"To Sir, With Love" Movie Reaction: 

To Sir, With Love is a 1967 British drama starring Sidney Politer. The story centers around Mark Thackery, an African American engineer who, on his first day as a British schoolteacher realizes that he is in way over his head. The teachers are discouraging, the students unruly. In fact, most of the teachers seem to be afraid of the students. 

The students are rejects from other schools with behavioral issues and a penchant for mischief, when Thackery accepts the job, he is told on no uncertain terms that he will be on his own. The students see him as another teacher to bully, break, and force to give up. 

Thackery however, remains calm at all times and refuses to give up. He wants to be an engineer, bit cannot find work. On his first day, a female teacher comes into his classroom and explains what goes on at the school. 

The students all come from rough home lives, some of them abusive home lives. They are poor and working class and most of them can barely read or do basic math. The headmaster of the school and most of the teachers have a hands off philosophy. "Teach the kids what we can" "They will make more than us out in the working class world...education doesn't matter", but Thackery disagrees and attempts to teach them. 

However, when he comes to school one day and finds a feminine item burning, he loses his temper. He calls them sluts and storms out of the room. When lamenting bis loss of temper, he realizes he has been treating them as children and not as the adults they are. 

He lays the ground rules and decides that instead of teaching them academics, he will teach them the ways of the civilized and cultured world. They will talk about marriage, love, sex, rebellion, manners, and anything else they wish to talk about. 

This surprises and excites the students. They become less rowdy, start calling him "Sir", and raise their hands excitedly in class to talk . The class becomes a class of life experience, which is much more valuable to these students, and excites them more than academics ever would. 

The montage scene when they all go to the Victoria and Albert Museum is inspired. The cinematography and music ("To Sir, With Love") reminds me a lot of the museum scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. You can tell that the students are enjoying the type of education Thackery provides and they are even becoming more polite members of society. 

Things take an interesting turn when student Pamela Dare takes an inappropriate liking to him and begins flirting. 

A sweet moment happens when one of the colored students says he only wishes he was like "Sir". 

This movie really breaks boundaries, which makes sense for the 1960's. Thackery makes a mockery of the idea that only women can cook, because the men will likely be on their own for a time. 

The impact that Thackery has on these student's self-confidence is astounding. The women start to believe they can be more than stupid whores and the boys start to believe they are men. Most of all, the students begin to believe they are autonomous and capable adults that can earn their place in the real world. I think if more schools took this approach the students would turn out significantly better in terms of preparedness for the real world. 

When Seal's mother dies, things take a turn for the worse. No one, except Pamela Dare, will take the class wreath to his colored neighborhood because they are worried about the gossip that could ensue. Pam's mom asks Sir to talk to Pamela about her late night escapades, and the headmaster cancels their outings for the rest of the semester. 

Pamela turns against Sir after he tells her she should give her mother a second chance, proving that these kids maybe aren't as mature as he thought. She refuses to take the flowers to Seal also. 

Thackery and Denim also get into a boxing match in Phys Ed class, which Sir wins, seeming to turn the tides again and gain Denim's respect. Sir even offers to speak with the headmaster on Denim's behalf for a job as the boxing instructor. Denim finally comes around and dresses nicely, agreeing with Sir's methods and ideals. They all decide to take the wreath to Seal's house also and invite Sir to their end of term celebration. 

Even Weston compliments Thackery's gift for teaching and cleans up himself. The end shows a marvelous dance scene,  where Sir and Pamela dance together and some of the students display ambition.  Thackery tears up his engineering job letter and decides to stay on as a teacher after hearing one of his students sing "To Sir with Love" and receiving their gifts. He decides to keep changing lives. 

 EOTO #4 Reaction: 

The Civil Rights Era was a tumultuous time in American history. A time of unprecedented Supreme Court cases, both for the 1st Amendment and the 14th Amendment, began after Brown V. Board. The protests in this era became the model for the protests of the modern day, namely: non-violent protests are more effective. 

The 1960's especially were full of events that both hindered and pushed forward Black progress. Today we talked about those events. Firstly, the negatives: 

Grace Ann spoke about the assassination of MLK. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the Civil Rights movement and the voice of reason and peace. The pioneer of non-violent protest was assassinated by James Earl Ray at a hotel in. Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968.

The assassination prompted protests across the nation, and devastated the Civil Rights movement across the nation. His killer was given a 99 year sentence and died in prison. 

Josh talked about the assassination of RFK. The Democratic Presidential candidate in 1968, was shot hours before winning the Democratic primary in California. RFK was a beacon of hope for the nation, as he was both a Civil Rights advocate and a hope for peacefully resolving the issues that plagues the country. He was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian who hated RFK's foreign policy stance. With RFK's death, hope for the nation also died with him. 

Max spoke about Malcom X's death. A troublemaking young man, he eventually joined the Nation of Islam, a Civil Rights group with an emphasis on violence. He criticized MLK and the mainstream Civil Rights movement because of their commitment to non-violent protests. His assassination in 1965 was a major blow to the Civil rights movement. 

Kayla spoke about anti-miscegenation laws. The Loving couple was arrested for marrying and cohabitating in the state of Virginia and fled to Washington DC. An indignant Mildred wrote a letter to then attorney general RFK, who referred her to the American Civil Liberties union. They began fighting for their marriage in 1963 and by 1967, the supreme court ruled that these types of laws were deemed unconstitutional against the 14th amendment. 

Brad explained "red lining".  African Americans had trouble buying houses because of mortgages and the Federal Housing Administration The fair housing act of 1968 overturned this but the housing ownership gap remained large. 

Gabby explains the Boston Bus Riots. When the Supreme Court mandated the desegregation of schools and school transportation. On the first day of school, police were in combat gear to prepare for the bottles and glass thrown at the buses. Most African Americans did not return to school after the first day because they felt unsafe. 

Now for the progression of Black progress events: 

Johnathan explained the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act prohibited discrimination in public accommodations based on race, nationality or color. This act was signed into law by President LBJ. This act was brought to life by the "I Have a Dream Speech" and the Montgomery bus boycott, which convinced JFK and Congress that this act was necessary. 

Kacie spoke about the Voting Act of 1965, which was signed into law by President LBJ. This law provided greater election access to African Americans. This stopped poll taxes, and other practices that hindered African Americans from voting. 

Lindsey talked about the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Signed into law by LBJ and prohibited the discrimination of people who were buying houses based on color, race, etc...This law allowed minorities to choose where they wanted to live regardless of their background. This law created federal and local Fair Housing Organizations and opened the door for more inclusive and diverse communities, allowing families to also move into neighborhoods with better schooling for their children. 

Elliot spoke about Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to ever serve on the US Supreme Court. He participated in arguing many civil rights cases, including Brown V. Board, and was head of the NAACP legal counsel. JFK appointed him to the US court of appeals, and LBJ nominated him both for Solicitor General and the Supreme Court position. His judicial activism created a bit of controversy in his appointments debates, but he prevailed and served on the court for 24 years. 

 Lucy spoke about Affirmative Action: which aimed at increasing workplace and educational opportunities for underrepresented people. The controversy came from the idea that there would be under qualified people working in high paying jobs or higher education opportunities, which prompted the Supreme Court case, Board of Regents V. Bakke. 

And finally, Abby explained the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), preventing employment discrimination in the workplace based on race, religion, sex, etc... This can include hiring and harassment. The Civil Rights act caused this organization to open the next year in 1965 to enhance Title 7 of the Civil rights act. Congress recently gave this organization the power to reach private employees. This also spurned the natural hair movement for African Americans and helped for the acceptance of African Americans in the workplace. 

Overall, the Civil Rights Era was a very unstable time in the nation, but the things that happened at this time would influence activism going forward. 

 Board of Regents V. Bakke Mock Trial-Regents' Legal Argument:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Honor, I stand before you today to cement the petitioner's case that the use of racial quotas in higher education admissions is not only absolutely necessary to ensure equality of opportunity, but is permitted under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. 

African Americans in this nation have been treated as second class citizens since the founding of this nation. We live in a country that was founded on the principle that "all men are created equal" yet our nation was also founded on the antithesis of equality: slavery. 

For a nation that was founded on the idealistic principle of  equality of opportunity, the reality has been much, much darker. The African Americans of our nation were condemned to a life of involuntary servitude for the first half of our nation's existence.

Even after the 14th Amendment was put in place, for the first half of  its existence it was largely a moot point. In fact, as late as 1927, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in the case Buck V. Bell summed up the 14th Amendment Equal Protection clause as "the last resort of constitutional arguments" making a mockery of the most fundamental of rights for African American equality. 

Not only this, but the separate but equal clause was still in place until just 24 years ago with the landmark case Brown V. Board. It is since that we have begun to take the 14th Amendment seriously as a nation and a court system. 

Considering how often the courts had to remind school boards to desegregate, and against all of this history, it is clear that Bakke's argument that "laws must be colorblind" are a wishful dream and not a description of reality.  

People who deem to have been created equal since the beginning of this nation, and who clearly have not been, are the reason why a strict interpretation of the Equal Protection clause is necessary. We must use this law for its intended purpose, to ensure the equal treatment of African Americans in society. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title XI, protects people from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance; public schools and universities being the prime example. 

Title XI clearly only prohibits racial discrimination from states or agencies, it does not bar the preferential treatment of racial minorities in order to "remedy past societal discrimination to the point where such action is consistent with the 14th Amendment" Clearly, there has been plenty of past societal discrimination to request that we finally start giving minorities the "full benefits of American life" that they have historically been excluded from. 

In the Congressional debates for the Civil Rights Act, Congress agreed that African Americans were being discriminated against in federally funded programs necessitating the passing of this law. If the Constitution required "color blindness" Congress would enact such a law, but it in fact did the opposite, proving that there is a need for the preferential treatment of minorities by law. 

In order to re-color our historically checkered past, the court must make the decision today to allow quotas in admission decisions to ensure that African Americans truly do receive Equal Protection under the law through ensuring the equality of their opportunities. 

 Brown V. Board Trial Reaction: 

The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the citizen and judge prepared to hear the case of Brown V. The Board of Education. This case is made up of 5 other cases also questioning the constitutionality of state sponsored segregation of public schools under the 14th Amendment. 

The case began in Topeka, Kansas when Oliver Brown's daughter was denied enrollment to a school close to their house, and forced to attend a school for Blacks much farther away. Brown, along with 12 other parents, filed a class action lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education. The District court ruled against Brown, citing Supreme Court precedent Plessy V. Ferguson (1896). The case went to the Supreme Court and the Browns were represented by NAACP Chief Counsel: Thurgood Marshall.

 We heard from the side of Brown who first presented a moral argument. Gabby Kusherman argued that the sperate but equal clause presented in Plessy was morally unjust and teaches our children to grow up in a society that treats people as lesser based on race. 

Next, Joshua Hill presented a religious argument against school segregation. Proverbs 14:31 claims that unjust treatment based on income, and even race insults God. It is the equivalent to saying that God made a mistake and insults the Christian idea that unity is spiritual. Christianity was not meant to divide, but to bring people together. Ruling in favor of Brown will stop this insult to religion itself and allow for Godly change in the world. 

Grace Ann McAden presented an economic argument claiming that the separation of schools both provides our students with lackluster schools and wastes tax payer money. The quality of education and well as the quantity of transportation would be better if tax payers didn't have to pay double for schools. Segregation wastes money plain and simple as well as deprives ALL students black and white, of a Blue Ribbon education. 

Brad Killian presented the legal argument, citing the 14th Amendment which guarantees equal protection under the law. "Separate but equal" is an inherently flawed and oxymoronic idea. It clearly violates the 14th amendment. Separate simply cannot be equal. Even if Black schools were as nice a white schools it would still be wrong: which they aren't. The quality of buildings, lack of supplies, and poor pay for teachers have made it fare more likely for white students to graduate high school than black students, meaning that they are by far not equal. 

We then head from the Board of Education side, staunchly fighting for segregation in schools.

First, we were told that mixing the schools would harm the white students and "slow them down" due to the lower education levels of Black students. Desegregating schools would make Blacks feel left out due to their knowledge gab, and would also lessen teaching jobs for both Blacks and whites. Slowing down the white students would harm their success in secondary school, then college, then in the workforce, which would ultimately harm the economy. 

Secondly, the Constitution has no requirement that Blacks and whites had to attend the same schools, more than that, the court had previously ruled in Plessy that schools could be separate if they were equal. The court has a responsibility to follow the precedent and stare decisis (let the decision stand).

Lucy Gray claimed that separation of schools are important for the health of both black and white students. Blacks grew up in neighborhoods with more behavioral problems and more bacteria. We keep the neighborhoods separate and should do such in the schools as well. The richer white neighborhoods, can also keep funding their schools in the proper way. Essentially, segregating schools will lessen culture shock and keep the sickness in the population under control. 

Finally, Elliot Baratta postulates that based upon the 14th and 2nd amendments, segregation in schools is constitutional. Black students are still allowed to attend school at all levels, so keeping schools separate does not hinder their opportunity, therefore under the 14th amendment privileges and immunities clause, segregating schools is not unconstitutional. 

He also claimed that similarly to the way that criminals aren't allowed to carry guns for the sake of the safety of other citizens, not allowing Blacks in white schools will make everyone safer. 

Although Baratta's legal argument was quite novel and passionate, the ruling of the court was obviously in favor of Brown, citing Mr. Killian's lucid and constitutionally based argument that the separate but equal doctrine is inherently flawed and unconstitutional according to the 14th Amendment. This decision had massive implications, not only for the Supreme court that very uncharacteristically ruled against precedent, but changed the trajectory of the Civil Rights movement forever. 

 

 "Driving Miss Daisy" Reaction: 

Driving Miss Daisy, a 1989 dramady by Bruce Beresford, based on the play by Alfred Uhry, is a critically acclaimed movie. Spanning a quarter of a century, this movie follows Southern matriarch, Daisy Werthan, her son, and her chauffeur. 

After a minor car accident backing into her neighbors yard, the insurance companies, and her son, will not allow her to drive herself. Boolie, her son, hires African American Hoke Colburn to chauffeur Daisy around to her various appointments and engagements. 

Initially, the fiercely independent Daisy is extremely reluctant to have her autonomy taken away even in this minor way. She is very rude to Hoke, not allowing him to take her anywhere. She yells at him for things that he is trying to do to help her, like dust her lightbulbs, plant a vegetable garden, talk to Idella, or tend to her azaleas. After a few days though, she reluctantly lets him drive her to the Piggly Wiggly. 

She is a backseat driver extreme and is very short with Hoke most times. Early on, she even tries to fire him for eating a $0.33 can of salmon. However, as the movie progresses and the years pass, they grow closer and she begins to trust him. The comradery between Daisy, Hoke, and Idella and the familiar phrase of "Good Mornin' Miss Daisy" become a comfort. 

This movie takes place before, during, and after the Civil Rights Movement, however, it is a minor subplot. There are few subtle mentions of race relations and Civil Rights. The story at its core is a story of friendship

The movie begins in the late 1940's and the way of life in the south is very clearly segregated. The African Americans are the working class (at least in Daisy's community) and the work for the rich white folks in the community. Although  Daisy claims to have "never been prejudiced in my life" she sometimes does not treat Hoke with the respect he deserves. 

For example, when they are driving to Mobile, AL and get lost and she doesn't want to let him pull over to use the restroom and also when she goes to the MLK dinner, a great show of character development on her part, but she doesn't invite Hoke to go in with her even though she knows he really wants to. 

Another instance is when the cops stop them when they are on their road trip, using a racial slur and being rude to Hoke just because he is African American. This really showcases the deep internalized prejudices of the time, especially in Daisy who doesn't do much to stand up for him.

It seems that throughout most of the movie, Daisy is embarrassed to be seen in public with Hoke, in fact, he first time he takes her to the grocery store she tells him to wait by the car. However, as time passes she gets better and becomes great friends with Hoke. 

The score of this movie was great, and was done by Hans Zimmer at the beginning of his career. I really enjoyed the iconic opening music. It's snappy, its fun, and its playful, just like Daisy and Hoke's relationship turns out to be. The other piece of music was melodically beautiful and nostalgic and playing it while they were looking at her old pictures and selling her house was a tug on my heartstrings. 

The best part of the movie though, was near the end where Daisy told Hoke that he was her best friend. The character development for Daisy and the interracial friendship development between Daisy and Hoke was heartwarming and a touching end to the movie. 

 EOTO #3: "The Birth of a Nation"

"The Birth of a Nation" is a film that some describe as "...history written with lightning..." and others claim as the "....most virulently racist imagery ever to appear in a motion picture...". The film was directed by D.W. Griffith and was based off a stage play by the Rev. Thomas F. Dixon Jr. 

The play itself was based upon two of the Reverend's books:  “The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan” and “The Leopard’s Spots.” It was a landmark film for the industry and is credited as being the first true blockbuster film, the longest and most profitable film of its day, and the film that secured feature films as a respected and profitable medium of entertainment. 

The film follows two families, the Stoneman's, who are stuffy
and intellectual Northerners, with the patriarch based off of Thaddeus Stevens, and the Cameron's, who are plantation owners living in a small Southern town. The political tensions between the North and South are shown through these two families and the interpersonal tensions between the Union and Confederacy are shown through the forbidden love of Elsie Stoneman and Ben Cameron. 

Though the film portrays the Civil War and Reconstruction Era in an epic way, the inherently racist portrayals of the characters is what caused the immense controversy and chaos surrounding the movie. The Cameron brothers are portrayed as effeminate and weak, with Ben only fulfilling his traditionally masculine role when he becomes a Klan member and dons the white robes. 

The youngest Cameron and one Stoneman brother bond in the war in numerous "homoerotic" ways and will die on the battlefield in each others' arms. The lack of traditional masculinity in some of Griffith's characters bring into his style the idea that masculinity "...needs to be curbed...". 

This masculinity is portrayed by African Americans in the film in a brutal way, tying them to brute sexuality. The character of Gus Long, a liberated slave, attempts to rape Flora, a white woman, and all male African Americans in the movie are depicted as "...lusting after white women...". 

Not only are they portrayed as sexually brutal, particularly in the Reconstruction era, the Blacks are depicted as "...the root of all evil and unworthy of freedom and voting rights...". Contrary to this, the KKK is portrayed as heroically masculine and a "...healing force, restoring order to the chaos and lawlessness of Reconstruction".

The effects of this movie were immediate and stark. Not only were the Los Angeles, Boston, and New York premieres accompanied by riots against this film, Civil Rights activist and author of The Guardian, William Monroe Trotter joined forces with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and vehemently bid to ban the film. 

The direct-action demonstrations that this film provoked provided a model and a template for the civil rights demonstrations of the 1960's. Though the protests played out in various venues and sometimes turned violent, it did not stop the release and consumption of Griffith's film.  However, Trotter's efforts succeeded in propelling Boston's Civil Rights movement, and by proxy, the Civil Rights movements across the nation, and "...exposed in no uncertain terms, the movie's bigoted treatment of historical events". 

The most significant impact perhaps, was the reemergence of the KKK. The film's heroic portrayal of the Klan revived the order, as it had mostly disappeared after the 1870's. After the movie premiered in Atlanta, Col. William J Simmons, led a cross burning on Stone Mountain in Georgia, leading to a "...new era of Klan activity". 

Though there have been many attempts to ban the film, it was shown and narrated to new Klansmen through the 1970's, is still taught in film schools today, and was claimed by the Library of Congress to be one of the "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films" ever and is preserved in the National Film Registry today. 

 EOTO #2 Reaction: 

The Reconstruction era was a tumultuous time in the United States, for the government, for the white citizens, and for the newly freed slaves. Because the freeing of African American's was a completely unprecedented event in American history, where to proceed as a nation was in question. Not only that, but the differing attitudes of pro-abolition and pro-slavery individuals made for both considerable advancements and considerable stagnation to black progress. 

The passage of the Reconstruction amendments, also known as the second Bill of Rights were significant strides forward in the fight for African American rights. The 13th Amendment outlawed slavery officially in all US territories forever answering the questions legislatures had spent the better part of a century trying to answer. 

The 14th amendment gave citizenship to ALL people born in the United States, thusly nullifying the 3/5 compromise, and afforded all citizens equal protection under the law. It also gave the federal government power to punish any state that did not abide by those laws. 

The 15th Amendment gave all black men the right to vote in the United States. These amendments were enormous steps in African American progress post Civil War. The creation of the 1st Black college and the election of the first black people to Congress were other significant advances to the black cause. 

Initially, the government struggled with the fact that there were 4 million freed black men, women and children with virtually no possessions and no property. The governments created an agency called the Freedmen's Bureau to redistribute Confederate lands to freedmen, provide food, build hospitals, and even reunite slaves with their long lost family. The Bureau was supposed to last for a year, however the federal government soon realized it needed to continue for longer. 

Even though Congress overwhelmingly voted to continue the Freedmen's Bureau, the new President Andrew Johnson vetoed the bill and Congress chose to not to overrule the veto. However, soon after, Congress realized the positive effects of the Freedmen's Bureau and voted to continue it; but it was too little, too late. Andrew Johnson had decided to issue Presidential pardons to the Confederate leaders and distribute their lands back to them...the same lands that had been given to the Freedmen's Bureau. Thus begins the backslide of African American progress. 

An enemy of the Freedmen's Bureau was the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist organization that reached its peak in the 1870's and used violence and intimidation tactics to kill and harm freedmen in nighttime raids. Lynching, public killings with no trial, were also used by the Klan and other pro-slavery groups to put down black individuals. 

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the inauguration of Andrew Johnson changed Reconstruction in a tangible way. Not only was the nation in mourning, opinions regarding Lincoln and his ideals and policies created a lot of hatred, vitriol, and divisive dialogue. Carpetbaggers, Republicans that moved South after the Civil War for economic and political reasons created more tension, especially after military reconstruction was put into place. This kept the South in its place and under the thumb of the Radical Republicans for a time...until the election of 1876. 

Once military reconstruction ended by the Compromise of 1877, black progress was undoubtedly halted, allowing for racists, former Confederate, and pro slavery activists to put in place Black Codes, codes that limited the freedoms of African Americans and ensured their existence as cheap laborers and second class citizens (ex: literacy test, Jim Crow laws, and the grandfather clause). 

Although Reconstruction had many hopes for black equality, it truly just sent the nation into a spiraling of continued segregation. The fight for civil rights and social equality for African Americans was far from over.