Can’t Forget the Titans

Football. Enraged coaches. Loud boys. Sounds like the typical go-to movie for middle school and high school boys, right? The answer couldn’t be any further from no. Remember the Titans, although being about the popular sport of football, has an incredibly deep plot, with too many important lessons and themes to count weaved in between the pleasantly fulfilled scenes. This past Monday, I had the chance to watch the movie in class and to reflect on the qualities demonstrated by the characters. By the end of the movie it was evidently apparent that there was not a single person in the classroom who was not moved and touched by the viewing in one way or another.

The plot starts off in Virginia of 1971, during the time of when integrated races was just being introduced. One town in particular was having to mix their high school with students who were both black and white. This idea was considered outrageous at the time, for segregation between the two skin colors was distinctly defined as prohibited prior to this. However, with new rules beginning to become enforced, the town has to learn to cooperate. The story is focussed on the high school’s football team, the Titans, and how they overcame their differences and learned to work together as a team. Although encountering numerous difficulties, their coach Herman Boone not only whips them into immaculous shape, but forces them to treat each other as equals. At one point he says, “I don’t care if you like each other right now, but you will respect each other”. However, at the end, it becomes clear that they more than respect each other. Referring to each other as “brothers”, their tight, unbreakable bond is what leads them to victory in the end, in both life and football.

Overall, Remember the Titans demonstrated the capability of successfully setting aside our differences in culture and race to work together to reach one goal. Whether this goal be something as big and broad as making the world a better place, or as small as winning a football game, they are all relevant and share equal importance. Personally I believe that even in today’s world, years and years after equal rights laws and the end of segregation, our tendency of making accepting uniqueness a difficult task is what separates us as a good nation from a great nation. If our world took a close look at this inspiring movie, there is no doubt in my mind that it would become a significantly better place than it exists as today.

~Liz