Coach Carter
The Film Coach Carter, featuring Samuel Jackson as the title actor, presents an interesting story and ideology that society needs to analyze in order achieve success. This ideology is emphasized in the black community. Thomas Carter directed the movie. Carter places an emphasis on the role education plays in shaping the future of the black community more than any other factor. He also relies heavily on sports as an alternative to gang violence and criminal activity. His community does not agree with his beliefs; he experiences resistance. Contemporarily, people are concerned with issues and societal factors that form stereotypes or force people into sociological cycles. Sociologists and psychiatrists have conducted several researches and studies to find out the key factors and issues that make and lead particular groups of people to take a certain direction in life. Carter believes that by emphasizing and reinforcing the ideology that getting good grades and going to colleges will result in a better life long-term, he will change their lives. He also believes he will begin to change society. He describes it as lives having won, and not games. Most people just see a basketball game but Carter sees students overcoming adversity. His ideology presents a mixed view that either support or criticizes it in equal measure. Sports can shape many lives positively, but also education has does the same in equal measure. Players involved in sports have varied intellectual and cognitive ability, which is normal and healthy for the entire society. Players that have superior cognitive and intellectual ability have to get good grades in order to go to college. This will allow them to get a good job and be successful. However, concerning those who are only physically talented but lack the intelligence, it makes little sense to impose them with specified grades that they have to attain first before they are able to do anything else relating to sports. Carter could have analyzed this on the first step and then come up with varied standards for the players to achieve depending with their intellectual ability.
Our society has also categorized different people and races as having certain attributes and qualities. Essentially, we have stereotyped everyone, which has increased the level of prejudice and discrimination. Differences can be appreciated, but society used them as boundaries. This has no scientific standing. Carter did well to introduce this concept in the movie because it presents a learning opportunity to correct the wrong beliefs. For instance, in the movie society, especially the black community, believe that the only way to make it in life is through sports, and this is a misconception. Carter reasserts to his players that he sees a system that has been designed for them to fail resulting from such beliefs. Sports are a short term career and as a person ages, their competitive edge diminishes. Therefore, incorporating education and sports together presents a better opportunity to make it in life long-term. The six members who went to college from Carter’s team bring his ideology to fruition: you need to stay focused in many areas of life in order to succeed. You do not need to listen to those around you or follow the path that many have taken before you.
In conclusions, the film presents a good example that people can relate to. It turns down negative beliefs, stereotypes, and the idea that we all must act within those stereotypes. Every individual has a responsibility to stand up and challenge anything they feel is wrong within the society. We can fight for what we believe is right and act as agents for change, just as Carter did. We can br triumphant in life, no matter where we come from. All one has to do is analyze and consider their potential, and use it to their advantage.
