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Structuralism In Coach Carter

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Structuralism is a philosophy that views society as composed of structures such as class and race that shape our lives, making it challenging for all individuals to have access to equal opportunities. Thus, it is focused on exposing these structures and investigating power, who has it, who doesn’t and what we can do to change this often by way of advocacy, actions, and campaigns, strive for social change (J. Poole, personal communication, September 13, 2017).
Coach Carter is a sports drama based on a real life experience of a former Richmond High alumni and basketball coach, Ken Carter, who became known in 1999 for benching his entire basketball team, undefeated until that point for poor academic standing. It is though this film, but …show more content…

Without picking sides as to whether power is used to the benefit or disadvantage of students, Coach Carter can be using his legitimate or “socially prescribed” power over his students to force the cancellation of practice and the forfeiting of games (group dynamics). Yet, while Carter has power over his players in this way, power is completed. Thus, individuals such as the school’s principle or the schools committee board members then have legitimate power over him as demonstrated by their power to end the lockout. Adding to complicated nature of power, illustrated nicely by the film, power may be to benefit or disadvantage a community, and to further complicate the matter such is often determined or influenced by the perception of the individual(s) holding power.
One of the ways in which “structuralists” look to repair and/or bring attention to the imbalance of power in society is through campaigns, social justice, actions and social change. Similarly, I believe it is through an approach of advocacy and social change that the Coach not only looks to instill a sense of belief and “discipline” in his players, but most importantly looked to change the narrative against the kids of Richmond High School. A narrative made clear through sediments such as that made by Principle Garrison, who at the beginning of the lockout states, “…so you take away basketball, the one area in their lives where

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