Movie “Glory”
When I think of why movie “Glory” made or what occurred during the Civil War, the reason is the racism. Michael Levin, the author of “Why Race Matters,” states, “Everyday impressions might be dismissed as “stereotypes,” but they are in fact a (modest) source of evidence (32). I believe that stereotype is the main reason for the racist. At this point, I want to write about racism, such as history, example of racism, effort of African American to stop racism, now their lives, and what factors make people to be racist. Being “American” still means, in the minds of many people, including movie producer, being white. This need not be a conscious process.
For several centuries, most whites have probably not seen the routines of their everyday lives as famed in white. When whites speak of Western civilization as equivalent to great human progress, they are talking about the creation of social system that do not take into serious consideration of the views and interest of minorities. Stereotyping has been a vital component of racial discrimination among the individuals in the society. Although, the perception of blacks may be, to some extent, a mere stereotype, the film depicts that the society inclines on the perception of the whites in the society (Levin 32). The racism has occurred since long time ago, and something that still exists in modern society. African Americans’ lives have been so much improved these days compare to 1900s.
There was one big issue on 1955. Rosa Parks who was African American woman got on the bus and sat on the chair. At that time, African Americans had to concede their seats for white people. However, she was arrested by not giving up her seat to white people. We can easily see that the African American was not treated as a human being.
This is mystifying, as the situation continued for a long time in the region (Carment and Patrick 56). When the blacks were being discriminated, it was perceived to be the norm in the society. Individuals were subjected to cruelty from their white counterparts without prior knowledge that the blacks were human beings and they deserved human rights. It depicts that being a black American was like a curse in that era. The prevalence of clear racism among the officers and men in the white Union, such as the cruelty of the Colonel and brutality of the Irish Sergeant, served to corroborate Shaw’s aristocracy. Apart from the racial issue, the movie follows the conventions of a standard war movie, which involves training, recruiting, among others.
The sadistic, foul-mouthed Irish top sergeant who bullies the men for their own good depicts the current leadership in the U.S. For instance, the commanding officer is stern but kindly, and cannot afford to fraternize with he men but disciplines and really loves them. The audience sympathizes with the severe loneliness and responsibility of his command. The movie analyzes how men grow into real soldiers, bond, become loyal to the commander, and, in the final combat, proves their heroism even at the cost of their lives. Although Glory has been perceived to be an anti-war film due to its realistic gore and blood, it manifests as the male dominating society film.
It justifies that the Civil War was unavoidable; its brutality necessitated the freedom of the blacks from the white oppression. As such, ignoring the complicated political and economic reasons that enhanced the commencement of Civil War across the society.Following the treatment imposed to Tripp, the movie aims at revealing how the black characters emphasize the genuine fictions of the perception of white self in the whole movie. Tripp hates white individuals, but later on, he converts from being a “bad black” to a fine and dependable person who has affection for colonial. He proves that even the whites deserve the black Americans’ loyalty for their survival. In one of the scenes, Shaw orders Tripp whipped for abandonment.
However, Tripp was out searching for shoes as his men were poorly equipped—this was later ascertained by Shaw. The scene demonstrates the acts of slavery that had taken the center stage in United States (Levin 45). It is painful as the white master orders that black individuals, who are not obedient, to be whipped. When Tripp removes the shirt, his body is covered with scars that unveils to the viewers that he had earlier on been whipped. The movie depicts that slaves had no right in the society and were supposed to comply to the orders of their superiors. As the whipping continues, the movie alternates from the extreme close-up showing the face of Shaw reacting to the whipping and the face of Tripp as he stares at Shaw.
Tripp does not change his facial expression even when the tears roll down his cheeks, but Shaw recoils. The pain that he is subjected to shows how the slaves suffer from the brutal acts of their superiors. It is satirical, as Tripp’s pain is felt by Shaw. The white liberal is caught between his duty as a commander and abolitionist beliefs in maintenance of discipline in the society. In another scene, Tripp is congratulated by Shaw on his performance at the battlefield. Shaw requests Tripp to accept the regimental colors evident in the battle.
However, to Shaw dismay, Tripp refuses arguing that he was not fighting the war for Shaw, but to the nation and the black individuals who are always discriminated. The intention of Shaw is to enhance cordial relationship between them following the harsh treatment he imposed on Tripp iin the earlier encounter. In the final charge, there is a fall of several flag bearers, but when it reaches Shaw’s flag, he retrieves the flag from him before being cut down. Indeed, the society did not realize the importance of the black Americans in enhancing political and economic tranquility across the nation. They were perceived as a burden to the society who deserved nothing less than extinction.
In the last scene, the movie shows that despite the harsh encounter and treatment in which the blacks faced, they still had love for their master—even after the master falls. Tripp rests his head on the Colonel’s bosom during the mass burial of the Union soldiers (Levin 69). Identity has been perceived to be a fiction, construct, but one that is deeply entrenched in the societal undertakings. The movie depicts the nature of identity that the Americans inclined. In most scenarios, renowned personalities prefer dying than relinquishing their hard-earned identity; demonstrated by Shaw. Apart from identity, race is a fiction that is highly-preserved by the Americans, as the division between black and white enhances maintenance of the white privilege.
Identity and race intertwine to create an immense and sincere perception of the white self. This has been the root-cause of racial discrimination among the individuals in the United States. When an individual’s race is perceived to be inferior, the society can be forced to realize that there is a clear-cut between the blacks and whites in the society. Due to this brutal understanding, the society is confined in a cocoon where they belief that blacks should always been inferior and the latter superior. Such misconception cannot be demarcated until when the society should confront the psychological underpinnings of racism.
In conclusion, the movie prompts for non-racial discrimination and highlights the scenarios in which the whites have discriminatory powers over the black individuals. In a civilized economy, the focus is always on building the economy of the nation though equal opportunities, education, fair treatment from the powerful politicians, and equal distribution of resources. The movie is a typical representation of the activities that were undertaken during the civil war. However, it is in the light of this that the society, through non-governmental organizations, political activists, and human rights activists, has instigated strategies that will impede racial discrimination among the Americans. Individuals have been committed to participation in social activities, like football, in an attempt to end the demeanor that rocked the continent.
The film, Glory, paved way for many more films with the same message and they have been appreciated by the society.
