Sports movies have a lot to offer us apart from games. They also raise issues such as Race, identity, and more. Remember the Titans is a great example of this. The movie tells the story of a high school football team in the 1970s during a time when schools in Virginia were integrating black and white students for the first time.
There is this one scene that took everyone’s attention: Ronnie “Sunshine” Bass kisses Gerry Bertier. But why did Sunshine kiss Gerry? Was it just a joke, or did it mean something more? Let us answer the question for you.
A Time of Racial Tension
The story started with a time when American schools were starting to integrate. The process was very new, as people were not used to black and white students being in the same school. Coach Boone, played by Denzel Washington, is strict and determined to make the team unite. He taught team to be together and avoid racial biasness.
Ronnie Bass, who comes from California, joins the team. Ronnie is open-minded and doesn’t care about the racial divide. His positive attitude earned him a nickname, Sunshine. Do you know the status of where and Who is John Gotti Jr? Where is John Gotti Jr Now?, Where Is Harold Henthorn Now? and Where is Parker Leverett Now?
The Kiss: A Bold Move or a Joke?
The most popular scene was when Ronnie kisses Gerry, the team captain, in the locker room. It grabs everyone’s attention. Gerry is extremely surprised, and the other players are left speechless.
But why did it happen? Ronnie is still new to the team and hasn’t fully earned the trust of his teammates. Many of the Black players are more accepting of him, but the white players, especially Gerry, are unsure about him. There is still a racial divide in the team, just like there is in the country. The kiss, then, seems like Ronnie’s way of making a statement and shaking things up.
This kiss wasn’t romantic. Instead, it was a playful move meant to throw Gerry off and loosen up the team. Ronnie was challenging the idea of what it means to be a man, a teammate, and a leader.
Back then, locker rooms were places filled with strong ideas of masculinity, and Ronnie’s kiss pushed against those ideas. In a way, it made people think about how silly some of these social and racial barriers were.
What Is Gerry’s Reaction?
Gerry is surprised and uncomfortable. But he does not react in a negative way. Instead he, confronts his racial biasness. In the beginning, Gerry is a strong leader but also has clear racial biases. Later, he changes for good right after being friends with Julius, one of the black players.
Ronnie’s kiss helps Gerry continue this transformation. Gerry realizes that being a leader is about more than control and power. It’s about trust and building a team that respects each other, no matter their race.
The Role of Humor in Team Building
Kiss can be seen as humour too, as it helps in team-building process. Later in the movie, Petey, one of the Black players, asks Ronnie if the kiss means he is “for the other team,” hinting at his sexuality. Ronnie quickly makes it clear that the kiss was just a joke. It wasn’t about sexuality, but about getting everyone to loosen up.
The Final Words
Sunshine’s kiss of Gerry was more than a prank. It shows a thoughtful act that challenged the team’s—and the audience’s—assumptions about race, masculinity, and leadership. The kiss was not only between two but helped in transform the whole team.
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