Heat of the Night Reflection

 In the Heat of the Night Reflection

Separate but Equal  

The movie showed that separate but equal was never really equal. Black people in Sparta were treated as less important and were expected to know their place in society. Even though segregation was supposed to mean that both races had equal opportunities, the movie showed how Black people were disrespected, mistreated, and denied the same respect as white people. Virgil Tibbs was a perfect example because he was an intelligent detective from Philadelphia, but the people in Sparta judged him because of his race instead of recognizing his abilities. The people of Sparta were not living separate but equal because Black residents did not have the same treatment, respect, or opportunities.

Virgil Tibbs and the Social System in Sparta

I think Mr. Virgil Tibbs found himself in a super difficult situation, the people around him already really made up their minds about him because he was a person of color aka black. While Tibbs was a very professional detective who knew what to do and how to do it, the people that were from Sparta questioned him and didn't treat him how he would treat a white person, they basically treated him like he didn't belong. I think the first step of him changing the system was really just standing up for himself, He wasn't going to let people decide whether he was good or not based on the color of his skin. He showed that intelligence, professionalism, and knowledge could really challenge the way others viewed black people.

The Relationship Between Virgil Tibbs and Chief Gillespie

In the beginning of the movie, Chief Gillespie did not really respect Virgil and to me he seemed uncomfortable having to work with him. He made a lot of assumptions about him because the color of his skin. As the movie continued, Chief Gillespie realized that Tibbs was a very intelligent detective and human being who knew how to solve cases. They started off rough at first, their relationship consisted of distrust and disrespect, and it turned into a relationship with mutual respect for one another. I think their relationship really looked at some the changes that were happening in society during that day in time. I think it showed that people could question their beliefs and learning to have respect for others, even when the world is telling them to discriminate against others because the color of their skin.

Did the Movie Leave You with a DownNegative or a Up Positive Feeling?

The movie left me with both a negative and positive feeling. The negative feeling came from seeing how Black people were treated and how much they had to deal with just because of their race. It was frustrating watching Virgil get disrespected when he was clearly one of the smartest people in the room. However, I also felt positive because Virgil never allowed the way people treated him to stop him from doing his job. He continued to stand up for himself and prove that he was capable. I think the movie showed how much still needed to change, but it also showed the importance of standing up for what is right.

The Position of Women in the Jim Crow Society

I noticed that the women in the movie were not really treated as separate but equal either. Mrs. Colbert had money and a higher social position, while Delores Purdy was looked down on because of her background and social class. Mamie Caleba was also struggling to get by and did not have the same opportunities as wealthier women. What stood out to me was that even though these women had different backgrounds, they all had their own struggles. Black women especially faced racism and sexism at the same time. I do not think any of them were truly treated as equal because their race, money, and social positions affected how people viewed and treated them.