Overcoming Racism
In 1971, racial tensions were high in Alexandria, Virginia. Three schools, composed of both African Americans and Caucasians, were brought together to form one high school. “From that union, the Titan football team was created” (Aldridge, 1). This piece of history inspired the movie “Remember the Titans.” Coach Herman Boone, made famous by the movie, is the retired 1971 Virginia high school coach. As portrayed by the movie, the students at this school didn’t trust each other. They judged one another, and even went as far as not talking to one another. Aside from that, a lot of them didn’t like the idea that their Coach was African American. From this, Coach Herman Boone knows what it is like to have to teach others to put aside differences in order to work as a team, and because of his knowledge, he continues to educate everyone worldwide about how important it is, even in today’s world, to put aside differences so a common goal can be reached.
Seeing past skin color should be an important quality for everyone. It’s necessary for people everywhere to give others a chance no matter which race they are. Coach Herman Boone believes this to be true because he has experienced it for himself. Boone has “transformed a group of young men of different races, who wouldn’t as much as sit beside one another, into being friends for life.” He also believes that by simply talking to people of a different race is a step in the right direction; it can even be enough to cut all the pressure out of a situation and become friends right off the bat (Boone). In fact, there is a song of the Civil Rights Movement era, that promotes this very thought. The Marvin Gaye song is called “What’s Going On,” and it’s about too many tears being cried, too many deaths being committed, too many judgments being made, and not enough love. It also talks of there being too much picketing and hating, and not enough people talking about what’s going on before they jump straight to...