was once a great baseball player but because he lived in a time of extreme racism he was not accepted to play on any major league teams, after coming out of jail, Troy had completely given up on his baseball dream. In Troy’s eyes giving up his baseball dream was a major life setback, it gave him an angry and stale attitude towards the world. Troy’s attitude is sour and sarcastic but he felt as though he was justified in that; he felt he had every right to be angry, although he took his attitude out towards undeserving people such as his loving family. Troy has no patience or tolerance for his boys, Lyons and Cory, he is mad at the world. Troy doesn’t approve...
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...film John Lee Hancock produced that shows social inequality. The movie is about a poor African American male who is trying to fit into an all-white community when he is taken in by the Tuohy family, who are very wealthy. He later becomes a sought-after football player, but not without having first felt discriminated against because of his race and indifferences. Throughout the film, social themes of racism, lifestyle, and upcoming recognition can be depicted in nonverbal and symbolic behaviors. Social Theme Scenes Highlighting on a few social themes from the film—starting with racism, Michael is stereo-typed while he walks through the school, or is playing football because of his race. Another example of social theme is Leigh Anne’s lifestyle. Her well-dressed appearance, her beautiful home, her involvement with Michael’s well-being inside and outside of school, and the places she socializes with her friends shows her social lifestyle as a strong, competitive, and compassionate person. Michael’s lifestyle; he grew up in poverty, his mother was a drug abuser, and he lived in multiple foster homes which he ran away from. In the last example of social theme, as Michael becomes the number one player on his football team, many colleges have their interest...
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...In a 1985 interview, he said this: “I'm a man first, and as I said, football was never my first occupation. My first occupation was the economic development of minorities” (“Black Champions”). He was mainly motivated to uplift the community around him, inspired by the tough times that America faced, and this started with his time in the league. Jim Brown had many differences with his coaches. For one, despite the fact that his NFL coach, Paul Brown, pioneered the league in coaching black players, Jim Brown did not entirely approve of it and instead managed the politics of the team in his own hands, ensuring that all the African-American players were treated equally, a mission that was complicated since it occurred in the civil rights era. Brown stated this: “I was a politician, as well as a football player because I organized the black players so that we would be treated fairly and equal to anyone else, and of course that always caused you a problem because at that time, you know, you're talking about late 50s, early 60s, and whenever we talk, we have to understand that that was my era, and that was a revolutionary era.” ("Black Champions"). The goal of Jim Brown's work was...
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...ES 260 – Race and Sports: Critical Thinking Writing Assignment One. The National Football League, most commonly referred to as the NFL, is a $163 billion- dollar professional sports juggernaut that is historically and presently under scrutiny for their league’s diversity policies and practices, especially when it comes to the hiring practices of the integral position of head coach. Frederick “Fritz” Pollard was the first black coach hired in NFL history in 1921 when he was named co-coach of the Akron Pros (at the time, they belonged to the American Professional Football Association). 70 years passed before another black head coach was able to roam the sidelines and lead a professional football organization. Head Coach, Art Shell, of the (then) Oakland...
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...get it done. There are tons of movies that deal with diversity, but a lot of those movies aren’t movies I’m interested in, this made my decision a lot harder. While looking through my movie collection I came across a few movies that fit the assignment description, Guess Whose Coming to Dinner, Glory Road, Guess Who, Remember the Titans, The Great Debaters, etc. After finding all these movies I decided I wanted to do something that deals with something I can closely relate to, after some great thought I went with the Disney movie, Glory Road. Glory Road is a movie that is based on a true story that happened at the University of Texas El Paso in 1966. It addresses the events that the players and coaches faced during this time period due to racism. Once a girl’s high school basketball coach, Don Haskins was recruited by UTEP to be the head coach of the men’s basketball program. At the time of taking the job, Coach Haskins had no idea what he got himself in to. He walked himself into a program with a non-existent recruiting budget. With no money to recruit Coach Haskins was not able to attract the more popular and well-known white player to UTEP. Not willing to give up on his winning tendencies he decides to change it up by recruiting African American players from New York. In America during the 1960s race was an overriding issue in sports. Black players were openly admitted to be superior to whites in basketball, and black players clearly changed the character of the game during the...
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...What is the American Dream? The American Dream is a national aspiration of the United States that sets the standard of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, as well as growth and longevity for those who work hard, showcase determination, and who are resourceful. But how does the American Dream look? Most Americans picture a small town white boy, who is a senior athlete in high school, that receives a football scholarship to play in college. Then he later graduates and starts running a business that turns into a multimillion dollar company. Its sounds so simple, but what is the black American dream. Is it to struggle all your life and learn to embrace the struggle to get out the struggle. Then you must...
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