Racism and racial issues have been important themes in many films since the beginning of cinema. Discuss some of these themes particularly in the films "Glory" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."

Race related themes have been widespread in films since the early days of silent movies. As the years have progressed, race related issues have been dealt with more openly and with more truth. Since the beginning of the motion picture industry, race related issues have been an important and much visited. During the era of silent films, African-American characters were actually played by white actors wearing black paint; as seen in the silent film The Birth of a Nation. This early film showed racial prejudice; however, it was a prejudice that was not recognized by those in the film or the writer.

Glory was a motion picture that not only praised the bravery of an all black regiment during the Civil War, but also showed the prejudice incurred by them from their fellow soldiers. The difference here was that the other characters in the film realized their prejudice and later cheered the actions of the all black regiment.

film chamber

English: and at TechCrunch50 2008

English: Ashton Kutcher at Time 100 Gala

These black men were denied proper uniforms, shoes and most importantly were disrespected by their white counterparts. And this racism was propagated by the very men who were fighting a war over the evils of slavery. With all the racism experienced by this regiment, they still managed to be the first troop to attach Fort Wagner, knowing that this was a suicide mission. This movie showed us the prejudice that was present at that time in history and the truth about how the black soldiers were treated. Racism would come even closer to reality in the 1960's with such films as Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

This movie dealt with the racism experienced by interracial relationships. The movie delves into parents reactions to their daughter wanting to marry a black man in a society where this type of relationship was...