Analysis Of Finding Forrester

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In the 2001 film Finding Forrester After all the advancements the American people have made as a society, the issue of race in the education system is still a major obstacle preventing minorities from making progress equal to that of their white counterparts. The opportunity and quality of education available to students attending inner-city public schools pale in comparison to private schools, whose students come from a higher socioeconomic background, and are predominantly white. This backwards system works to instill a perpetuating cycle, allowing only a few shining stars to work their way out of the public school system and into a land of greater opportunity, based on test scores and sometimes athletic ability. Director Gus Van Sant challenges the inequalities of race, class, gender, and social mobility in telling the stories of Jamal Wallace and William Forrester in the 2001 release, Finding Forrester. Van Sant’s motion picture presents the parallel tales of Jamal and Forrester, each growing as writers and human beings, and breaking boundaries on many levels as they do so. It becomes evident that throughout the film that Jamal the young African American high school student must overcome many challenges presented to him by his peers, teachers, and mentor, Forrester. As a black student attending an inner-city public school, Jamal’s educational opportunities are limited, rather than encouraged by his peers, and feeling the need to “fit in”. Although the present public school system allows Jamal the chance to excel as a student and young man, the incumbent norm of mediocrity amongst his African-American peers prevails, only pulling him downward. Jamal also faces the often problematic issue of the inner-city minority, that of being raised by a single mother. Without a true father-figure, Jamal looks up to his seldom present older brother, until he meets
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