Discrimination In The Film 'Philadelphia'

The film Philadelphia is the story of a lawyer, Andy Beckett (Tom Hanks), who is fired from his job after it started becoming visible that he had AIDS. The law firm where he worked claimed that they fired Andy for incompetence, but Andy was convinced that the real reason he was fired is because his bosses found out that he had AIDS. For Andy and his family, the lawsuit will come to represent a major fight against prejudice and a fight for justice. However, in many ways this film is as much about Joe Miller (Denzel Washington), Andy’s lawyer. At first, Joe refuses to work for Andy, in large part because he is himself prejudiced against both homosexuals and people with AIDS. But eventually Joe comes to realize that the discrimination Andy faces is both unethical and as well as illegal, just as it is with discrimination against African Americans. He agrees to take Andy's case, and over the course of an exhausting trial, sets out to prove that Andy was fired not because he was a bad lawyer, but because he was a victim of illegal discrimination. This film has a strong connection to the powerful message of Martin Luther King Jr. The lessons of love in a Pilgrimage to Nonviolence, directly shows how John Miller went through his change into accepting Andy Beckett as a human being.

What is significant about the discrimination of Andy Beckett, is that Joe Miller’s opinions do not actually come to be until Miller finds out he has AIDS. For example, in the beginning scene of the movie after a meeting with a judge, Andy and Joe head into an elevator together muttering on their recordings, and frantically searching for their work phones as one rings (Demme, Philadelphia). A man is standing in between them, but the similarities betwee...

... middle of paper ...

...his case. In time, Joe would finally see Andy as he really was: just another man. Talented, loved, and full with life. Martin Luther King Jr.’s lessons of a nonviolent resistance and “loving your enemy”, were the lessons that Joe had discovered. King states, “Agape does not begin by discriminating between worthy and unworthy people, or any qualities people posses” (Coursepack 55). This notion of loving your enemy, treating every man as an equal brother, and selflessly seeking goodness for others, are all ideas that Martin Luther King Jr. had for creating social justice for the oppressed. Fear of the unknown, fear of others different than you, and fear of doing what’s right, Andy Beckett broke down those walls and unintentionally taught Joe Miller the message of agape.

I have neither given or received nor tolerated any use of unauthorized aid.

~Kelly Travers