Blind Side

This is a movie that I really enjoyed the first time I watched it. I liked that it gave an example of a young Black boy from the projects that made it out. I thought it was a good inspirational film that would show our youth that the possibilities are endless. However, after looking at it through a more critical lens, I have noticed some unsettling messages. The overall message I now get from this film is that, given the charity and assistance of generous Christian families, people can escape poverty and conform to norms. This insinuates Black people, in particular, are incapable of succeeding without the excessive assistant of others. Oppression of minorities is an issue in our society, but the solution offered in this movie to end oppression is not realistic. Many teachers struggle with this issue. Teachers usually enjoy helping others, and find it difficult to bear when they are aware of a detrimental situation in a child’s life that there is nothing they can do to improve. As a teacher that plans to teach students from low income neighborhoods like Michael’s, I expect to be faced with this but I am not sure how I will deal with it. Ideally, I plan to insist that my students use their unfortunate situations as motivation to set goals and pursue them. But I know this is a lot easier said than done.

I enjoyed the parts in the film where Mrs. Tuohy realizes the privileges she and her family have. Among these privileges are access to literature and a bed to sleep in. There are some things that we assume all people have, but teachers must be aware of privileges we have and how they compare to those of our students.

 It is vital to get to know our students, and this film expresses this well. The teachers realize that Michael performs better with oral assessments than traditional tests. After making adaptations Michael is more successful and the teachers have a better understanding of what he has learned. By the end of the film Michael is no longer illiterate. Effective teachers use a variety of forms of assessment and make modifications and adaptations to increase student learning. It is also important to include the use of multiple intelligences in the classroom.

There were instances of racism in this movie. For example, after Michael and S.J. were involved in a car accident the paramedics did not administer first aid to Michael’s injury. Teachers must be conscious of the move they make in the classroom to ensure all students are given the opportunity to succeed. This includes the questions raised and who they are directed to. Body language is also something teachers need to be aware of.  There were also racial slurs throughout the movie. In a position of authority, teachers cannot allow students to use racial slurs. Ignoring them is just as bad as saying them. It is best to establish that students must be respectful of others at the beginning of the semester.

When people from low income neighborhoods become successful and make it out, it is difficult to go back. Some people fear rejection or judgment, similar to how Michael was treated when he went back to Hurt Village. From my experience, there will always be people that will be jealous of your accomplishments, but there are far more people that will be there to congratulate you. This movie instills fear in people from disadvantaged neighborhoods that there is this dichotomy: succeed and be rejected or remain in poverty and be accepted. Rather than focusing on the negative attitudes Michael’s former neighbors have toward him, the movie could have included some positive encouragement from them.