Examples Of Racism In The Blind Side
In “The Blind Side” by John Lee Hancock, an important issue in the film is racism. The film is about a boy called Michael Oher that comes from a very poor and problematic community in the south of America. Racism is held by all members of all racers. Through racism, the Christian community are afraid of Michael but there thoughts change when they get to know him. Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
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Where do these racist sentiments come from?
The difference between the Tuohy’s community and Hurt Village is enormous. It is easy to see where the racist comments come from and many people in our class would have very similar thoughts to those in Memphis. When the viewer sees that the rich people in the Tuohy’s area never knew that there was even a place such as Hurt Village just around the corner, it gives us an insight into where the racist thoughts came from. People are afraid of different cultures and create horrible stereotypes that everyone believed, especially Leigh Anne’s friends. In an average persons head they have an image of Gangbanger Alton making money off drugs, having slaves and walking everywhere with a gun ready to shoot. Also mothers like Michaels, addicted to drugs, no money and living in an unstable community. The viewer would have never realised that there were such nice boys as Michael living in a community like Hurt
Village.
Why does Leigh Anne invite Michael into her home in spite of her fears? The viewer can obviously see that Leigh Anne has a very strong and unique personality. Leigh Anne can go from very angry to very sympathetic in a split second. When she first sees Michael in the rain, there is an immediate feeling of guilt for letting this poor black boy be left on the street while she goes home to a warm and comfortable house. She says “turn the car around now, I said turn it around!” The first time she realises her fears of having this boy in the family is just before she goes to sleep when she worries if he will steal anything. This is overcome in the morning when Leigh Anne finds sheets nicely folded on the couch. The viewer will think this is a key part in the story because she realises she can have trust in this unlucky boy.
How do we know that Leigh Anne and the Tuohy family have accepted Michael as a member of the family? The viewer is certain of this when Leigh Anne’s father rings up asking “so why is there this big black boy in the picture” the family then laughs as if it doesn’t matter that Michael’s in the picture. This clearly states that the family has over comed their racism towards Michael, he is a member of their family and his colour is no longer a concern, he is a person. However, later in the film in a scene at school, Collins walks in with her friends to the study hall and discovers Michael sitting there. Collins walks over and sits with Michael. Michael says,”why you sitting with me”, Collins then points out that she does it at home so she can do it at school. She does this because she wants to show her friends that they should not be afraid of Michael. This shows that even Collins, the most unlikely person to change has accepted the influences that Michael has on the family. All of this is confirmed when Michael is officially adopted.
Racism is an obvious key point in this film and it is shown by everyone at some stage. The influences towards the black people from the Christian community and other predominantly white communities leaves the black people separated from support. Racism comes from fear and a lack of knowledge about the people they are generalising about. Racism can be very subtle.
Where do these racist sentiments come from?
The difference between the Tuohy’s community and Hurt Village is enormous. It is easy to see where the racist comments come from and many people in our class would have very similar thoughts to those in Memphis. When the viewer sees that the rich people in the Tuohy’s area never knew that there was even a place such as Hurt Village just around the corner, it gives us an insight into where the racist thoughts came from. People are afraid of different cultures and create horrible stereotypes that everyone believed, especially Leigh Anne’s friends. In an average persons head they have an image of Gangbanger Alton making money off drugs, having slaves and walking everywhere with a gun ready to shoot. Also mothers like Michaels, addicted to drugs, no money and living in an unstable community. The viewer would have never realised that there were such nice boys as Michael living in a community like Hurt
Village.
Why does Leigh Anne invite Michael into her home in spite of her fears? The viewer can obviously see that Leigh Anne has a very strong and unique personality. Leigh Anne can go from very angry to very sympathetic in a split second. When she first sees Michael in the rain, there is an immediate feeling of guilt for letting this poor black boy be left on the street while she goes home to a warm and comfortable house. She says “turn the car around now, I said turn it around!” The first time she realises her fears of having this boy in the family is just before she goes to sleep when she worries if he will steal anything. This is overcome in the morning when Leigh Anne finds sheets nicely folded on the couch. The viewer will think this is a key part in the story because she realises she can have trust in this unlucky boy.
How do we know that Leigh Anne and the Tuohy family have accepted Michael as a member of the family? The viewer is certain of this when Leigh Anne’s father rings up asking “so why is there this big black boy in the picture” the family then laughs as if it doesn’t matter that Michael’s in the picture. This clearly states that the family has over comed their racism towards Michael, he is a member of their family and his colour is no longer a concern, he is a person. However, later in the film in a scene at school, Collins walks in with her friends to the study hall and discovers Michael sitting there. Collins walks over and sits with Michael. Michael says,”why you sitting with me”, Collins then points out that she does it at home so she can do it at school. She does this because she wants to show her friends that they should not be afraid of Michael. This shows that even Collins, the most unlikely person to change has accepted the influences that Michael has on the family. All of this is confirmed when Michael is officially adopted.
Racism is an obvious key point in this film and it is shown by everyone at some stage. The influences towards the black people from the Christian community and other predominantly white communities leaves the black people separated from support. Racism comes from fear and a lack of knowledge about the people they are generalising about. Racism can be very subtle.