Glory Blog

 

The movie Glory, directed by Edward Zwick, retells the story of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The Massachusetts 54th infantry, also known as the 54th, was a regiment comprised of all black soldiers some of which were former slaves and some of which were freemen. The regiment was under the command of Colonel Robert G. Shaw, a white man from Massachusetts, who strove to prove that his regiment was equal or better than all other regiments in the Union army. This movie provides an example of the heroic deeds and actions of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry, as they fought both the Confederacy and racism throughout the Union army. 

My favorite character throughout the film was the escaped, runaway slave Trip. His character, played by Denzel Washington, highlighted the rough, defensive nature of a slave who had been on the run his entire life. Trip has no family, as they were all killed when he was younger, and as such, is weary of trusting others and obeying those superior to him. He also antagonizes another member of the regiment, Thomas Searles, as he sees him as someone to pick on because he was raised as a freeman. Perhaps Trip is jealous of the freedom and education Thomas received growing up, something Trip never had the opportunity to access, as he was on the run his entire life. However, the character arc of Trip is one of my favorite arcs in movies today. Trip goes from a hardened, scared runaway slave to fully embracing the colors of the Union and finding his family in the 54th. This is exemplified through his speech the night before the battle as he says, "I ain't much about no prayin' now. I ain't never had no family and...killed off my mama... Well, I just... Ya'lls...is the onliest family I got. And I love the 54th." Here, he embraces his caring emotions of the 54th, something he tried to shy away from previously, and finds comfort knowing he has a true family now. Additionally, Trip dies holding and embracing the Union colors, something that was against his character before, as he turned down the promotion from Colonel Shaw. 

Glory challenges the deep-rooted idea that the Civil War was just about the heroic deeds and actions of White Americans. However, with this film, it gives some idea of the heroism carried out by African Americans as well. The Union had around 200,000 black soldiers volunteer to help fight in the war against the South. Without their strength and sacrifice, the outcome of the Civil War could've been much different, and America itself would not be the same place it is today.