Men Of Honor essays

Men Of Honor essays Men of Honor, made in 2001, was directed by George Tillman Jr. and produced by Robert Teitel. It stars Robert Deniro as Chief Sunday, and Cuba Gooding Jr. as Carl Brashear, along with Aunjanue Ellis, Hal Holbrook, David Keith, Michael Rapaport, Powers Boothe, and Charlize Theron. It depicts the struggles of a black navy man, Carl Brashear. Brashears story spans the years between 1950 and 1968 and sees multiple Navy camps, bases, ships, and hospitals. Carl Brashear is a black mule driver on his fathers farm with aspirations to be in the navy. The problem is that black men in the navy do not advance very far in the 1950s. Nevertheless, Carl leaves home and joins up. He starts off as a cook on the U.S.S Hoist, but soon moves up to a rescue unit after he shows himself to be the fastest swimmer on the ship. Soon after, he sees Chief Sunday risk his life to save another divers life. The feat ends Sundays diving career, and helps Carl decide that he wants to be a master diver. After writing 100s of letters, he is finally accepted into Sundays diving school. He immediately encounters unyielding racism. The other men will not bunk with him. Sunday goes after him with a fire hose. Threats are made on his life. He is told he will not be allowed to pass. Yet he perseveres. After failing his first three exams, Carl seeks the help of a local medical student, Jo. With her help he begins to pass his tests and rises to the top of the program. He later rescues another trainee from a sunken ship, but receives no credit for his bravery. Instead a white student is given a medal. One night Carl learns his father has died. He then goes into a white bar where the other sailors are. Sunday confronts him and they end up betting on who can hold their breath the longest. Carl wins the bet, but not the respect. The final test of the camp is to assemble something underwater. Instead of lowering him his tools, they throw them into...