Introduction
The historical context of the struggle for equality in the second half of the 20th century demonstrates how dangerous the phenomenon of racial segregation was and what challenges it entailed for vulnerable citizens. As an example of how controversial the public stance was at the time, the film One Night in Miami will be analyzed with a focus on the issues and ambiguities involved. The main events take place within the framework of the classical dramaturgical trinity: the unity of action (no secondary lines), the unity of place (a hotel room), and the unity of time (one night). As the main characters, four black men are introduced, each of whom is famous in his own field. A champion boxer, an NFL player, a soul singer, and an Islamist activist are forced to spend one night together, and the casual atmosphere gradually heats up due to each character’s personal experiences and their common problem, particularly racial discrimination. Although each of them proves his success and talent, existing social prejudices do not allow them to count on receiving equal rights with white citizens, which angers them and, at the same time, causes sincere bewilderment. Through the prism of controversial personalities, One Night in Miami shows the realities of the period when, despite the success and real achievements, racial discrimination did not allow African Americans to count on public recognition.
Personalities vs. Celebrities
The plot of the film shows that even the public recognition of individual personalities is not a stimulus for a shift in the understanding of the problem of racial segregation and discrimination based on ethnicity. In his review, Scott notes that racism was an integral part of American culture in the 1960s when the film was set. At the same time, the author argues that history is never created by celebrities, and personalities are more important than icons when it comes to change (Scott). A special problem is an open, even naive position that does not allow any changes, for instance, when Jim Brown is not allowed into the house of whites because he is black. Moody cites a situation in which an African-American young man is sitting in a white T-shirt with an offensive and discriminatory word written in red spray on the back (397). This situation is perceived by others as a natural case, which confirms distorted morality. A night spent in a hotel room helps the four characters take a fresh look at their lives under multiple constraints. They realize that their status as professionals in their fields does not allow them to count on privileges. In this regard, the idea is born that personalities are free, not people (Scott). Protecting individual interests in radical ways, which Malcolm X saw as the only way to deal with violence against the African American community, was a natural response to discrimination. The positions of the characters differ in the degree of aggression and discontent, but what unites them is the rejection of oppression. Thus, the freedom of the personality carries more than mass recognition, and the example of four outstanding people who have achieved success but cannot count on equal rights with others proves this.
Change in Oneself as a Step Toward Change in Society
Racial segregation, as a phenomenon that reflects deep social prejudices, is difficult to overcome without taking any steps. Being in active discussion, the characters of the film seek to understand what they should do to get rid of the stigma and break the barrier that prevents equality. While analyzing the plot, Murray claims that on this night, Cassius Clay, the boxing champion, finally decides to transform his personality by taking on the pseudonym Muhammad Ali and becoming interested in Islam. This position reflects helplessness in the face of social deterrents and, at the same time, speaks of the strength of the athlete’s spirit, who is ready for cardinal changes in his life. John Lewis, one of the well-known representatives of the Civil Rights movement, says the following in his speech at the Lincoln Memorial: “patience is a dirty and nasty word” (399). This statement is intended to draw attention to the fact that excessive tolerance for what is unworthy to tolerate hinders the normal development of society and should not be cultivated as a common phenomenon. The four characters of One Night in Miami are extremely unhappy with their status, and their heated discussion, accompanied by disputes and even conflicts, carries the idea that one cannot calmly accept injustice. Therefore, changes in oneself can be considered the first step toward the transformation of public consciousness.
Social Safety Is the Norm
One of the key ideas of the movie is to show that people’s safety should be a social norm, and no prejudice or stigma should determine human rights and freedoms. When assessing the individual sub-themes raised in One Night in Miami, Henderson remarks that, in one of the scenes where the characters eat vanilla ice cream, a cozy and safe environment is intentionally created. This opposition to existing barriers demonstrates the reality of the time in which people who are outstanding in their occupations cannot expect security outside their social circle. West recalls the tragic events of the Detroit riot, noting the fact that relative security in a society divided into classes is fragile and can change in only a few hours (416). A similar thing happens in the film under consideration, where the four men leave the hotel room with radically transformed views on the situation in the country and on the Civil Rights movement in particular. As a result, the idea of fragile safety is a subtext to the plot of One Night in Miami and shows that people have no right to feel their own vulnerability under the influence of mass delusions.
Conclusion
The lack of opportunity to count on public recognition due to racial segregation, despite people’s real achievements and professionalism, is one of the main topics raised in One Night in Miami. As the story progresses, the characters become convinced that the personality is more important than status, and any changes in society can only begin if real efforts are made. The Civil Right movement, which originated at that time, set itself the task of eliminating racial inequality, and at the end of the film, each of the men changes his views on the situation in the country. Social insecurity is characterized as a widespread phenomenon, and a fragile peace can collapse at any moment under the influence of a radical position, which was the only available method of struggle. When evaluating the movie through the prism of modern events, one can note that the problems of racial inequality continue to exist, but the efforts of people half a century ago did not go unnoticed. Today’s society is ready to recognize the inadmissibility of discrimination, and on the example of the four men from One Night in Miami, everyone can see how important and integral part of life is personal freedom.
Works Cited
Henderson, Odie. “One Night in Miami.”Roger Ebert, 2021.
Lewis, John. “Original Text of Speech to Be Delivered at the Lincoln Memorial (1963).” Voices of a People’s History in the United States, edited by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove, 2nd ed., Seven Stories Press, 2009, pp. 398-400.
Moody, Anne. “Coming of Age in Mississippi.” Voices of a People’s History in the United States, edited by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove, 2nd ed., Seven Stories Press, 2009, pp. 394-398.
Murray, Steve. “Review: “One Night in Miami” Both Punches and Flails in Telling Tale of 4 Black Heroes.”Artsatl, 2021.
One Night in Miami. Directed by Regina King, Amazon Studios, 2020.
Scott, A. O. “‘One Night in Miami’ Review: After the Big Fight, a War of Words.”The New York Times, 2021.
West, Sandra A. “Riot! – A Negro Resident’s Story.” Voices of a People’s History in the United States, edited by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove, 2nd ed., Seven Stories Press, 2009, pp. 415-417.