After viewing the film, Radio, directed by Michael Tollin, the displayed themes were of the discrimination towards people with disabilities, the outsider point of view towards disability and the lack of social mobility for people with disabilities. James Robert Kennedy, played by Cuba Gooding Jr., was nicknamed "Radio" after his deep interest in radios and had an intellectual disability. He stands out from the crowd not only due to his disability but from his kind, caring heart--something many people lack. Radio is an older man, possibly in his twenties and early thirties, living with his mother who works long hours as a nurse. Thus, leaving him to wander around on his own during the day. He spends most of his time strolling with his shopping cart by a local high school football team, observing their practices from outside the gate. The first encounter Coach Jones had with Radio was when he found him tied up in a shed, assaulted and humiliated by his team. From this, they reaped the consequences to learn to give James respect as much as any other abled man deserves. Society viewed him negatively, they perceived him as feeble minded, mentally retarded and especially since he walks around alone it makes him vulnerable to humiliation and bullying. Their outside point of view towards disability was complete ignorance, they prejudged him before getting to understand him.
It is often a common notion where people with disabilities are easy targets to be taken advantage of, luckily he was able to find Coach Jones who would be his savior at times. People who are often different from the norm are viewed in a negative light and treated disrespectfully. The problem is apparent-the abled community. If the abled community shifted their views of what is normal and what isn't, we wouldn't have people feeling inferior to societal standards. Disability theorist, Leaonard. J Davis, emphasizing in his novel, "Normality, Power, and Culture", that "The problem is not the person with disabilities; 'the problem' is the way that normalcy is constructed to create the problem of the disabled person. (Davis 1). Disability and normality is socially constructed and we tend to make people who deviate from the norm feel inferior and powerless.
Coach Jones took Radio under his wing, taking him out to eat, driving him home, allowing him to attend classes in the school, letting him attend football and basketball games and helping manage them. He wanted to give him a normal life or rather let him experience life he wasn't able to live. He went above and beyond for him. When Coach Jones was asked why he is taking care of Radio the way he does, he simply states " because it is the right thing to do''. There's two ways of interpreting this: many people with disabilities are in fact dependent on someone, but just because Radio is disabled doesn't mean he needs to be helped. Yes, Radio was often by himself roaming the streets with a shopping cart, but that didn't mean he didn't have a home. For the most part, he didn't need saving. But it was indeed a courageous act for Coach Jones to look after Radio, even after receiving criticism by his family, the men at the barbershop, and his boss- but he didn't care. He invested so much of his time and attention into Radio, that he disregarded his own family. It just proves how much he really cared for him, he was willing to help him in any way possible. Some notable critiques from the documentary, Code of the Freaks, highlights how, "It's patronizing to display the need of a white affluent community saving the black disabled character. It empowers the white non-disabled characters giving them a better insight of life outside privileged walls and also gives them a chance to love their family and peers more, leaving the disabled characters nothing. Radio doesn't become a football coach or have a family. Black people with disabilities are meant to stay in their happy innocent state forever" (Code of the Freaks, 4:00-5:30). It remained true that Radio did not socially advance after receiving help from Coach Jones, but it's apparent Coach Jones benefited way more than Radio did. He was able to reconcile his relationship with his daughter and be seen as Radio's savior, so everyone in town could admire his courageous actions.
The end of the movie, when Radio "graduates" from Hammond high school, this scene erupts into conflicting ideas. For one thing, it reflects there's no social mobility for him. Although he graduates, he still returns back to the high school for as long as he wants. But the upside is that he helps manage the basketball and football teams. Secondly, it was never mentioned how much school he actually completed, and as depicted in the movie, he is illiterate. Knowing this, nothing was done to properly educate him. It was apparent the teachers were unequipped to teach someone with an intellectual disability, but should've provided him resources especially for his age. However, it is good to note that this movie did not follow the pattern of traditional disability movies, with the "kill or cure" ending. Radio was left with a great support system, Coach Jones and his family, although losing his mother he managed to live a regular life without being forced into a health institution.
It's important to recognize the impact Radio had on others as well as the lessons highlighted throughout this film. Coach Jones was the only person willing to help out a person different from the "norm" and didn't care about the criticisms he received. Undoubtedly he knew Radio needed a support system. Radio had such a genuine, kind heart, even though Johnny did him wrong by tricking him into going to the girl's locker room, he refused to tell on him to Coach Jones. Radio forgave Johnny and even offered him a gift to show he didn't want him to get in trouble, he did not want Johnny to take the blame. Radio just wanted a connection, and through Coach Carter he was allowed to do so. The film reminds us to never judge a book by its cover, the school board saw him as dangerous especially when alone and risky to have him around students. But once they got to know him they realized their predetermined bias towards him was incorrect, he was harmless and always had good intentions. Radio served as a relation to 'inspiration porn' of people with disabilities, who are often seen as an inspiration to non-disabled people. Radio served as a self reflection for society, by teaching people how prejudice they are to not only black people but people with disabilities. This realization made them more at ease with accepting differences within society. The film also encourages people to help others who may be in need, even if it is not verbally expressed that they do. As a society, we should lend a helping hand to those who we notice are going through a tough time, regardless of being disabled or not. And also to stand up for what's right even though you're fighting alone and the odds are against you. Coach Jones did not feed into the criticisms of society judging him and questioning his actions. He proudly takes on the initiative to provide and support Radio. Viewers might question if he did this to make up for the last time he came across a person in need, and chose not to do anything or if he genuinely wants to help Radio.
It is often a common notion where people with disabilities are easy targets to be taken advantage of, luckily he was able to find Coach Jones who would be his savior at times. People who are often different from the norm are viewed in a negative light and treated disrespectfully. The problem is apparent-the abled community. If the abled community shifted their views of what is normal and what isn't, we wouldn't have people feeling inferior to societal standards. Disability theorist, Leaonard. J Davis, emphasizing in his novel, "Normality, Power, and Culture", that "The problem is not the person with disabilities; 'the problem' is the way that normalcy is constructed to create the problem of the disabled person. (Davis 1). Disability and normality is socially constructed and we tend to make people who deviate from the norm feel inferior and powerless.
Coach Jones took Radio under his wing, taking him out to eat, driving him home, allowing him to attend classes in the school, letting him attend football and basketball games and helping manage them. He wanted to give him a normal life or rather let him experience life he wasn't able to live. He went above and beyond for him. When Coach Jones was asked why he is taking care of Radio the way he does, he simply states " because it is the right thing to do''. There's two ways of interpreting this: many people with disabilities are in fact dependent on someone, but just because Radio is disabled doesn't mean he needs to be helped. Yes, Radio was often by himself roaming the streets with a shopping cart, but that didn't mean he didn't have a home. For the most part, he didn't need saving. But it was indeed a courageous act for Coach Jones to look after Radio, even after receiving criticism by his family, the men at the barbershop, and his boss- but he didn't care. He invested so much of his time and attention into Radio, that he disregarded his own family. It just proves how much he really cared for him, he was willing to help him in any way possible. Some notable critiques from the documentary, Code of the Freaks, highlights how, "It's patronizing to display the need of a white affluent community saving the black disabled character. It empowers the white non-disabled characters giving them a better insight of life outside privileged walls and also gives them a chance to love their family and peers more, leaving the disabled characters nothing. Radio doesn't become a football coach or have a family. Black people with disabilities are meant to stay in their happy innocent state forever" (Code of the Freaks, 4:00-5:30). It remained true that Radio did not socially advance after receiving help from Coach Jones, but it's apparent Coach Jones benefited way more than Radio did. He was able to reconcile his relationship with his daughter and be seen as Radio's savior, so everyone in town could admire his courageous actions.
The end of the movie, when Radio "graduates" from Hammond high school, this scene erupts into conflicting ideas. For one thing, it reflects there's no social mobility for him. Although he graduates, he still returns back to the high school for as long as he wants. But the upside is that he helps manage the basketball and football teams. Secondly, it was never mentioned how much school he actually completed, and as depicted in the movie, he is illiterate. Knowing this, nothing was done to properly educate him. It was apparent the teachers were unequipped to teach someone with an intellectual disability, but should've provided him resources especially for his age. However, it is good to note that this movie did not follow the pattern of traditional disability movies, with the "kill or cure" ending. Radio was left with a great support system, Coach Jones and his family, although losing his mother he managed to live a regular life without being forced into a health institution.
It's important to recognize the impact Radio had on others as well as the lessons highlighted throughout this film. Coach Jones was the only person willing to help out a person different from the "norm" and didn't care about the criticisms he received. Undoubtedly he knew Radio needed a support system. Radio had such a genuine, kind heart, even though Johnny did him wrong by tricking him into going to the girl's locker room, he refused to tell on him to Coach Jones. Radio forgave Johnny and even offered him a gift to show he didn't want him to get in trouble, he did not want Johnny to take the blame. Radio just wanted a connection, and through Coach Carter he was allowed to do so. The film reminds us to never judge a book by its cover, the school board saw him as dangerous especially when alone and risky to have him around students. But once they got to know him they realized their predetermined bias towards him was incorrect, he was harmless and always had good intentions. Radio served as a relation to 'inspiration porn' of people with disabilities, who are often seen as an inspiration to non-disabled people. Radio served as a self reflection for society, by teaching people how prejudice they are to not only black people but people with disabilities. This realization made them more at ease with accepting differences within society. The film also encourages people to help others who may be in need, even if it is not verbally expressed that they do. As a society, we should lend a helping hand to those who we notice are going through a tough time, regardless of being disabled or not. And also to stand up for what's right even though you're fighting alone and the odds are against you. Coach Jones did not feed into the criticisms of society judging him and questioning his actions. He proudly takes on the initiative to provide and support Radio. Viewers might question if he did this to make up for the last time he came across a person in need, and chose not to do anything or if he genuinely wants to help Radio.