ISSUES

**ISSUES** There are a few social issues raised in the movie that don't always attempt to tear apart the team, but the main overlying theme is the issue of racism. The other issues somewhat affect the results of team effort to demonstrate that perseverance in the face of adversity, with the right leadership will prevail.

There is the conflict of leadership styles of both coaches. There is a power struggle between the coaches but also between the student leaders of the football team, Julius and Gerry. The issue of trust and respect also is addressed in the movie as well as social acceptance. There are instances were academic ability is questioned, along with economic status and even sexual preference. These underlying themes are all associated with the main theme of racism.

Some of the instances where we see this challenge of white against black start at the beginning when Coach Boone was selected as head coach over Coach Yoast. One might wonder if Affirmative Action is not another issue here. The team was divided because they were forced to work together. Over time the team learned to respect each other and trust that each member was out for the good of the team. One member was released from the team because he never did come on board. This took the strength of Gerry to stand by what he believed was the best decision for the good of the whole. Through a common goal they were able to put their differences aside and work as a team.

In the movie review, Roger Ebert describes //Remember the Titans// as "the outer form of a brave statement about the races in America, but the soul of a sports movie in which everything is settled by the obligatory last play in the last seconds of the championship game. Whether the Titans win or lose has nothing to do with the season they have played and what they were trying to prove. But it has everything to do with the movie's sleight of hand, in which we cheer the closing touchdown as if it is a victory over racism.” Roger Ebert, (2000)