Glory (1989) & The Patriot (2000) -- Silent Slaves & Interracial Freedom Fighting
Glory (full movie)
Directed by Edward Zwick
The Patriot (selected scenes)
Directed by Roland Emmerich
These movies depict the roles slaves and freed peoples played in key American wars. Glory details the exploits of the Massachusetts 54th Infantry -- an all black regiment -- in the Civil War. The Patriot portrays, or arguably fails to portray, the white American relationship to slaves in the era of the American War of Independence. Building on our discussion of Amistad, we will analyze the ways in which Zwick and Emmerich seek to fit slavery within patriotic narratives of the American past. We will question how slavery is treated differently in the two movies, how and why Emmerich largely ignores (or even hides) slavery, and what impact this has today. What do these movies tell us about tensions between groups designated "black" and "white" in the past and today? What view of the American nation do the directors want their audience to have? Are they successful? How do African Americans as soldiers complicate previous stereotypes? Do they create stereotypes of their own? What does the centrality of white leaders in these movies tell us?
