"To Sir, With Love" Movie Reaction

 To Sir, With Love" Movie Reaction

"To Sir with Love" is a timeless piece that is an award-winning film that came out in 1967. It was directed by James Clavell and takes place in London at North Quay Secondary School. It stars Sidney Poitier, who is the perfect actor for this role. He captures the depth of the character with the struggles and compassion of Thackeray's character that show the potential for positive change.

Poitier's character is Mark Thackeray, a black man from British Guiana. He has been trying to pursue an engineering job for the last 18 months with no success and takes this teaching job until his luck changes. The school is populated by mostly white teenagers that have behavior and academic issues. This is also around the time were there is a strict moral code against white and black relations. These issues also extend to their home life as well. The classroom has no boundaries and most of the other teachers do not know how to control their own classes. There is no corporal punishment so most of the teachers are afraid of the students and the principal doesn't really care much.

Mr. Thackeray starts the first day by checking what all his students know by having them read a few lines from their textbook. They do not take anything serious and push the boundaries with him. He does not let them get a rise out of him. The students continue to let them know that the classroom is their domain. The ringleader for bad behavior in the class in Bert Denham and Pamela Dare.

The day when Mr. Thackeray is walking into the school building, and someone throws a bag filled with water out the second-floor window hitting him, will be the day that things start to change. Although he kept his cool about the water, the turning point of the movie is when he goes into the classroom, and something is burning in the classroom grate which is assumed to be a sanitary pad. He orders all the boys to leave the class and says to the girls, he is sick of the foul language, crude behavior, and sluttish manner. He goes on to say he doesn't care who is responsible, that they are all to blame. If they are to do these filthy games, do them at home and not in his classroom.

He starts to implement a new teaching method in the class where he will treat the students like they are adults. They will treat each other with respect. He wants his student to wash up, fix their hair and start to dress nicer. They are to address him as "Sir" or Mr. Thackeray, the girls will be "Miss" and the boys will be called by their last name. He wants them to have respect for him and themselves. The students can discuss any topic they want as he will start giving them life skills for after they graduate. He tells them that he has also come from a humble background and that he is successful because of he has changed his language and the way he carries himself. He encourages them that they can do the same. Most of the students take to this new teaching style right away except for Bert Denham.

Knowing the class isn't even up on their own history, he suggests they go on a school trip to the British History Museum. He gets the approval from the principal and the students are very excited. When they show up for the trip, all the students are clean and well dressed. The movie shows the students having fun amongst all the sculptures and art.

Mr. Thackeray has to handle an issue carefully when he finds Pamela Dare flirting with him. He talks to the other teachers about it for advice. Aside from this he shows the students how to make salad and shows them that cooking isn't only for women that they could be on their own soon as should know this skill.

In Mr. Bell's gym class, he makes all the boys do the vault. Carl Buckley refuses to do it because he is afraid. The boys said the gym teacher is always picking on him because he is fat. He makes him do it anyway and he falls and break the vault. Potter picks up the broken leg and starts a fight with the teacher. Mr. Thackeray is called down to diffuse the situation. He makes Potter apologize even if he feels Bell was wrong because he said in life if it was a knife or gun what would you do. The boys are now mad with him.

A sad turn is when Seales finds out that his mother passed away. The class collects money for a wreath but refuses to take Mr. Thackeray's money.  They are also in fear to deliver the wreath to a colored person's neighborhood. Pamela said she will do it. Pamela's mother comes to the school to complain that her daughter is staying out late every night. She wants Thackeray to talk to her as she feels she would only listen to him. When he speaks to her Pamela gets really mad because her mother is with men, and she doesn't want to be around that, He tells her to give her mother a second chance that everyone deserves that. She gets mad and says he is like "one of them."  She said she will not take the wreath to the funeral. He has basically lost the respect of all his students in his class. On a good note, Mr. Thackeray finally receives an acceptance letter for a 3rd Assistant Engineer job. He is very happy knowing he can finally leave this teaching job.

At this point the principal said to Thackeray that the "Adult Approach " is not working, he has canceled all his future field trip, and he will be taking over the gym classes. To make this worse, Denham challenges him to a boxing match in gym class. While Denham gets some good punches in, Mr. Thackeray loses his cool and gives a big blow to Denham's stomach knocking the wind out of him. Denham waits for Mr. Thackeray in the stairwell to taunt him about giving up teaching. He gets surprised the way Mr. Thackeray handles it by saying he lost his cool and the fight was unfair and offers him a boxing teacher job to the younger students next year. Denham is impressed and tells him he will consider it. Denham tells the rest of the class and expresses his admiration for Thackeray and now convinces the class to do the same. The class invites Mr. Thackeray to the class dance. Pamela asks if he will save a dance for her. He accepts as long as it's not a fast dance, claiming he is old. When Mr. Thackeray shows up at Seales's mother's funeral, he is surprised to see the whole class there to show their respect.  

At the dance all the teachers and principal praise Mr. Thackeray and state that he should reconsider leaving. At the dance Barbara Pegg announces a "ladies' choice" dance. Pamela gets Mr. Thackeray to dance. It's starts out slow but gets faster and Mr. Thackeray shows off his great moves. After they finish dancing Denham announces that they have something special for Mr. Thackeray. Miss Wong presents it while Barbara Pegg starts to sing the movie's theme song, "To Sir with Love". Mr. Thackeray is speechless and moved and he goes back to his classroom.

With tears in his eyes as he opens the student's gift of a pewter mug which is accompanied by a card. While he is in deep thought, two rowdy students burst in and say they will be in his class next year. At that moment it is clear that this is where he belongs, he has found his purpose. He reaches in this pocket for the job offer letter and rips the letter up. As the theme song begins to play again Thackeray leaves the classroom.

This movie shows a theme of transformation for the teacher as well as his students. He addressed real world issues and critical thinking. It also explores prejudge, stereotypes and the potential for change.

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EOTO # 4 Reaction

 EOTO # 4 REACTION

There were a lot of great presentations by my classmates both positive and negative sides of the 60's and 70's. Each time I see their speeches, I learn from them.

Abby E. spoke about the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee because of a person race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability.

Josh spoke about the Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. He was the Democratic presidential candidate and was shot hours before winning the Democratic primary in California. He was hope for the nation and a civil rights advocate.

Max spoke about the Assassination of Malcoln X which took place in New York City at the Audubon Ballroom. Just as he started to address the audience, several gunmen rushed the stage and shot him multiple times. He was pronounced dead. His death marked a significant and tragic event in the civil rights movement.

Grace Ann talked about the Assassination of MLK. He was very prominent and the peaceful voice of the civil rights movement. He was known for his "I have a Dream" speech. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray.at a hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Hudson spoke about America in the 1960's and how after the assassination of MLK, tension was on the rise with massive riots.

Kayla spoke about the Anti-Miscegenation Laws which meant that interracial marriages or sexual relations was considered a felony. It prohibited marriage licenses, ceremonies or sexual relations between mixed racial couples. 

Brad talked about the Federal Housing Agency and how African Americans had a tough time getting mortgages. "Redlining" was marks made on a map to indicate the mixed-race and African American neighborhoods. This was overturned in 1968, with the fair housing act. Today, they seem to have somewhat of the same issues in some neighborhoods.

Gabby spoke about the Boston Bus Riot and when the Supreme Court demanded the desegregation of schools and buses. The first day of school, the police were there in combat gear to prepare for the bottles and glass thrown at the buses. Most African Americans were afraid to come back to school.

Jonathan explained about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which was civil rights and labor laws in the United States that outlawed discrimination against race, religion, color, sex or national origin. The act required equal access to public places and employment. It enforced desegregation of schools and the right to vote. This act was passed by Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Kacie talked about Voting Rights Act of 1965, this act was to overcome legal barriers on the state and local levels that prevented African Americans to exercise their right to vote that was guaranteed under the 15th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Lindsey spoke about the Fair Housing Act of 1968 which prohibited discrimination in the housing market based on race, religion, color, sex or national origin. This helped African Americans move into neighborhoods with better schools, opening doors for more diverse communities.

Elliott spoke about Thurgood Marshall and that he was the first African American who was elected to serve on the supreme court on August 30, 1967. He won 69-11 in votes. He was a civil rights lawyer who used the courts to fight Jim Crow and dismantle segregation.

Lucy talked about Affirmative Action and how it caused more equality in the workplace by building a diverse country and help create opportunities for people who have been underrepresented in this country. Clara raised issues against affirmative action. The reason it had negative consequences is because it created a different form of bias that could sometime be called reverse discrimination. Julia stated Affirmative Action is not positive because it is racist and based on the preferential treatment according to someone's skin color. 

Abby A. explained why Racial quotas were necessary to ensure that African Americans received equality. Lynx explained about Board of Regents v. Bakke and how it wasn't fair how blacks couldn't get into good school because of their skin color. Ariel spoke about the historical overview on the times leading up to the case and how there was improvement among races. Kasen spoke about diversity in colleges and said that race is important for acceptance in college to have a diverse mix of students.

All of my classmates' points of view that they portrayed showed great representation from both sides of how people felt during this time in history.

EOTO # 4

 EOTO # 4 

Ladies and Gentlemen, and Esteemed Judges,

I stand here today on the topic of affirmative action and how I feel it is unnecessary to have quotas for African Americans when historically black colleges and universities (HBCU's) provide educational opportunities for African American students. It is important to be clear about the historical context that gave rise to affirmative action in colleges. 

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 10925, which compelled government contractors to "take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are treated equally regardless of race, color, religion, and national origin."

Admissions to colleges and/or universities should be based on an individual's academic achievements, merits, and skills. Individuals should be judged on their qualifications and abilities rather than their race. If the Government really wants to fix the problem, they should start by improving the primary and secondary level education in the underprivileged communities to ensure that all students, regardless of race, have equal opportunities for academic success. Race should not be the determining factor of their educational path. Affirmative Action should be dismissed, this would promote fairness and an equal opportunity for all applicants. 

 HBCU has a history of providing African American students with access to higher education in an environment that embraces and celebrates cultural identity and heritage. These institutions have contributed to the success of enriching leaders, professionals, and scholars within the African American community. There are over 100 historically black colleges and universities in the United States. The top three are: Spelman College for women, known for its strong liberal arts programs; Howard University recognized for its business, law, and communication programs; and Morehouse College for men, specializing in liberal arts and sciences. With these schools in place affirmative action will only perpetuate a narrative of dependency. HBCU allows students to thrive without the need for preferential treatment in the admission process.

In closing, affirmative action policies are unconstitutional! If society and colleges insist on quotas this can be the end of the merit-based approach. An example of this was in the Board of Regents v. Bakke case. If an institution considers race as a factor in admissions, this will guarantee that applicants aren't treated equally. Furthermore, this can create doubts about the capabilities of minority individuals which will extend stereotypes rather than dismantling them. 

Thank you.

references:

www.epi.org

www.edtrust.org

EOTO -3 Reaction Blog

 EOTO-3 Reaction Blog

There were great presentations given by my classmates and I learned a lot from all of them.

The Birth of the Nation movie helped reboot the popularity of the Ku Klux Klan. The movie follows two families one from the North and One from the South. The movie portrays Blacks as evil and lusting after white woman during the Reconstruction Era. It paints the Ku Klux Klan as a heroic force. The movie stirred up a lot of riots and the NAACP tried to ban the movie.    

The Second KKK wanted a more organized group to recoup white supremacy through the states, making it 100% American. This excluded Jews, Catholics, immigrants and most Europeans. They believed that only the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant were considered 100% American.   

Sundown Towns were towns mostly in the Mid-West and West during the 1890-1960's. These towns wanted only white people living in their communities. Although Blacks may be able to work or travel in a community during the daytime, they must be out by sundown. They just didn't discriminate against blacks, this included Jews, Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese and others. There are still sundown states today including: New York, California, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina but they do not use that name anymore.

4 Little Girls was about a bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama on September 1963. The bomb took the lives of 4 innocent little girls. This church was a gathering place for people to gain more Civil Rights. White supremacists saw this as a threat and wanted to put an end to the church. This bombing got news coverage all over the world causing the United States to have a bad reputation of racial struggles and discrimination.

Emmet Till was a 14 year old boy that was accused of flirting with a white woman named Carolyn Bryant in 1955. He was kidnapped, brutally beaten and shot in the head and thrown in the Tallahatchie River by Carolyn's husband and half brother. They were arrested but when they went to trial, the jurors were all white men because there were no blacks or women aloud on a jury in Mississippi at this time. They were both acquitted of all the charges. In 2004 the case was reopened but by then the husband and half brother died. This brought nationwide attention of racial violence and injustice.

Mississippi Burning This involved the disappearance of three men in Philadelphia, Mississippi on June 21, 1964. All three men were for Civil rights and racial equality. The three men were investigating a church fire that the KKK had done. They got arrested for speeding but got released a few hours later. As they drove off they were being followed by the KKK. They were never seen again. The next day a notice of their disappearance was posted. On the following day, their burnt station wagon was found with no bodies in it. A month and a half later all three bodies were found below earthen dam on a local farm. KKK was responsible for these murders.  

Brown v. Board of Education The case started with Oliver Brown who wanted his daughter Linda to go to a white elementary school. When she was denied he challenged Kansas school segregation laws in the Supreme Court. This case in 1954, legally ended decades of racial segregation in America's public schools. Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered in the unanimous ruling in the landmark civil rights case. State-sanctioned segregation of public schools was a violation of the 14th amendment and unconstitutional. The "Separate but Equal" was causing a huge issue in education for black children. It is not fair to teach children to look down on one another. God created all of us to be equal. It was also costing the economy too much money to have two of everything to keep blacks and whites separate. On the side of the Board of Education, this case was made up of Southern white political leaders. They condemned the decision and vowed to defy it. James Eastland, the powerful Senator from Mississippi declared that the south would not listen or obey this legislative decision by a political body.

The Great Migration was one of the largest movements of black people in U.S. history. About six million black people moved from American South to the Northern, Midwestern, and Western states. This took place around 1910 until 1970. The reason for the relocation was for blacks to escape the racial violence, pursue education and economic opportunities, and obtain freedom from the Jim Crow era. Some were met with housing discrimination, which created segregated neighborhoods.

Integration of the Armed Forces  Although in the past blacks had served in the armed service, they were kept separate from white solders. On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed order 9981 (this stated there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.) This order created the President's Committee of Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. This order mandated the desegregation of the U.S. military. The large number of African Americans in the military, gave them a new importance in national defense.

Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson was the first African American to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball during the Jim Crow Era. The stadium was still segregated with blacks on one side and white on the other. Robinson was not just an athlete but a symbol of hope, resilience and the struggle for justice in the face of adversity.

Harlem Renaissance A birth of African Americans culture mostly of creative arts. This embraced literature, music, theater and visual arts. The period was between the end of World War I (1917) and led up to World War II (1930's).  Artists associated with the movement asserted pride in black life and identity. This brought awareness to inequality and discrimination and interest in the changing world. Many African Americans expressed freedom through the arts for the first time. The Harlem Renaissance planted artistic seeds that would grow for decades.

NAACP stand for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Founded in New York City on February 12, 1909. This was the nation's oldest civil rights organization. This was formed as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for the African Americans. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the association led the black civil rights struggle in fighting injustices such as the denial of voting rights, racial violence, discrimination in employment, and segregated public facilities. The NAACP helped advance not only integration of the armed forces in 1948 but the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1964, and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

History of the United Negro College Fund was founded in 1944 and believed there was strength in numbers. They thought that education was crucial to black mobility. In the beginning UNCF served 27 member colleges and universities which totaled 12,000 students. They believe that every American should have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, and engaged citizenship and service to our nation.

Driving Miss Daisy Movie Reaction

 Driving Miss Daisy Movie Reaction

Before I get into my blog, when I think about "Driving Miss Daisy" the first thing that comes to my mind is a great scene from my favorite movie "The Holiday". The scene begins when Jack Black is in Blockbuster Video with Kate Winslet and picks out the video "Driving Miss Daisy" and starts to hum the melody and then picks up "Gone with the Wind " and does the same. Those are the two movies you showed us in our class! 

https://youtu.be/THdMwOuSYlA?si=pjA0lJnLV5EvkQGN

The film "Driving Miss Daisy" directed by Bruce Beresford was released in 1989. The movie explores the issues of racial segregation in the mid-20th century American South. The story takes place in Atlantic, Georgia, in the 1940s and spans over two decades. This was a time when racial segregation was deeply ingrained in the layout of  Southern Society. Jim Crow laws which enforced racial segregation in public facilities, schools and transportation, were still in effect. This film captures this period of widespread inequality and discrimination, which colored the daily lives of African Americans.

This heart-warming tale follows the evolving relationship between two main characters, Miss Daisy Werthan, who is an elderly Jewish widow, and Hoke Colburn, her African American chauffeur. The movie unfolds against the backdrop of a deeply segregated society, and through the lens of these characters, it offers a captivating look of the complexities of racial prejudice, social transformation, and power of human connection. In the beginning after Miss Daisy backs her car up into a terrain, her son Boolie hires a driver named Hoke. Initially Miss Daisy is resistant on having a chauffeur because she is very modest in showing people she has money since she grew up poor. She reluctantly accepts Hoke's services. In the beginning Miss Daisy shows signs of racial prejudice, but you can see gradually through the movie's examples of her gradual evolution. For example: When they are driving to Alabama, the police pulls Hoke over and asks him what he is doing with that expensive car, Miss Daisy has to interject to deflect the problem but she starts to see first hand how most people are treating blacks. As they drive away the movie gives the audience a derogatory statement made by the police just showing the divide in the South. (

She also see how Hoke, when needing to go to the bathroom cannot use the white bathrooms at the gas station and has to go outside. When she is left in the car and gets afraid, the audience gets to see her vulnerability and the gradual transformation towards greater understanding and acceptance. She also realizes when her temple gets bombed that she too is a victim of prejudice against her faith. She begins to appreciate Hoke's wisdom and dignity. Hoke, in turn endures the challenges of navigating a segregated world while maintaining his composure and grace. When Boolie gets tickets to hear MLK in person, she feels guilty that Hoke is listening to it in the car as she is at the dinner looking at the empty chair next to her. At this point, the audience can see the complexities of racial prejudice, social transformation, and the power of human connection.

Towards the end when Miss Daisy starts to deteriorate and thinks she is still a school teacher looking for her student's papers, we see the love and compassion that Hoke has for her. When he talks some sense to her and gets her into the present moment, she says "Hoke, you are my best friend." and grabs his hand. This is a moment we see the barrier of segregation break down between them. When Boolie sells her home and goes to visit her with Hoke in the nursing home, Miss Daisy only wants to spend time with Hoke. He feeds her the pumpkin pie because she is having trouble holding the fork. We see how much they mean to one another and how she meant her statement that he was her best friend. 

This film offers us the profound impact of segregation on individuals and society as a whole. Through its characters, it gives a message of hope and transformation, reminding us of the importance of human connections in the face of discrimination and prejudice.

References:

www.youtube.com

EOTO 3 Jim Crow Era - Jackie Robinson Speech

EOTO 3 Jim Crow Era - Jackie Robinson Speech

I did my pictures on Jackie Robinson, he was a remarkable athlete with an air of determination and

wore a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. He was the first African American to break the color barrier in

Major League Baseball during the Jim Crow era. This was a very significant moment in history.

When one looked around the stadium, the crowd was segregated. White fans, a mix of curiosity and doubt, sat on one side. Black fans, filled with hope and pride, occupied the other. Baseball was Robinson 's beloved sport, and was supposed to be a game that transcends boundaries. It is a game where talent should be the only factor that determines one’s place on the field. Yet, in the face of Jim Crow, those ideals crumble. Robinson, as a black man, was told that he was not welcomed to play alongside white counterparts. The color of his skin, rather than the content of his character or the skill of his swing, became the defining factor. But he refused to let the chains of prejudice shackle him. 

Jackie Robinson was determined to call upon each and every one to join him in this journey – a journey toward a future where the content of one’s character wins over the color of one’s skin.

Together he wanted to dismantle the walls of segregation and intolerance that threaten the very essence of our democracy. Jackie Robinson stood for not just as an athlete, but as a symbol- a symbol of hope, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for justice in the face of adversity. 

  

 

EOTO-3 JIM CROW ERA

 EOTO-3 JIM CROW ERA 

The name "Jim Crow" was named after a character in a minstrel show. Thomas Dartmouth Rice was an actor from New York. He was considered the "Father of Minstrel". After traveling to the South and observing slaves, In 1930, he created a black skinned character named Jim Crow. The character was a caricature of a black man and was portrayed by white performers in blackface makeup made from shoe polish, greasepaint, or burnt cork and paint. These minstrel shows were popular in the United States in the 19th century and often featured racial stereotypes belittling portrayals of African Americans as lazy, ignorant, superstitious, and persuadable to criminal behavior. The picture below is Shirley Temple in the movie "Little Rebel" from 1935 with a black face.

The negative betrayals of African Americans aligned a period when southern states legislatures' were passing "Black Codes" to restrict the behavior of former slaves and other African Americans. Black Codes limited the rights of black people and exploited them as a labor source. The codes were also called the the Jim Crow Laws. Jim Crow laws came to mean any state laws passed in the South that established different laws for whites and blacks. They were based on the theory of white supremacy and were a reaction to Reconstruction. Racism appealed to whites because they were in fear of losing their jobs to blacks. Jim Crow laws touch all aspects of life. In South Carolina textile workers could not work in the same room, look out the same window, or go through the same door. Many industries would not hire blacks, and unions passed rules to exclude them. Different races were not aloud to live on the same street or even the same towns. This also included schools, educational books and bibles, hospitals, transportation, restaurants and restrooms. In some states, blacks had curfews of being inside by 10:00 p.m. This "Separate but Equal" doctrine was used to justify these divisions but the reality was anything but equal .Jim Crow laws also targeted voting rights of African Americans making sure they had no political power and influence. Poll taxes, literacy tests and other discriminatory practices made it very difficult for blacks to exercise their right to vote. 

Despite the harsh system of Jim Crow laws, African Americans and their allies kept on fighting. In 1948 President Truman took action to promote equality. He urged Congress to abolish poll tax, enforce fair voting and hiring practices, and also end Jim Crow transportation between states. The new Eisenhower administration downplayed Civil rights but Federal courts took over. In 1954, nine Supreme Court Justices announced their unanimous decision in four racially segregated cases grouped as Brown v. Board of Education. This claimed that "Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." Racial segregation of children in public schools, hurt minority children, and was a violation of the 14th Amendment. 

The Civil Rights Movement gained strength in the mid-20th century, with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and organizations like the NAACP. Their efforts resulted in legal victories that dismantled the Jim Crow system, and peak a landmark legislation such as the Civil Right Act of 1964. This act ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on a basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Congress also increased the act and passed additional civil rights such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to overcome barriers and allow African Americans to vote under the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 

The Jim Crow era stands as a very dark time in American history marked by racial segregation, discrimination, and the denial of civil rights to African Americans. By understanding this era in time, we can better understand the struggles in the past and progress we have made towards justice and equality.

References: 

www.history.com

www.britanica.com