Today in 1870, Robert E. Lee was born. His birthday is still somehow celebrated as a holiday in some southern states. In contrast, we've chosen to highlight the film Glory.
Synopsis
Glory is a historical drama that unfolds during the American Civil War. The film follows the formation and experiences of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first all-black regiments in the Union Army. Led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick), the regiment faces prejudice and discrimination but proves its bravery and valor. The movie explores themes of racial injustice, honor, and sacrifice, and is a poignant tribute to the bravery and struggles of Black soldiers during a pivotal period in American history.
Why Today?
Robert E. Lee was born January 19th, 1807. In 2024, there are still states that inexplicably recognize his birthday as a holiday (kudos to Georgia, Virginia, and Louisiana for finally eliminating the observance in recent years). Texas still observes Lee's birthday as "Confederate Heroes Day", and even less tastefully are the states that still combine the observing of Lee's birthday with Dr. Martin Luther King's.
Regrettably, most movies around the Civil War are filled with Lost Cause distortion and bullshit, even relatively recent studio movies made in the 21st century. They falsely romanticize the antebellum South and fully embrace the Lost Cause ethos. Even in 2024, we still have presidential candidates still somehow buying into the myth and unable to clearly articulate the root cause of the war: slavery.
Luckily there are a few exceptions, and it's getting better. Glory is a film with its flaws rooted in the context of 1989 Hollywood, but stands head and shoulders above most depictions of the Civil War, steering clear of the confederate romanticization and drivel that often surround this historical period depicted in film.