Stereotypes In The Blind Side And Let America Be America Again

Despite America being vastly diverse culturally, African Americans are still one of the most frequent racial groups stereotyped against. In today's society, African Americans have many obstacles that they must overcome and so must take action to achieve their goals and dreams. Stereotypes may be a part of daily life, but they show unrealistic expectations from people. These misconceptions are adhered to and are portrayed in the movie "The Blind Side" directed by John Lee Hancock and “Let America be America again” written by Langston Hughes. Both types of work highlight the negative stigma created by stereotypes onto black people by American Society and how the black society has been oppressed in the community. John Lee Hancock's film describes

the struggle of a black man trying to fit into white society. In contrast, Hughes also reflects on the social context of African Americans in his poem Let America Be America again. Both John Lee Hancock and Langston Hughes also imply in their works how taking action has been the key to success in The Blindside and in "As I grew older".

Stereotypes cause us to prejudge the different types of people in the world before we actually get to know them.

"The Blind Side" made in 2009 reinforces stereotypes of race and class in our culture. All the good and well meaning people in the story (Michael’s teachers, the Tuohy family, & the football coach) are white, and all the negative influences and people in need (Michael, his drug addicted mother and gang friends) are black. By asserting this stereotype the film ensures that its protagonists, the White, Christian Tuohy family, remain innately “good” while the black characters are associated with a lack of power and poverty. For example, in the start of The Blind Side, Leigh Anne invites Michael to stay in her home after finding him walking on the street without a place to go. Leigh Anne asks her husband “You don’t think he will steal anything?”. Her comment portrays Michael as a danger to the family. Throughout the film, it illustrates the struggle that African Americans have to go through to help provide themselves financially which is clearly shown when Michael Oher receives his first bed as he has never slept on one before as well as the time he meets his brother working as a waiter in the restaurant. This scene makes Anne Touhy see Michael Oher in another light due to the struggle he had to go through and overcome by getting to know him from the society he comes

from.

Langston Hughes also reinforces the stereotypes placed onto black people, similarly to the movie, during the Harlem Renaissance period in the poem “Let America be America again” written in July 1936. Langston Hughes expresses his hurt feelings towards America poignantly in this poem. Langston Hughes’ poem, “Let America Be America Again” really stood out because of its powerful message of how humanity has shaped America into something that was never intended in the first place. Throughout the poem, Hughes talks about how “Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed” and about the stereotypes that have been created in society about races in general. This poem shows a paradox by describing America in all it's glory as well as making us remember the atrocities committed within America. Hughes primarily emphasizes the idea that America has become a nation that we never intended it to be despite being built on the principles of liberty and equality and being a nation full of dreams being fulfilled. Hughes says “It never was America to me” and with this powerful statement means that America never truly has become the America most people dream of, but hopefully someday it will be. Throughout the years the stereotypes, obstacles, and challenges have been molded into what America is today.

Additionally, the second theme which is displayed in both works is the need to take action. Human action is an important theme in the film. Leigh Anne takes action in helping Michael. Michael takes action in listening and honouring Leigh Anne both on the football field and off it. The Blind Side is about putting faith into action. The whole story revolves around family, faith and commitment. It challenges audiences to demonstrate their beliefs in tangible ways. Characters are shown to possess power in the world, something evident in the way human action is taken. Michael Oher had to display immense courage from trying to be accepted in a white Christian school with his low intellectual capabilities to standing up for his family within the scene where he confronts the gang towards the end. This shows that despite facing the odds of stereotypes he was able to take action in the face of adversity.

Moreover, In Langston Hughes' "As I Grew Older", the speaker represents all African Americans who had to relinquish their dreams due to the pervasive discrimination and persecution in early 20th century American society.

Hughes uses imagery and describes his dreams as "Bright like a sun" with the use of a simile. As he grew up, he experienced prejudice and racial discrimination, and his naive dreams were shattered. The point of the speaker's deepest despair is when the wall that shuts out his dream reaches its greatest height, leaving him to 'lie down in its shadow.' This wall can symbolize the racial barriers in society which deny people like Hughes their early hopes. However, as he becomes more mature, he once again takes up the dream, willing his 'dark hands' to take action and smash through the barriers of racial injustice and oppression and to once again let in the light, the 'sun.' The message of the poem is that we must take action against unjust society, deal with prejudice and rise above

it.

The film and poems assert that action is an essential component to being a human being to overcome obstacles such as stereotypes, prejudice and negative judgements. The theme of human action to overcome stereotypes is a very important message in Hancock's film and Hughes' poems. They both also portray the negative effects of racial judgements and how Michael overcomes this prejudice against him. In The Blind Side Michael and Leigh Anne’s relationship proves that race does not need to be a factor in understanding and befriending someone. John Lee Hancock effectively depicts the common negative stigma placed on African Americans in American Society. Langston Hughes was one of the most influential poets and black rights leaders of the time, or even to this day. Many people read his poems and were influenced by his ideas and themes which resulted in change because of it. There are still so many oppressed in America and we must take action and keep our eyes open to the problems around us in today's society.