Remember The Titans: Racial Tensions Between Team

Remember the Titans Essay:

In the movie Remember the Titans, racial tensions between team members, friends, and even parents with their children are apparent on and off the field as the Titans, newly integrated, make their state championship run. Three main conflicts arise during the film: that of Coach Yoast and Coach Boone, their children, and Gerry Bertier, attempting to make the rest of the world accept his new “brother”, Julius Campbell, an African – American.
Coach Yoast and Coach Boone begin with an interesting relationship; they are two phenomenal coaches, seemingly united by a desire to win. However, as the movie evolves, differences arise between the two. Coach Yoast, who acts as assistant coach under Coach Boone, starts off
on bad terms with Coach Boone by showing obvious favoritism for his all-white football team. Soon after this, Coach Boone puts him in his place by showing that he does not see color like the others do; he sees football players, and that is how he will decide on the starting lineup. If they show him commitment, dedication, hard work, and, most importantly teamwork, they can overcome the differences that they should not see. Boone and Yoast’s conflicts are as shallow as race, and are not truly about a different coaching style as they make it out to be; Boone is depicted as the type of dedicated coach who is willing to put aside any prejudices he has to win, and to teach the players valuable lessons. Yoast, however, views his white players as superior to the black players. Yoast also constantly challenges Boone’s authority, talking to the players after Boone chews them out. Boone believes that the only way to improve someone is by hardening them, while this constructive criticism given by coach Yoast only weakens them to problems that they encounter in the real world. Their children have many of the same problems; they have different styles, have different interests, and, most importantly one is black and one is white.
Sheryl, white and the younger of the two, enjoys sports and more masculine activities, while Boone’s daughter wears dresses, gets manicures, and plays with dolls. Off the field their differences are apparent as Sheryl wants to “shoot some hoops” with Boone’s daughter. She tosses the ball her direction and Boone’s daughter promptly dodges it stating that she just had a manicure. The relationship is off to a bad start as the two girls immediately, in this instant, see their differing views. Unlike their adult parents, however, these girls are willing to try to work out this ungainly relationship as Sheryl travels to Boone’s side of town. Accessorizing dolls, however, is not Sheryl’s cup of tea as she proclaims it boring and stalks off. Not racial tensions but differing views cast a shadow between these girls, but racist behavior does play a factor; they know that their parents are practically at each others necks. Children often follow their parents, and at first the children won’t even cast each other a glance due to the racial battle raging between their parents. The children have no reason to directly hate each other though, but once they get to know each other they know that their relationship cannot last. On the field they also have their differences. Sheryl stands up during games, yelling at the players, yelling at the
coaches, screaming at the top of her lungs. Boone’s daughter, however, looks disdainfully upon her as she tries to stay clean and neat. Conflicting values keep them apart throughout the movie. Started by racial conflicts, their relationship only goes downhill. But, finally, a singular goal unites them as the Titans win the state championship. The girls cheer, shout, even hug together, if just briefly, and they are finally united.
The final major racial conflict in the movie occurs between Gerry Bertier, and white male, attempting to make the world accept his friend Julius Campbell. They are unlike in race, but that’s about it. In the beginning of the movie, race