In 1971 a black football coach, Herman Boone (Danzel Washington), is hired as head coach for T.C. Williams High School. He takes over the position from Bill Yoast (Will Patton), nominated for the Virginia High School Hall of Fame. Boone offers the assistant coordinator coach position to Yoast, which he declines until the white players vow to boycott the team without him. Yoast reconsiders realizing the boys would lose the chance at scholarships and becomes the defense coordinator. During football camp racially motivated conflicts are handled by Boone with forceful coaxing and extreme athletic training. The boys develop racial tolerance and become a true team. Upon returning from camp, Boone is informed by a black school board member that he will be fired at the loss of a single game. The Titans slowly gain community support, while battling racial prejudice, having an undefeated season. Prior to state semi-finals, a white school board member approaches Yoast and implies he wants Boone fired because of his race, offering Hall of Fame induction if the team loses the game. Referee bias being more than apparent during the next game, Yoast confronts the head official threatening scandal exposure to the press unless the game is refereed fairly. The loss of candidacy induction for Yoast is the result of the teams win. During the towns’ victory celebration the team captain is paralyzed in a car accident. The Titans win state and return ten years later for his funeral.
A conflict between interdependent parties requires the parties to be dependent upon each other. The actions whether good or bad affects all involved. This concept is expressed when in a scene between Gary and Juleus during a practice at football camp. Gary feels Juleus is not doing his part playing as a team member. Juleus expresses to Gary that he is unfair in his treatment of the team members and then states, “No body plays. I’m suppose to wear myself out for the team. What team?” He continues saying that he would look out for himself and that the captain is responsible for team attitude. Gary is now more aware of his role as a captain and begins a fairer treatment of all teammates.
Conflict is an expressed struggle but we do not have to express it verbally. Conflict is a behavior. The first day of school, during racial tension, Gary is speaking to Emma who verbalizes, “They will always hate us.” Juleus enters the scene and Gary introduces him to Emma. He extends his hand for a hand shake and Emma gives him an unkind look and walks away. In this scene, Emma never voices her opinion about the integration of the schools but makes it clear with her actions that she has no intention of getting to know someone of the other race.
Culture affects conflict, in this movie the lack of knowledge of a culture or a race causes conflict. Different cultures confront conflict differently but fear of the unknown or fear and hatred of a culture has been a conflict for centuries. From the initial town scene to multiple scenes of racial unrest and racism, the black citizens were discriminated against. The scene after a winning game where Sunshine offers to take two black players into a restaurant and the owner refuses service even to him for being with them. The scene with Boone and Yoast walking together after a racially discriminating attack upon Boones’ home, Yoast refers to Boones’ “sins” in regards to the attack. Gary and his fight with Juleus at the football camp and other scenes until Gary gets to know Juleus and a friendship develops then at the hospital Gary admits that in the beginning he feared him.
Interpersonal conflict within the family breaks down the teamwork needed for all parties to be successful. When one member finds things other than family to occupy their time, the challenge to maintain harmony can be sacrificed. Other members have to pick up the slack in chores, homework and care. It does not matter if it is drugs, alcohol or another person, if an adult or even a teenager is not performing along with the “team” others suffer and do not perform well. Just as a team requires depends on everyone working together so does a family. When my husband had an affair he took from the family and when my eldest son felt he did not need a curfew or chores the family suffered. Conflict must be expressed but does not have to be verbalized. A child can be aware of the displeasure of a parent with a stern look. Body language, facial expressions and even the removal of yourself from a situation can relay a message. When your date is aware that you see inappropriate hand placement on another and walk out leaving him standing at the fence to find his own way back to his car your message is loud and clear. Conflict caused by culture was relevant in my childhood when the town would protest our largest employer shipping in Mexican seasonal working during their busiest season. Mexican workers were carefully aware of where they went and what time they were out. Only two out of the three gas stations sold them gas and more than one was found floating in the river near our home. Many in the town judged them on the skin color, clothing and lack of an ability to communicate. In our book there are numerous conflict concepts stated but in the end as the book says “Conflict is natural”, from my perspective there are many conflicts that could be avoided with patience, communication and education.