Blog #170 – Green Book
This movie, Green Book, portrays the lives of two very complex men, Dr. Don Shirley and Tony Lip (Vallelonga) and the friendship that they forged in the 1960s. The movie takes place amidst the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and takes the main characters to places – it seems – untouched by any Civil Right agitation. The men are a portrait of contrasts – Tony as a sloppy, uncouth Italian tough guy while Dr. Shirley is uptight, ultra-focused (on music), and very alone. In many respects, this is somewhat of a formulaic movie that works like a buddy comedy or a road trip movie, but there’s much more to the film (and their relationship) than that. 
The actors, Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali feel that the movie has an understated power that just lets its characters interact in interesting and human ways.
“One thing I felt was really valuable, in the script, was that it didn’t tell you what to think,” Mortensen said. “It didn’t tell you what to feel. Yes, there’s a history lesson. There’s a civics lesson there. You could even say that there’s a cautionary tale that can be applied to our time, or any time really, in terms of discrimination, racism, ignorance.”
“I will say if it was 10 years ago or 20 years ago it would be a movie for our time,” said Ali. “I think the difference is, a heightened awareness about the division in our country, in the last couple of years. I think there’s more eyes on the problems, and the things that need to be bridged between communities. And I do feel that this film fits perfectly in the culture right now, as far as something that can serve as an example of what is possible.”
Even in some of the darkest, most racist parts of the South, Dr. Shirley maintains his dignity even when asked to use segregated bathrooms or refused service in a white restaurant, even at the same place where he is playing later that night. Yet he is tormented by his demons, he drinks to silence them, and his inability to not be his true self haunts him. By just existing, by playing the piano in such an excellent manner, Dr. Shirley defies what white America at the time thought of Black Americans. He wasn’t making speeches, he wasn’t marching with Dr. King, but Dr. Shirley was on the “front lines” of the Civil Rights Movement.
Pick 3 of the following questions to answer about the film:
- How does Ali’s portrayal of Dr. Shirley show his complexity at being a closeted Black musician in Jim Crow America? Give specifics.
- Explain how Dr. Shirley was “on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement” just by playing the piano in a tour of the Deep South in 1962.
- What historical elements in the film let you know that this movie takes place in 1962? Explain with details.
- How do both Tony and Dr. Shirley move from barely tolerating one another to a place of real friendship by the end of the movie? Explain with details.
- How does this movie about a friendship made over 50 years ago speak to today’s audiences and what does it say about our country today?
350 words minimum. Due by Friday, May 31 by midnight.
NBC News on Green Book – https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/green-book-stars-explain-movie-real-lives-behind-story-n939046
1. How does Ali’s portrayal of Dr. Shirley show his complexity at being a closeted Black musician in Jim Crow America? Give specifics.
Since Dr. Shirley is a black musician who has sought success in following his dream in the music industry, he faces many challenges from the racist limitations of the country which he lives in. Since the people around Shirley are pro-segregation and would not approve of a black man’s music being respected and shared with white Americans, he feels as if he can’t express himself without fear or what people will think or do to him. His sadness is shown in the movie through his heavy drinking, which is a method for him to cope with the limits which society has placed upon him. He is also often frustrated because, while he wishes he could be accepted by the white people who oppress him and dampen his dreams, he is not even accepted by his own people who consider his behavior “too white”. Because of this, Dr. Shirley’s uptight, closed off behavior reflects how he has never had a group of people to appreciate him as he is.
2. Explain how Dr. Shirley was “on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement” just by playing the piano in a tour of the Deep South in 1962.
Firstly, Dr. Shirley requesting to play in the South shows that he is brave enough to face extreme racism for the sake of introducing people to his music. Additionally, despite being for the wrong reasons, his formal diction and attire, as well as his talent as a pianist, both appealed to the white viewers and made them more willing to accept him. By breaking through the barriers of racism to play to a white audience, Dr. Shirley demonstrates his ability to find success as a musician despite the many drawbacks he faces due to racial prejudice. He also abides by many of the beliefs and practices of the civil rights movement such as peaceful protest; for instance, when provoked, he insists that “dignity always prevails” and that those who resort to violence will never succeed.
3. What historical elements in the film let you know that this movie takes place in 1962? Explain with details.
Jim Crow laws and bold racism, as well as protests and anger resulting from the civil rights movement, were prevalent aspects of the early sixties. Examples of such racism in the movie include white men seeing the black handymen as a threat to Dolores, the Copa only allowing wealthy whites, and Dr. Shirley being racially discriminated against when on his piano tour in the south. This discrimination is seen when Dr. Shirley is forced to stay at a separate motel than his white peers, is directed to an outhouse rather than being allowed use of the indoor toilet, and is barred from purchasing and trying on suits at a local clothing store. Another example of discrimination toward minorities is shown when Dr. Shirley is arrested for having an intimate encounter with another man, which is due to homophobia being widely accepted in law and society at the time. Visually, fashion, architecture, and technology were all noticeably different in 1962 compared to other eras as well. This is portrayed by the filmmakers’ use of old fashioned cars and clothes, as well as scripting behaviors that were common in the 60s, such as Tony smoking indoors.
3. What historical elements in the film let you know that this movie takes place in 1962? Explain with details.
There were many elements in the film that proved this, for example, smoking in stores. In the 1960s, smoking was commonly accepted and permitted almost everywhere. Also, the minor details, like the way hair was styled back then and the outfits they wore, conveyed that the movie took place in the 1960s. Not to mention, the technology the characters used, like the rotary dial phone, was most popular during this time. In the movie, there was a scene where Tony and Dr. Shirley’s car broke down, so they stopped by the side of the road. Dr. Shirley notices a plantation with black people working, which portrays the poor economic conditions. At the start of the movie, there are two black repairmen drinking out of cups who eventually get thrown away by Tom because he feels disgusted about sharing a cup with a black man. Also, after Dr. Shirley’s performance, he goes up to use the bathroom, only to be turned away by a white man to go use the one outside. As well as Dr. Shirley getting pulled over and arrested after what Tony did to the police. Even with Dr. Shirley questioning the police, they refused to give him an answer about what he did.
4. How do both Tony and Dr. Shirley move from barely tolerating one another to a place of real friendship by the end of the movie? Explain with details.
In the beginning of the movie, Tony seems to only accept the job offer because of the high salary. Later on, the two of them learn more about each other and when Tony watches Dr. Shirley plays the piano, he’s very surprised. I think this was one of the turning points that helped Tony realize that Dr. Shirley is more than what he thought he was because of societal views. Tony set off an argument by calling himself “blacker” than Dr. Shirley which arguably got them closer to one another. Since he said this, Dr. Shirley explained that he couldn’t possibly know what it’s like and uncovered a new understanding for Tony. In the end, Dr. Shirley is welcomed by Tony’s family with hugs and truly notices a change in Tony’s personality after him.
5. How does this movie about a friendship made over 50 years ago speak to today’s audiences and what does it say about our country today?
Back then, biracial friendships weren’t common. Even with the amount of prejudice black people faced, having a biracial friendship pushed these segregation boundaries. This friendship that was made over 50 years ago demonstrates that no matter what ethnicity, race, or background you are from, nothing will ever break the bond between you and a strong relationship. Green Book revealed that our country has improved, even if it was by a little.
2. Dr Don Shirley was on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement just by playing the piano in a tour of the Deep South in 1962 by breaking the racial barriers set in music, being the symbol for black achievement, and by challenging social norms of that time. Shirley broke the racial barriers in music because he preformed his music in predominantly white areas and to white crowds. The kind of music he played was traditionally white music as well so he broke all of this barriers, he exceeded and became one of the best in a underrepresented part of music, he proved stereotypes about black people playing white music to be false.
4. Tony and Dr. Shirley moved from barely tolerating each other to a place of real friendship. They started off by Tony expressing common racial stereotypes about black people to Dr Shirley like liking fried chicken, taking his wallet out of the car with dr Shirley, etc. Dr Shirley initially looks down on Tony as a less sophisticated man. There first impressions of each other where not all to good. The journey that they go through thou is what changed their relationship. On their journey through the deep south they face racism together from both sides. On many occasions Dr Shirley was segregated and discriminated against because of his color. Example of this would be in most of the venues where Shirley played he was not allowed to eat in the same dining room as white people, use the same bathroom, and on one occasion got taken out of his car for no reason by a police officer, obviously the officers intentions weren’t good and he was fueled by racism. Tony though all of this defended Shirley as it was his job, but as he got to do it more he started to grow his friendship with the doctor, he started to understand Dr shirley’s struggle being a black musician. The one moment for me in the film that really refined the friendship between the two and made it un breakable was when Tony was telling Dr Shirley that he knows his identity and that he is an Italian that grew up in the bronx and grew his family there, and that he’s been poor all of his life, he was trying to tell Dr. Shirley that he didn’t get what it’s like to be him and that Shirley was lucky that he was a rich musician who gets whatever he wants. Dr Shirley then proceeded to respond to what he seemed to be holding in for. along time, he exclaimed that he is a lonely man even with all of his riches. He is still treated different by white people and black people alike, he feels as though he doesn’t fit in anywhere or with any group, a life of loneliness. This was a moment of understanding between the two men. They both understood each other problems and that made them grow closer than ever before.
5. This movie about friendship made over 50 years ago speaks to today’s audience by telling us that anyone can be friends with each other if you just accept your differences. Tony and Dr.Shirley live in completely different worlds. One has things the other doesn’t. They managed thought o understand eachother and didn’t ignore there differences but rather embraced them, making their friendship a solid one. This should be an example that we should all lead by today. This says many things about our country today but perhaps the most prominent one in my eyes is how far we’ve come. Even though there are still terrible people in our country still filled with hatred, many people have changed for the better fortunately, and have learned to accept different people for who they are.
2.)Dr.Shirley was “on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement” in the Deep South because he was a black man touring the Jim Crow south. During this time, the south was plagued with immense amounts of racism and oppression. Black Americans did not have the same rights as their white southern counterparts. Throughout Dr.Shirley’s time on tour, he ran in many aggressive southerners. Some tried to beat him up, while others wouldn’t allow him to dine at their establishments. Though facing these oppressions, Dr.Shirley never gave in. He consistently stood up for himself and made it known that he belongs there like everyone else. Also, Shirley was consistently peaceful in these endeavors. As he said, it is necessary to be peaceful and not aggressive. This completely reflects the ongoing Civil Rights movements. The majority of the movement–besides the black panthers–were peaceful. Peaceful protests were the epitome of the Civil Rights protests. Therefore, Dr.Shirley’s noticeable attempts to stay peaceful left him in line with the rest of the protests during this time.
3.) One example of historical elements that show that this movie takes place in 1962 are the cars and outfits. For example, the cars seen in the movie are not typically seen today–unless by car collectors or enthusiasts. Additionally, this movie shows the switch for women from skirts and dresses to pants after World War II. This is definitely a indicator for this time frame. Also, other elements that showed the time frame was the showing of Civil Rights America. This is seen with Jim Crow South and the oppression Dr. Shirley faced. Also, Shirley’s belief of peaceful interactions between him and the white aggressors also reflected this time. It reflects this time period because peaceful protests covered the Civil Rights movement and was the primary belief of activists.
4.) At the beginning of the film, there was an obvious split between the two. They came from completely different backgrounds and there almost seemed to be tensions because of their different races. I say this because at the beginning of the film, Tony was at home and woke up to his family in his living room because two Black workers were fixing something for him. They were upset with Tony because he was not protecting his wife from these average people. After, Tony threw out the glasses they drank out of in protest against them–or to fit in with his family. This event seemed to show that Tony or his family held racist views which may have affected Tony’s initial opinion of Dr.Shirley. Also, when Tony first got the job he was somewhat aggressive with explaining the depth of his position. He asked for a certain amount of money and told Dr. Shirley his limits. This overall started them on a wrong path. As the film progressed, the two got into many arguments over each others actions. Much of the time, they argued about the racial differences between each other and what they can and cannot do. At one point, Tony told Shirley that he was more Black then him. This upset Shirley because he never felt in a place in his community. Though, their differences were put aside with more and more run ins with racist Southerners. When Shirley would refuse to leave white establishments or refused to go somewhere he is not welcome, Tony gained a lot of respect. By the end of the movie, Tony was congratulating Shirley for his efforts in sticking up for himself. The final showing of their friendship was on their way home to New York. It became late and Tony was exhausted. He told Shirley that they wouldn’t make it home on time for Christmas eve. Though, as a testament to their true friendship, Shirley drove them home. He did this as he knew how important Tony’s family was to him and knew he needed to be home for this special day. Overall, the movie shows their struggles and triumphs in their friendship.
Mahershala Ali acts out the character of Dr. Shirley very well, making him appear as a distinguished black man who has lots of manners, perhaps too many. His contrast with Tony serves as a great way to show the different social groups in America. In this, we also see how different Dr. Shirley is from southern black folks. Part of his passion for music makes him very different, because he seems very educated and mannered compared to most of his time. This is why, while being a black man in Jim Crow America, he could be seen as a pretty odd man.
By playing in his piano tour in the deep south, Dr. Shirley showed that it is possible to be successful as a black man in the Jim Crow era. He showed to the African-Americans of the south, especially the ones in the bar, that it is possible to get money and not be at the service of white people anymore. Him hiring a white man as his driver is also big proof of his success.
We can see that this movie is taking place in 1962 from the appearance of the technologies they have, such as the cars and radios. There is also good access to well developed roads. 1962 was also a period with many debates over civil rights, which we can see is still an issue when he goes to the south.
Tony at the start of the movie didn’t even want to work with Dr. Shirley and hated the idea of being bossed around by him. On the other hand, Dr. Shirley saw him as a pretty uneducated, unmannered and rude Italian immigrant, who seemed to be liked by most but seemed like an odd man. During the movie, both men share some great moments, from Tony showing him things he likes that Shirley would see as unmannered: in the car, Tony gets some Kentucky Fried Chicken and shares it with Shirley who ends up loving it. Tony’s protection over Shirley also builds a great feeling of trust and friendship between them, showing to Shirley how much Tony cares about him and that he is not racist, like most of his time.
This movie that was made over 50 years ago shows us how relationships between different races should be: united and connected. It shows a theme that is sadly still present in today’s society, showing the racist morals of most people while there are the ones resisting and being different. It also shows us what you could be missing out on just by being racist, in this case, a great friendship.
1. In Ali’s portrayal of Dr. Shirley, Dr. Shirley is portrayed as a lonely individual and his loneliness in the movie has a major role in the complexity of his character. Dr. Shirley is shown as an outcast to both black and white groups. As Dr. Shirley tells Tony, he doesn’t fit into either the white or black population after Tony claims he’s “blacker” than the Doc. We see this when the car breaks down in front of a field, the working Black folks stare at Dr. Shirley in both jealousy and disdain, and we see this with the white event manager refusing to give him a seat at the restaurant, despite Dr. Shirley being the main attraction. Dr. Shirley lives the good life as a Black man, but because other Black folks suffer from more racism, discrimination, and poverty, he doesn’t fit in with the rest of them. But because his skin is black, he is rejected by White folks, as we see in the table scene. Dr. Shirley suffers from this loneliness as we slowly uncover throughout the movie, that he tried to have a family, but failed as a husband not just because he’s a musician but because he’s also closeted, and he’s tried to be accepted by White people through his talent, but is still rejected by them. His loneliness makes him allegedly have sexual affairs with a stranger, and his loneliness is also why he finds a liking to Tony, someone he can talk to.
2. In the movie, The Shirley Trio’s Russian string player tells Tony that Dr. Shirley would make three times as much money in the North compared to the South, but went on his Southern tour because he wanted to. Dr. Shirley fought the idea that a Black man was incapable of having talent or as much/more skill compared to a White man. Through playing the piano, he tackled racial stereotypes by proving to his mostly White audience that Black people weren’t just the background or the shadow of White people, but the extraordinary main attraction.
3. One direct giveaway that the movie took place in 1962 was the motel Dr. Shirley had to stay at. When Tony and Dr. Shirley have to stay the night in the South, Dr. Shirley stays at a separate motel from Dr. Shirley. When they arrive at his motel, we see mainly Black folks in the middle of the motel talking and playing games. There are no white people there except Tony and the motel seems very run down for a place someone as rich as Dr. Shirley would stay at. What the movie portrays are the “separate but equal” Jim Crow laws that were in place during 1962 and the segregation that took place in public areas including stores, restaurants, and inns. We also see this when Dr. Shirley and Tony enter a tailor shop for a suit but the worker there refuses service to Dr. Shirley, claiming that Dr. Shirley wasn’t allowed to try on the suit he wanted.
4. The movie portrays the building of human friendship throughout Dr. Shirley and Tony’s trip and forms all types of different moments where they can connect to each other and learn about each other. Dr. Shirley barely tolerates Tony as he begins to yap at the beginning of their trip. But their relationship builds as they spend more time with each other and have moments of friendship. Tony introduces Dr. Shirley to fried chicken, something we see him enjoy multiple times later in the movie, and Dr. Shirley helps Tony write romantic letters to his wife. Tony also introduces Dr. Shirley to black artists and their music and bails him out of awkward/dangerous situations. Around the end of the movie, they’re able to get over their differences after establishing boundaries, learning each other’s complexities, and builds a genuine respect and friendship for each other. We see Dr. Shirley at the beginning of the movie yelling at Tony for stealing a jade rock, but at the end jokes about it as he tells Tony he’s aware he kept the “lucky rock”.
5. The movie overall represents the change and improvement our country has made over the years to fight racism and discrimination, but it also teaches a lesson on personal change and the complexity of being human. In the context of today, the events of Green Book are something we see as events and behaviors of the past. We know that the Jim Crow laws we see throughout the movie are no longer a part of the American system today and the blatant racism and hate towards Black people has been greatly reduced over time. Racism still exists in America today, but as a country, we’ve improved and changed our views and policies towards all races. The movie also represents personal change as we see Dr. Shirley and Tony changing each other throughout the movie. Tony learns the struggles and hardships of being Black in America during their time and also how to write romantic letters, while Dr. Shirley builds a new appreciation for people like Tony and discovers a liking for fried chicken and Black jazz. This personal connection and change that we see in the dual protagonists show the connection and love we cultivate for the people around us and how even unlikely friendships can turn into one connection for a lifetime.
2. Dr. Shirley was “on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement” just by playing the piano in a tour of the Deep South in 1962 because it was basically a way of peacefully protesting, whether it was intended or not. He was constantly breaking the standards that white Southern Americans had set, yet he was never violent towards anyone who was racist to him, nor did he break any laws. Dr. Shirley simply doing his job was pushing for exactly what the Civil Rights Movement was, demanding more rights and respect for black people in America.
4. Tony and Dr. Shirley move from barely tolerating one another to a place of real friendship by the end of the movie because they learn about how eachother live and grow to respect and understand each other. At the beginning of the movie, Dr. Shirley knows Tony as a working-class Italian American bouncer with racist attitudes, while Dr. Shirley is a sophisticated African American pianist. Tony seems to be set purely on making money and doesn’t want anything else out of his job as Dr. Shirley’s driver. However, as Dr. Shirley starts to pick on Tony’s lack of manners and vile language, and Tony urges Dr. Shirley to exit his comfort zone a little, they seem to form a bond. Because they are so different, they learn from each other.
5. This movie follows a white man who was previously racist, and ignorant to the struggles of being African American in the United States as he spends time with and works for a black man who’s dealt with racism all his life. When Tony sees how Dr. Shirley is treated by police officers and other white men, and witnesses him being denied service because of his skin color, his compassion grows and he realizes that he’d been wrong with his previously racist views. He got to know Dr. Shirley for who he really was instead of who black people are stereotyped to be, and realized that they didn’t deserve to be treated any different. This message still resonates today, although the legal aspects and most large issues have improved tremendously, the stereotyping continues to be an issue, and this movie could open people’s eyes to that.
2. Dr Shirley was on the front lines of the civil rights movement because he had a choice whether to play in New York for more money but he still chose to play in the racist South because he wanted to show them that he is a person too. While he constantly gets discriminated against and beaten up he still stands his ground and refuses the lower standards that they give him like when he refused to eat in the dressing room or refused to stay at a motel that didn’t accept him there.
3. Some historical elements that let me know that it takes place in the 1960s, specifically 1962 is the Jim Crow laws and the discrimination towards African Americans, like when Dr Shirley is asked to use a different, worser bathroom than the white people or when he is asked to eat in his dressing room and not allowed to eat in the normal dining area, and when he refuses he is told to go down the road. We see the difference in how Dr Shirley is treated around the United States from many different people as they are less tolerant than they are nowadays. There is also a difference in everything from clothing to their cars, it is all uniquely 1960s stuff and it really makes the film more engaging and immersing for the viewer.
4. Tony and Dr Shirley go from barely tolerating one another to becoming good friends at the end because they bond over the fact that there are people who don’t like him, Shirley is Black and Tony is Italian and people do not like them for that so Tony probably relates to him in a way, especially when they find themselves in jail because of that encounter with the cop.. We see the change in Tony when he decides not to take the other job offered by his friend to stay with Shirley, Tony also realizes that Shirley only wants the best for him and his family when he offers him a raise and helps him write the letters to his wife. In the final parts of the movie, Tony offers Dr Shirley to come inside and meet his family for Christmas but Shirley drives off, later we see Dr Shirley show up and Tony is ecstatic showing that their friendship has grown.
2. Dr. Shirley was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the south because he was touring in the Jim Crow south. By requesting to play shows in the south, Dr. Shirley proves that he was willing to face bigotry and hate for the sake of his music. He was able to challenge social norms at the time and broke barriers between white and black people by playing for white crowds. By practicing peaceful protesting he was also able to prove that people who resort to violence will not succeed. His work as a musician reflected and helped to further the ongoing Civil Rights Movement at the time.
3. One example of proof that this movie takes place in the 1960’s is the style choices, like cars, clothes. Many of the cars shown in the movies are ones that are trademarks of that time period. They also portray the switch from women wearing skirts and dresses (before World War 2) to wearing pants after the war. These both help to show that this is in the ’60s. Many of the ongoing aspects of the Civil Rights Movement help to show that this took place in the 1960’s. We see this through the portrayal of the Jim Crow South and how Dr. Shirley faced a lot of oppression. Shirley believing in peaceful protest opposed to violent protest also sheds light onto this time with other people like Martin Luther King Jr.
5. This movie speaks to many different aspects of friendship today, and back then. At the time, biracial friendships were quite uncommon, and usually looked down upon by white people. This furthered segregation and prejudice. This friendship, made over 50 years ago shows that the bond of a close friend is better and more influential that societal pressures or hatred from people around you. Accepting differences, or simply not caring about them is a necessity to a healthy relationship. This movie helps to show how far we have come as a country and as a society. Even though there are still many people filled with hatred, far more are not.
(I THOUGHT THIS WAS DUE TONIGHT I’M SO SORRY)
2. Dr. Shirley was on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement as he was actively protesting racism by playing in the South. At this time, the South was still very racist, and were simply not accepting of black people. By playing in the South, he actively challenged their racist prejustices, and proved that black people could do what were considered as ‘white people’ jobs or activities. Not to mention how his bandmate said that he asked to go down South as it’s his way of actively protesting racism. He believes that genius is not enough, that it takes courage to change people’s hearts.
3. Many elements from the movie help us to understand when this movie takes place, mostly, the visible racism. Here are many examples of this racism: Early on into the movie, two black men are working in Tony’s apartment, and were each given a glass of lemonade by Dolores. Tony saw this, and after the men left, he attempted to throw away the glasses they drank from. – When Tony first met Dr. Shirley, Shirley mentioned how he was going to be playing in the Deep South. A bit after this, Tony mentioned how there were going to be problems with Shirley doing so. – When Tony was discussing Dr. Shirley’s offer with Dolores, and mentioned that Shirley was a black man, his wife said they wouldn’t last a week together. Tony’s step-brother, his wife’s brother, had a similar reaction, saying that he wouldn’t last 3 weeks. – Before starting their drive, Tony stood staring at Dr. Shirley’s personal assistant (a POC), waiting for him to load the luggage, even when Tony should’ve been the one to load it. – In Tony’s letter to his wife he said that Dr. Shirley “doesn’t play like a colored guy” after seeing him on the piano for the first time. – A conversation between Dr. Shirley and Tony: “You people love the fried chicken”…”You have a very narrow assessment of me Tony” “I know I’m good.” – Dr. Shirley sees, who are likely, sharecroppers at work, and stares at them in his suit whilst they are in whatever they could afford. – Those hosting Dr. Shirley for a day say they’ve made a special meal for him, and they bring out plates of fried chicken. After this, they also denied Dr. Shirley the usage of their inside bathroom, asking him to use one outside, or an outhouse. When Dr. Shirley said that he would either use the restroom inside or go back to his hotel, they told him to go back and that they didn’t mind waiting. – “Why you drivin him?” -A police officer, “He can’t be out here at night, it’s a sundown town.” -That same officer. – At Dr. Shirley’s last show they refused to allow him to eat in their restaurant because he’s black. They offered to bring him food to the storage room they put him in, but he stated that he would either eat there or wouldn’t perform tonight. Instead of talking with Dr. Shirley, the waiter asks to talk with Tony. Tony advocates for Dr. Shirley, and almost assaults the man as well. Dr. Shirley says that he’ll play if Tony wants him to, so Tony and them leave.
5. Due to their friendship being often discouraged back then, them being friends fought the societal norms at the time. It proved that people can be friends no matter what their sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, background, whatever differences they hold. It speaks to today’s audiences as we know that this wasn’t possible back then, at least not commonly, but today it is an everyday thing to us. Differences aside, we are all human, and this is what our country is attempting to take to heart today. At least in some aspects.
(2)In the year 1961, the freedom riders made their impact on the South. They were a group of African Americans traveling through the South on Greyhound buses. However, The areas they traveled through were not filled with pro-integration citizens. Knowing that the story in Green Book unfolded the year after the Freedom Rider incidents, the Southern opinion of African Americans had not changed. Regardless, Dr. Shirley traveled to these towns and displayed his talent in a way that was sure to anger the white citizens who were envious of him. By clearly placing himself in front of these white audiences, he directly confronted them more than his activist counterparts.
(4)The reason that Tony and Dr. Shirley developed such a relationship, was because of their forced proximity. As made clear, Tony’s family pictured Dr. Shirly as the stereotypical black man, so they didn’t initially interact with him. Having been around these opinions, Tony internalized them. But, as he and Dr. Shirley got furter into the tour, Tony was able to forget about the opinions forced onto him and create his own. This proved beneficial, as it allowed their friendship to develop without a race barrier. Their friendship grew in trust and importance to the point where Tony invited Dr. Shirley to enjoy the holiday with his somewhat conservative family. Evidence of their close friendship can also be seen in how Tony treats Dr. Shirley after learning of his sexuality. Even after learning these things, Tony still prioritized his work. Furthermore, when they needed to share a motel/hotel room, he did so with no complaints.
(5)The story in Green Book speaks to today’s audiences mainly to illustrate how progressive society has been. Now, it isn’t uncommon for a white person and a black person to be in a healthy platonic, or even romantic, relationship. But, it also spoke to southern audiences that may have heard, seen, or participated in hate crimes that are no longer normalized, not overlooked. About our country, the film may illustrate the importance of reform, especially in the police force. If the last officer that they interacted with was racist and biased, then Dr. Shirley may not have gotten home selfly. Luckily, that was not the case.
There were a few historical elements in the film “Green Book” that let me know that this movie took place in 1962. To start off, there was segregation. This movie showed a lot of the features of segregation laws and practices during the era around 1962; mainly in the United States south. This was really shown when the main characters came across “whites only” establishments, discriminatory and racial treatment, and segregated seating arrangements. These events during the movie showed the segregation laws and tensions around the time of 1962 therefore giving me an idea of the time frame that the movie went towards. Adding on, there were the Jim Crow laws. In the movie, you could see that there were different facilities for black and white people to go to such as restaurants, hotels, and bathrooms. The Jim Crow laws were active between this time frame so this also let me know that this movie was based around 1962. Next, was the way that they dressed during the film. The fashion shown in the movie was really similar to the way people dressed around 1962. Lastly, there were mentions in the film of famous musicians at the time like Aretha Franklin, or there were just mentions of historical events during the early 1960s or late 1950s like the Cuban missile crisis. Overall, a big way I knew was from all of the racial segregation and the discrimination that was really popular and active during the early 1960s.
At the beginning of the Movie “Green Book”, Tony holds prejudiced views toward African Americans like Dr. Shirley, and Dr. Shirley views Tony as uncultured/uneducated. Later in the movie, the two find out that they shared similar experiences and they then begin to develop empathy and a mutual respect for one another. By the end of the movie, the two of them found a true friendship between themselves. Their journeys together really changed their perspectives of things and just helped their relationships just spurr and grow.
This movie made about a friendship over 50 years ago shows themes of prejudice, social justice, and friendship while showing insights into problems of race relations in America. The movie also inspires actions towards building a more compassionate society for all today.
Dr.Shirley was on the “front lines” of the civil rights movement just by doing the piano tour because he was a man of color in the Deep South. While there, he was breaking a lot of racist standards and expectations that Southern Americans had set and strongly believed in. For example, people believed that just because he was Black, he simply just could not have the amount of talent he claims to have. Dr.Shirley also faced a lot of aggression from the white southerners, which varied from vocal aggression to physical aggression. Accepting the offer to play piano put him directly in line for people to express these racist thoughts and ideas, and it greatly aggravated some as it was seen as a way of peaceful protest.
Some historical elements, the Jim Crow Laws, cars, style, and even the motel that Dr.Shirley was expected to stay at and his run in in the bar. While Tony stayed at a nice or nicer hotel, Dr.Shirley was told he had to stay at a separate motel that was a lot more run down. The motel scene greatly displays the “separate but equal” we learned so much about in class. Some other things that you could see throughout the entire film was the way people dressed, the types of cars people owned, the rotary phone used in certain scenes, etc. Styles change a lot over the years, and the ones displayed in the movies were obviously from a while ago. The biggest giveaway would probably have to be the Jim Crow laws and the blatant racism expressed throughout the film. Compared to today or more recent times, racism was a lot more normalized, and people were very open with it.
Tony and Dr. Shirley move from barely tolerating one another to a place of real friendship by the end of the movie because of the time they spent with each other and everything they went through together. At the beginning of the movie, Tony only took the job because of the high salary, but as he spent more time with Dr.Shirley they became a lot closer. They shared memories with each other, and Tony learned a lot from his experiences. He went from being ignorant and racist to protecting Dr.Sherley from the aggression and prejudice he faced in the south.