Lewis Black: On Education

Lewis Black's take on the state of education in America:

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Remember the Titans (2000)

Remember the Titans, starting Denzel Washington, is based on the true story of Herman Boone, who, in 1971, became the first African American football coach at Virginia's T.C. Williams High School. The movie focuses on Boone's experiences as a head coach, and his attempt to integrate the team under difficult circumstances in a formerly segregated state. The power struggle between the white and African American communities is central to the movie, with whites seeing the black coach as a threat to their "way of life" and the black community viewing Boone as a symbol of what they can achieve.

Early in the movie, Julius, a white transfer student who "has no people," joins the football team and befriends a number of black players, resulting in his white classmates calling him a traitor. His aspirations of going to college are dim, stating that he is "not a braniac like Rev [a black player]". Julius not only befriend black players and students at school (and in doing so sees past "the other" that many of his white teammates see), but he also recognizes their academic abilities and talents. Although Julius lacks academic confidence, Boone begins monitoring his course progress every week, and works with him to improve his grades. By the end of the year, Julius' grades are high enough that he can attend college. Boone's outreach and mentoring to Julius represents one of the many ways in which athletic coaches can and should emphasize their students' academics, and encourage college-going.

Boone, along with Assistant Coach Bill Yoast (played by Will Patton), are integral in the team's progress toward integration. The role of the two coaches in helping the team integrate brings to mind Gordon Allport's foundational work "The Nature of Prejudice," published in the early 1950s. Allport outlines the four necessary conditions under which integration can be achieved:

1. The groups are desegregated
2. The group members have equal status
3. The groups are working toward a common goal
4. The groups have the full support of the authorities (i.e., adults, law, etc.)

Boone's policies with regard to the team reflect demand for respect and inclusion. For instance, during training camp, each team member is required to spend time with a teammate of a different race, until each person has met all of their teammates. Boone also insists on a no-cut policy, allowing all interested students--regardless of race--an opportunity to play football. While his role is integral in helping transform his team during camp, his insistence on respect and inclusion become even more important when they return home, where prejudices, biases, and discrimination are apparent. The reality of racism that exists in their community is apparent, even though they have begun to integrate as a team. For instance, when the players attempt to eat a restaurant in town, the owner refuses to serve the black players. Meanwhile, white residents throw a rock through a window in Boone's house, hoping to intimidate him and his family.

The team's record speaks for itself and by winning game after game, the team wins the town over. As a police officer says, the team has the best defense he has seen in 20 years. Not long after they prove themselves on the field, does the town begin to turn around and support them. They end the season undefeated (13-0), as state champions, and as runner-up to the national champion.

The friendships created on the field last long after the football season ends. Two of the players who become close friends, talk about their futures--living in the same neighborhood and growing old as friends--and imagine a different world--one that they have the power to create. In this one season, the coaches learned as much from the students as the students learned from them--much more than just the game of football but about each other, discrimination, acceptance, and tolerance. By extension, the communities surrounding them learned as well.

Today, the T.C. Williams High School student body is comprised of 43% African Americans, 7% Asian/Pacific Islanders, 27% Hispanic, and 21% white.

Watch the trailer here.