Have you ever been humiliated or made fun of people because their skin color? Mahatma Gandhi once said ‘’Be the change you want to see in the world’’ (Corliss 12) There are some people that are still not be careful of such issue, they always say that they are not racist, while their action are complete different. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who think they are better than other because of their skin color or race. This issue cause unequal relationship between people in all aspects. That’s the way the racism prospers in human civilization. As a college student I can say that, all people no matter what their nationality and skin are, they need to be treated in the same way, equally. We can see that in the three films there is a lot of racism with each of the protagonists. In ”Gifted hands” with Ben Carson, ‘’Something the Lord made’’ with Vivien Thomas and ‘’Devil in a blue dress’’ these people went through many difficulties in their life’s because they are colored people.
Racism is demonstrated in the film by the discrimination that Ben faces in school. Some people are considered better than others because of their skin color. Ben was an African American. A good example is when Ben takes the top spot in classes. The white tutor who clearly is racist person is seen scolding the other children after Ben’s excellent performance. The tutor quarrels them on the basis that, a black child has beaten them in class. This theme is developed throughout the movie from Ben’s childhood to his work place. In the film ‘’Something the Lord made’’ is about Vivien Thomas, one of the main characters of this movie is not allowed to enter via the front door at Johns Hopkins University Hospital.
Vivien also been discriminated because he continues in the same job classification, the third-class classification, despite the fact that he is performing work of a considerably higher skill level. In addition, Vivien Thomas also been insulted when he first went to Johns Hopkins hospital when he wanted to ask for help from the Director of Laboratory to find someone to help him to clean out the lab, but then the doctor replied him impolitely and full of ignorance. According to Walter Mosley ‘’ Mr. Carter subjects Easy to ‘the worst type of racism’ by treating him like an equal. Easy explains that by failing to recognize the racial difference between them ‘’ (Easy 303) Mr. Carter acts as though Easy is lower than a human being. The teenage boys try to degrade Easy by calling him ‘nigger.’ Mr. Albright, like many white men in his time, calls Easy ‘boy’ in order to express racial superiority.
‘’ Ben Carson is one of the most celebrated neurosurgeons in the world. In Gifted Hands, he tells an inspiring story of his life from when he was an inner-city youngster in Detroit who rose above his circumstances to become the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital’’ (Malcom et. Al 170) He then dedicates his life to reading with motivation from his mother and emerges to be the brightest student. Determination is also seen in Ben’s mother. Despite the fact that she is a divorcee, she does not give up in life. Another show of determination in this movie is Ben’s daringness to carry out operations that naturally had slim survival chances.
Even though, records had that such surgical operations were unlikely successful, Ben took the challenge to try. Vivian Thomas could have given up when it became too discouraging, but instead he persevered and became an inspiration to many people. He lived his life with perseverance, humility and determination, even in the face of prejudice and opposition. In the last movie, even though racism is largely a dividing force in the novel, it also brings characters together. Easy feels a kinship with ‘’Primo’’ who is Mexican, simply because both are subjected to racism from the white community. Mosley understands what it is to be discriminated against as an African-American, as a Jew, and as a person of mixed race. Perhaps it is because of this that his perspective on racial issues is so trenchant and complicated.
In conclusion, I can say that the three movies are an inspirational story, about three mans who are designed to encourage young people whose life does not seem appealing. I think it is a very educational movie. Despite the odds, they managed to do what nobody else had ever done. Therefore, young people are encouraged to rise above the odds in their lives and excel. People learn with the lives of others. We need to understand that racism is not going to lead us to anything good, on the contrary, it makes us see other people as people without education.
