I flipped open my laptop at quarter to nine on Tuesday night to an inbox flooded with over 100 emails.  I clicked on the mail application to see what the ruckus was about and read the first email in the chain, which had been sent by WHS Principal Allyson Mizoguchi. It informed me that the school was canceling the showing of Cool Runnings, a movie about the journey of Jamaica’s first bobsled team. The film shows the team, which never seen snow before, fight its way into a spot at the 1988 winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada.

Even though Cool Runnings is based on a true story, there is not much that is historically accurate. Dudley Stokes, an original member of the bobsled team, stated that there the movie did not have much in common with real life.  

“It’s a feature Disney film, not much in it actually happened in real life, there were some [added] things that were inspirational for the film,” Stokes said. “It is different than a documentary.”

Previous films that have been shown during Winter Week include Apollo 13 and Selma, movies that have had educational and historical value. Yes, I understand that Winter Week is a week to relax, but we have to remember that this is still school, and we are here to learn. It is ridiculous that students demand that the entire week should be taken off because we took midterms. I know some students are busy on the weekends, but we just had a full two days to relax, so I don’t see the point to have another five days to recover.

The reaction to the cancellation of the movie makes it hard to tell if students are disappointed about the no movie viewing at all, or that it was Cool Runnings specifically that was canceled. I believe it is the former, yet students make it seem like the latter. I do agree with the majority of students that the administration the cancellation the movie entirely was not a cool move; however, the cancellation the movie on an account of the racially insensitive content was a right decision that was made, and was well backed up by Mizoguchi.

One could argue that we watch movies with racially insensitive motives in history class, and I agree with that. However, when picking a movie, teachers choose movies based on the maturity level of the class, and how well they think the class can handle the content of the film. The administration and student council must pick a movie for over 800 students, which can be a challenge.

Furthermore, a lot of movies that are shown in history classes have to do with a time period with heavy racism, so it is appropriate that racism is shown. More often than not, the point of showing films with a heavy element of racism in history class is so we can learn from the racism. The point of showing this film was to be inspired by the camaraderie and teamwork, not to learn from racial insensitivity.

A 1993 Washington Post review by Desson Howe in 1993 stated that this movie was hardly a masterpiece cult classic, but rather a racist buffoonery of a film.  

“[This film] consists of two running gags: How funny it is for Jamaicans to be on a bobsled team. [And] how funny blacks are when they endure cold,” Howe said.  

Howe also explained that Cool Runnings did nothing but portray people of color in a buffoonish way.  It showed Jamaicans trying to figure out a way to survive in a white man’s world.

Another common trope that is used is “the white savior.” Cool Runnings is another film that uses this technique, much like the films The Help, To Kill a Mockingbird or McFarland, USA. This spreads a message (from Hollywood) that people of color are helpless. The coach, John Candy, who is white, is the savior of four Jamaicans and is responsible for their rise to glory.  We learn enough of this in history class with our Caucasian-centered curriculum, and we shouldn’t bring this into Winter Week! I would expect that the administration and Student Council would pick an empowering film that wouldn’t discriminate against races.

Overall, I think that Mizoguchi and the administration made the right decision by canceling the movie for reasons of racial insensitivity. This movie is factually incorrect and relies on stereotypes, and I fully support its cancellation.

Opinion articles written by staff members represent their personal views. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent WSPN as a publication.