WP1 BLOG 2: Changes to the Positive Stereotype Story

         From a superficial, first glance,The Blind Side is a heartwarming story about an African American boy who instantaneously connects with a white, suburban family (Tuohy’s) who eventually adopt him. Compared to the other socialites in her predominantly white community, Leigh Anne Tuohy is presented as more inclusive and kind as she willingly takes in a homeless African American kid from the poorer side of Memphis. However, taking a more critical and closer look at the movie, there are more racial microaggressions, especially the White Savior complex, sprinkled throughout the movie. For this reason, my changes in the movie focus more on rectifying the portrayal of Michael. 

While the movie presents him as a timid and fragile seventeen year old, the actual teenage Michael Oher was more driven and outspoken without the assistance of his white, adoptive family. Firstly, I would change the interactions between Michael and the college recruiters/head coaches. Leigh Anne told the Ole Miss coach about Michael’s fragility as scary movies and ‘titty bars’ traumatize him. I would omit this scene to avoid misrepresenting Oher. In addition, Miss. Sue, Michael’s tutor, tells Michael a scary story about dead body parts buried under the University of Tennessee football field to convince Michael to choose Ole Miss. I would also choose to omit this scene, which also depicts Michael as a scared little boy rather than the mature seventeen year old that he actually was.