The “first black to do x” template (in particular in relation to sports movies) is tedious and it has to go. The Civil Rights struggle was a struggle, point taken. Does this mean we have to work over the issue the same exact way a hundred times?

It is saying something that Hollywood has to continue to dip back forty plus years to find instances of notable racism in American society. Today are there still divides? Sure, there always will be and those divides go both ways. The fact is the Civil Rights Era has brought fruit and this continual mulling over the past is unhealthy, not because it’s wrong to investigate our collective pasts but because it way its presented and how it shades our lives today. The point of these films (Men of Honor, Glory Road, Pride, and on and on) is not to show how far we’ve come, but to chain today to past sins. These sins committed by people most of never knew, or are even related to. Blacks are reminded that they were second class citizens, and white are reminded that they’re all budding racists who should be filled with shame. In these films some pragmatic white, who will benefit directly from the inclusion of blacks, crosses the divide. He’s still spoiled by racism but he can ignore his impulses long enough to get what he wants. In non-sports related Civil Rights Era movies (Mississippi Burning, Ghosts of Mississippi, even Hairspray) the minorities are spared by strong-willed white liberals (almost all East Coast lawyers (Hairspray being an obvious exception) who battle the seething crackers.

This particular production is frustrating because Ernie Davis is a legitimate subject for a film. The problem is that this film never rises above the conventions of the underdog/Civil Rights sports movie. The template is simple: the blacks are brought in and the whites get nervous. The blacks are all helpful, somewhat meek, and hold mild racist views of their own. It is the whites who are burdened by the curse of racism. There is the obligatory scene where the racism of society acts as a wedge in a conversation or social situation. This is often done around a meal where the pragmatic white is cornered by a question or statement which has the subtext of “the world sure is racist!” The pragmatic white has his uncomfortable moment and is forced to slowly chew his food while he fumbles for something to say. Then there are the unprompted threats from white teens. These are usually met by the proud, dominate black teen who stands up to them at which point the white devils melt in fear. So on and so forth. Again, it isn’t that the issue of racism is raised, it should be discussed. The trouble is that the topic of racism is handled in such an obvious and pedestrian fashion. All of this leads to the final half where the blacks integrate and tensions rise until whites learn that blacks can be useful (meaning they can score points in games and win championships) and then everyone gets along. The black players get respect, not because they’re men worthy of dignity and respect, but because they’re useful in a particular social activity. The structure should be offensive to a certain degree since it assumes white racism and casts blacks as being defined by the approval of whites.

It is possible people look at these race-based sports films as being great underdog stories. The underdog aspect of the narratives is there and there are some interesting stories to be mined. I’m left wondering however, if these films are more than blatant social engineering pieces and actually about showing an underdog story then why aren’t there similar movies about Asians, Hispanics or other minorities? Were their struggles for equality missing teachable moments? Where is the story of the first Asian NBA player Wataru Misaka or others? Other minorities are not covered in this fashion because it doesn’t fit the accepted narrative of the country where racism has a hierarchy of pain and embarrassment. According to Hollywood Asians had nothing to do with the history of America until Japanese Americas popped up in 1940 to be rounded-up by the Democratic Administration. Mexicans had little to do with the development of the country other than rushing the Alamo. This is also why we don’t see many positive films about African Americans coming out of Hollywood. It doesn’t fit the template. Other than Tyler Perry where are the uplifting stories focusing on African Americans that show them in a framework outside of being held down by whites? The Civil Rights Era was half a century ago, have we really made so little progress? Will Smith’s Pursuit of Happyness comes to mind but even that had its race/class moments. Why can't Hollywood conceive of showing African Amercians excelling in areas of real importance? Why is it always something ultimately as useless as sports? No, don't bother with Thurgood Marshall, Ralph J. Bunche, Hiram Revels, or Congressional Medal of Honor winner William H. Carney, we're going to stick with football.

I call for a twenty year moratorium on Civil Right Era films, in particular the sports-based ones. Film makers should be forced to show African Americans as they are today, in today’s world not in some navel gazing look at what our grandparent’s or great grandparent’s generations were doing. This will provide us with stories about a nearly untouched aspect of American society (actual positive looks at black America) and will work to undo the destructive stereotypes and canards propagated by our media (against both whites and blacks.)

Giving a final look at this movie, as mentioned above, it is a shame this doesn't work since Davis’ story is an interesting one. As a sports film it doesn’t make the grade because it doesn’t dredge up enough tension. The scenes aren't horrible but they're lacking any drive, any life. In addition, visually this is a very conservative film and there is no innovative moves to make the football sequences stick in the memory. As with the rest of the film, the games pass in and out without much impact. There are better sports films. There are better Civil Rights films. Since that's the case there is no reason to see this one.


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The Rookie (2002)


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Labels: Charles Dutton, Dennis Quaid, racism, sports movie