Viewing this movie through a lens of race and gender in the media was radical. For the first time, I was able to see beyond the love story between the two main characters, Quincy and Monica, and I was able to see the love story between the main character Monica and her gadget, basketball. He used his gadget to get everything he wanted, including his personal love interest, Quincy, and the opportunity to play professional basketball.
During an emotional scene in the movie, in which Monica explains to Quincy why she couldn’t break curfew to be there for him, Monica emphasizes that she is a baseball player for Quincy. Although he cannot accept that she is unwilling to jeopardize her passion at that point during the film, he eventually comes to accept her pure, true, and uninfluenced love for the sport. I exaggerate how innocent her love for the sport was in the movie, because compared to Quincy, Monica’s passion was not nurtured, taught, or reinforced by anyone in her family, and especially by anyone outside her family during all this time. movie. Although he excelled in sports, his parents, fans, and the media constantly stroked Quincy’s ego. Also, there were many college recruiters constantly behind him to sign up with his school to play at the college level.
This film highlights an important factor in female inequality. Quincy was able to go to the NBA, which was founded as early as 1949 as a men’s professional basketball league and was obviously well established during the period of this film. He was able to do this immediately after his freshman year and have action time on the court. However, when Monica was a child in the movie, she did not have the opportunity to play professional basketball at the United States national level. Even after graduating from college, he only found opportunities outside of the United States. Historically, the women’s league of professional basketball players, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), was only founded in 1996. However, Monica Wright had always been a baseball player, even when there were no tangible high hopes for her in the field. US professional basketball stadium that was not open to female players.
I could see two main stereotypes floating throughout this movie. The first is that girls are supposed to fit into a perceived role that is based on male supremacy. This idea is highlighted when the younger Quincy told Monica that she had to ride a bike because her father drove her mother. The second stereotype is that showing passion through your attitude as a black woman is considered unpleasant and a problem that needs to be fixed. His coach told him that he lost his head on the basketball court. Quincy told him that he has a fiery temper. Her mother constantly told her that she had to act like a lady. Monica said a double standard for Quincy during a debate, noting that when he gets angry on the court, people think he’s just showing emotion; however, when he gets angry, people think he has a bad attitude and needs to get off the court.
I identified with Monica’s mom, Camille, in this movie. Camille doesn’t want to let her daughter be who she is. She seems happier that her daughter looks like her perception of beauty. Camille has a way of looking at her family and doing what she can to help her be what she wants her to be. Her daughter, Monica, doesn’t understand where she’s coming from, but deep down in Camille’s heart, she only wants the best for Monica.
I believe that the double standards and stereotypes mentioned above still exist today. Passion that is expressed verbally and in the heat of the moment is often still viewed as irrational, angry, or meaningless, especially to a black woman compared to a man and especially a white man. However, one of the main freedoms in the United States is freedom of speech, which is a right guaranteed to all citizens of the United States. I have had the experience of pitching an idea in a conference room with three white women, a white man, and myself. When I came up with the idea, nobody said anything. People overlooked my idea and made silly comments that were off topic. A few minutes later, the white man threw up the same idea that I mentioned above, and the white women loved it, expressed enthusiasm, and decided to follow that idea.
I was delighted to see that Quincy began to see her as a possible match after the night of their spring dance. Monica, who often dressed casually and wore no makeup, was able to shine in fashion, hair, and makeup style the night of her spring dance. I was even more pleased to see that even after she and Quincy began an official relationship, Monica stayed true to her true self and continued to wear the clothes and hairstyle she was used to and was most comfortable with before the dance night. Quincy’s character loved her and had as much fun with her as she did. They were able to carry their love affair through their entire freshman year in college. I would have loved to see more of Quincy and Monica’s life after she entered the WNBA and started her family with Quincy and their baby. However, I was left with a perfect and powerful vision with everything that was included in the film. I could see that the message of this movie is that women should be who they are and go after what they want. Often times people use the cliche, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Well this movie screams otherwise. There is no reason why a girl can’t have love and basketball too.
