While the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery, it could not end the ignorance, discrimination, and prejudice against the Black people. During the Civil War, Blacks enlisted in the Union Army to preserve their freedom promised to them in the Emancipation Proclamation. However, many whites found the idea of serving with Blacks to be offensive as they viewed Blacks to be lazy, stupid, and genetically inferior to them and refused to fight alongside Blacks. As a result, the Union decided to create separate regiments for Blacks. Glory (1989) directed by Edward Zwick depicts the struggle of the first Black regiment and how white men such as Colonel Robert Gould Shaw stood with them in their struggle for equity. Colonel Shaw acted by Matthew Broderick takes the audience with him on journey of transform from a naïve boy to a pre-adult and finally manhood and through his eyes the audience understands the internal and external struggles of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.
The movie opens with a naive Shaw who believes in the equality of all men as promised in the Declaration of Independence. The first scene opens with Shaw and his company marching to Antietam. He is very enthusiastic about being in the military and his strong belief about why their fighting. This is illustrated in his letter home to his mother. Shaw writes “how grand it is to meet the men from all the states, east and west...ready to fight for their country...as the old fellows did in the Revolution. But this time we must make it a whole country...for all whom live here, so that all can speak”. The viewer realizes Shaw truly believes that all men are equal regardless of color and is willing to fight and die for his beliefs. In addition, the viewer can see that Shaw has...
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...ough his example that no matter what happens he and his men are willing to sacrifice their lives not just to unify nation, but also that all men are equal.
In closing, the movie was a well-directed and produced film. It clearly shows how black and white men from two different worlds come to respect and accept each other through the horrors of war as equals, brothers, and comrades in arms. In addition, the actors, music selection, and the movie's historical portrayal give the viewer the feel of being a part of the 54th regiment. Furthermore, the movie provides the viewer a realistic representation of how these men lived and died. The men of the 54th regiment made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and in restoring a shattered nation. Therefore, I understand the movie receiving the nomination for best picture and it will defiantly be a classic for years to come.
“… no ordinary man. He had a quick, inquiring mind and uncommon resolve. He was extremely hardworking, forthright, good-natured, and a born leader. His commitment to the Glorious Cause of America, as it was called, was total. And if his youth was obvious, the Gl...
Glory is an American War film produced in 1989. The movie is about the first all-African-American regiment to be a part of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It is based upon letters written by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who was the commanding officer in charge of the first African American regiment. The regiment was known as the 54th Massachusetts, and it is famous for the heroic actions that took place during the Battle of Fort Wagner, where Colonel Shaw volunteered his men to lead the charge. Although there were many casualties and the battle was not successful, the 54th Massachusetts’ bravery led the Union to accept thousands of African American men into their ranks, which helped the Union win the war.
We see how black soldiers were unfairly provided the necessities by the government compared to their white counterparts. Uniforms, pay, and living conditions were nowhere near to what was being provided to other units that comprised of whites. Another factor was that the 54th Regiment was poorly being used in the battlefield and not provided the opportunity to face the South until Col Shaw stepped up and demanded that his unit be allowed to go to battle. I think that the weakest issue that was not covered was covered had to be the mistreatment from the trainers and society that looked down upon the 54th Regiment as a whole. Their training was much tougher than that of white units due to the fact that blacks were still looked down as a lower class of society, but this was not just from their brothers in arms, also white civilians. I think we see this hardship when a skirmish almost breaks out between the 54th and an all-white unit. One of the gentlemen from the all-white unit realizes Morgan Freeman’s character, Sgt Major John Rawlins, has been given strips and profoundly disrespect him even though the white soldier is very much lower in
The Civil War, a period of four years in the United States filled with bloody combat, thousands of casualties, and the destruction of much of Southern infrastructure. Although the Civil War had various causes (economy, politics, etc.), it mainly originated from the pressing issue of slavery at the time, mainly its expansion into the Western territories. As we all know, slavery was one of the most horrific times in our nation’s history, yet it was a typical and normal thing for the people of the 19th century. The film, Glory (1989), directed by Edward Zwick, doesn’t necessarily depict the horrors of slavery, however it does show 19th century America’s attitude toward African Americans, as well as the average African American’s hunger for freedom. The film begins with its protagonist, Colonel Shaw, being found by gravedigger John Rawlins (who later becomes a soldier in the Civil War). He is sent to a field hospital, and after he’s clear to leave, he visits his family at their plantation, where he meets Frederick Douglass, and is offered the position of Colonel for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. He accepts the promotion, and invites his old friend, Major Forbes, to be his right hand man in leading the infantry. He accepts as well, and soon after, black soldiers quickly volunteer, of these including Rawlins, Searles, Trip, etc., which will become important factors in the plot of the movie. Throughout the film, it is clear how each character is very different from each other, for example, Private Trip, is very stubborn and rude, while Private Searles is much more calm, peaceful, and weakish. Yet as the plot progresses, the characters slowly and gradually mold into different personalities, some going through more changes than others. ...
gave America the reputation of freedom, he gave a backbone and a firm ground to
This man went to a nation in dire need of a leader, an optimist, and above all save the country from drowning in it's own feces. The fact of the matter is simple.
The theme in the story is distinct because Shaw “oversimplifies his moral, social, or political problems” (Peden). Ruth tells Mitchell that when her Jewish fr...
The Seven Five is a documentary that frivolously reexamines the crimes of Officer Michael Dowd and his team of dirty cops. Dowd is a former New York police officer who was stationed in the 75th Precinct in Eastern New York. The film presents the nefarious deeds of these officers via original interviews with Dowd and his former comrades as they recount their crimes and explain the reasoning behind their unethical behaviors. While working as a cop, he embellished his income through criminal exploits which include stealing guns, drugs, money, and eventually he began working in drug rings selling cocaine. Dowd’s felonious activities were extremely lucrative and earned him approximately $4,000 a week. Dowd was eventually arrested in 1992,
represented a turning point in black American history. It, presented an opportunity to improve race relations at home despite the fighting abroad. How could you be racist against people whom are fighting to stabilize your freedom and the freedom of others was the mentality in the minds of black soldiers.
The movie “Glory” tells the history and the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. It became the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War. The Regiment was made up of black soldiers – some were Northern freemen, some were escaped slaves. The leader was General Robert Gould Shaw, the son of Boston abolitionists. The men of the 54th Regiment proved themselves worthy of the freedom for which they fighting, and the respect of their fellow white soldiers.
This movie is a wonderful production starting from 1960 and ending in 1969 covering all the different things that occurred during this unbelievable decade. The movie takes place in many different areas starring two main families; a very suburban, white family who were excepting of blacks, and a very positive black family trying to push black rights in Mississippi. The movie portrayed many historical events while also including the families and how the two were intertwined. These families were very different, yet so much alike, they both portrayed what to me the whole ‘message’ of the movie was. Although everyone was so different they all faced such drastic decisions and issues that affected everyone in so many different ways. It wasn’t like one person’s pain was easier to handle than another is that’s like saying Vietnam was harder on those men than on the men that stood for black rights or vice versa, everyone faced these equally hard issues. So it seemed everyone was very emotionally involved. In fact our whole country was very involved in president elections and campaigns against the war, it seemed everyone really cared.
He is the definition of a patriotic hero. He is the true symbolism of man and the definition of freedom, strength, and compassion. Inevitably after not able to serve his country he still chose to protect it in a different way. Most would have went the complete other direction. That’s where a lot of people in the United Sates go wrong. Consequently, most just throw their hands up rather than fighting in what they believe. Francis Scott Key wrote these famous words in the 1800’s, “Land of the free, and home of the brave.” (http://www.theglobalist.com/the-land-of-the-free-and-the-home-of-the-brave/) They are a part of our National Anthem today. Nonetheless, the American dream is what all men and women in the United States live for, work for, and die trying to have. The typical American dream is to have a car, family, a job, and to own your own house. This is something all Americans are raised to desire at an early age. One must work to succed or have anything in life, but having the “dream” is so much more when embracing life expectancies. Most get frustrated trying to reach these dreams because of wanting more. One can never be satisfied or happy. Instead if one would live appreciating the smaller aspects of life such as: freedom, compassion, and the strength of our country we would be more appreciative of what life has to
... historical significance of this film. When the film was made, it might have been considered a risk to cast Matthew Broderick as a valiant civil war leader. His past performances included childhood roles in movies such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, War Games, and Project X. In his first feature role as a serious actor, Broderick is believable and has just the right amount of emotion and dramatic resonance. Morgan Freeman is also well-cast as the patriarch of the group soldiers. His calm, yet powerful soliloquies of life as a hopeful slave painted many of the films non-battle scenes.
...as his acceptance of his life of poverty and service that serves as an example for us to use as a model for our actions in this world.
By doing this he showed his love for his country, and history itself, he would do everything to the fullest. He raised his family to the best of his ability, he was a good family man, and a hard worker that endured whatever confronted him. This is why he is my hero, because of his strength and his will to make sacrifices.