Glory history or just a good story?
The movie Glory was released in 1989, directed by Edward Zwick, and starred Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman. The film follows the Civil War's first all-black volunteer regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, and their fight for equality and freedom in the face of racism and prejudice. The question that arises is whether the movie Glory is an accurate portrayal of the African-American experience during the Civil War or is it just a good story. The answer is that Glory is certainly an accurate depiction of the African-American experience during the Civil War, with its rough spots. The movie focuses on the historical context of the Civil War, depicting the struggles of
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He works hard to train the soldiers, despite the challenges and obstacles they faced, including a lack of supplies and equipment. The movie depicts the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity, emphasizing the 54th's struggle for recognition, respect, and honor. Although all of the characters in the movie were completely fictional, it was said the 54th regiment was mostly educated freedmen rather than runaway slaves, which was accurately portrayed in the movie, except for Trip. This helps prove that African-Americans should have been viewed as equals because they certainly were just as qualified as the men in the white regiments. The majority of the main characters were fictional like John Rawlins, Trips, and Colonel Robert Shaw. Trip was an angry former slave, John was the elder of the regiment who was mainly the person holding the group together and protecting them all, and Shaws was the leader of the battalion who was determined to fight for what he believed in and to show others that his regiment should be looked at as brothers in arms and not looked down upon because of their …show more content…
The movie showcases how the discrimination affected both soldiers and their families and emphasizes the importance of fighting for justice and equality. For example, the movie does not go into detail about the impact the battle of Fort Wagner had on the North. The New York City draft riots were a significant event in American history that demonstrated the anger and frustration of working-class citizens and the government's inability to address their concerns. The riots also exposed racial divisions in the city, highlighting the need for social reform and equality for all citizens, but this was all barely mentioned in the movie. African-Americans became the main targets of violence throughout the riots, with many being lynched or beaten by white mobs. This affected many of their lives outside of the battlefield in a drastic way. If this information about the New York City draft riots had been included in the movie I feel it would have added depth to knowing not only were the lives of African-Americans on the battlefield rough but their lives at home may have been definitively