Racism in Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Light Analysis
Many teenage kids have had the feeling before that they have tons of pressure on them. In Amy
Tan's novel The Joy Luck Club and H.G Bissinger's novel Friday Night Lights teenagers have a
difficult time dealing with all of the pressure that is being placed on them by their parents and the
expectations that their parents have for them. In "Two Kinds" from Amy Tan's novel the Joy Luck
Club Jing Mei's mother is trying to push her to become a prodigy and Jing Mei is beginning to crack
under the pressure. Also in H.G Bissinger's "Dreaming of Heroes" Mike Winchell is trying to live up
to his late father's legacy of being a great Permian football player. Both Jing Mei and Mike are
feeling the pressure to live up to the expectations that are being ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Jing Mei is starting to get the feeling that her mother is putting too much pressure on her. In Friday
Night Lights Mike is starting to feel the pressure as he gets closer to the game.In "Two Kinds" Jing
Mei is failing at all the test that her mother is putting in front of her and she is trying but she is
getting to the point where she is wanting to give up and just not do them anymore. But Jing Mei's
mother is saying that she is only wanting the best for Jing Mei but, Jing Mei is not seeing it this way.
"Who ask you to be a genius?... Only ask for you be your best" this is saying that Jing Mei's mother
is not wanting for her to be perfect she is only asking for her to be her best. In Friday Night Lights
Mike is starting to feel the pressure that the legacy of his father is putting on him. "Most everyone
thought Billy Winchell had given up on himself by the time he died. But they also knew if there was
anything making him hold on, it was Mike". Mike was feeling the pressure because he knew that his
father was wanting him to live on his legacy and that living on his legacy is what he would have
wanted him to do and that is what he wanted to. So Mike went to the game and let go of the pressure
and performed perfect. In The Joy Luck Club and Friday Night Lights both of the teenagers feel the
pressure that their parents are putting on them. They both react to the pressure in different ways Jing
Mei went on and didn't do any of the test.Then you have Mike who let the pressure drive him on to
have one of the best performances of his career. This is how they use pressure in different
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights Questions 1. For Brian Chavez, football does not play as large as a role in his
life as it does for the other players. Chavez is very smart and works hard at school, therefore he
plans to have a career from his education, not from football. Boobie Miles is relying on football as a
career and does not perform in school, therefore football plays a very large role in his life as he is
relying on football to make money as a career. The people of Odessa are similar to Boobie as they
only care about football, not education. Football does not play a similar role in my community.
Chavez will be much more prepared for life after football as he has a good education to fall back on,
whereas Boobie has made his life revolve ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
7. Bissinger's descriptions of classroom activity reveal that the role of education was not important
compared to football in Odessa. My school is not like that but I can imagine some of the bigger
schools are. I agree with Bissinger's statement because Odessa was just the same as a lot of other
high schools in America. This didn't make it a bad school, just a typical one. 8. Values mean
different things to different people as they have differing beliefs and values. After this book was
published, people's values may have changed as they realized they have had the wrong values and
priorities, and needed a change. 9. Odessa was very low class compared to Midland, which made
Odessa even more passionate about beating Midland as it is like sticking it to the upper class. 10.
The consequences of these people making their relationships expendables means they are pushing
away and sacrificing the people that love them the most in order to obtain something they think they
want/need, but overall has very low importance to their lives. 11. The kids salvation is similar as
Trappers. They look to be heroes who are paraded atop the shoulders of the town as the previous
team was. They also may look to be successful in football as a way to get out of Odessa. 12. There
are double standards with the treatment of high school football players by fans, coaches, teachers,
parents and school administrators, as they tend to look away if it is a

Friday Night Lights, By Steven Hilliard Stern
In the book, Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger depicts the culture of a small town called Odessa
where economic instability, racial prejudice, sexism, and poverty are common. The one thing this
town can truly hang onto is the local high school football team. In Miracle on Ice, directed by
Steven Hilliard Stern, the head coach of the American Olympic Hockey Team Herb Brooks is
determined to gather up an American team to beat the Russians in their own game, ice hockey. In
both works, unity is an important theme that is reached through different means. In Miracle the
elements of socioeconomic class and race were not a factor in unifying the team. While in Friday
Night Lights those factors were extremely important throughout the context of what unity means in
the story. The unity in Miracle is more constructive because it was more easily achieved because it
was more well defined, it was simply to defeat the Russians and bring glory and pride to the nation.
Whereas in Odessa the mission was more unclear. In a time where America was facing a "Crisis in
Confidence" the U.S. Olympic Hockey brought the nation together. Although Permian football was
effective in unifying and giving hope to many of its citizens, the football culture was also used to
create division among different races and social classes ,and therefore was destructive.
Representative sports is a common theme in both works which contributes to the unity within both
communities. In Sports Unites and Sports Divides,

Friday Night Lights Movie Vs Book
The book that i read was Friday Night Lights a town, a team, and a dream by Buzz Bissinger. The
movie was the 2004 film. Now the book is way better than the movie. It gives a closer look at some
of players and it goes more in depth on how football is everything for the town odessa. In that way
the book version helps the story being told.n contrast, Ivory is ruled by his nonchalant attitude
toward football. Ivory loves the sport, but hates the pressure that comes along with it. Deeply
religious, he considers being a preacher until he is contacted by a recruiter. After graduation, Ivory is
the only player awarded a football scholarship. This character seems to reinforce the idea that, no
matter how hard they try, the blacks of this community

Friday Night Lights Movie Essay
My favorite movie is Friday Night Lights, Peter Berg is the director. It is based on a book written by
H.G. Bissingers with same title Friday Night Lights. The book was originally published in 1990.
This story is about the 1988 Permian Panthers High School football team in Odessa Texas.
Bissingers followed the team for the entire football season. The coaches and football players faced
many obstacles during that particular season. They endured racial tensions from the opposing teams
and opposing fans. The Panthers had to form a brotherhood and bond that no outsider could break.
This team was anticipating an undefeated season and to be crowned state champions that year. Their
hopes greatly diminished when their star running back Boobie Miles was injured during the first
game of the season. He ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
So they had a lot of parental pressure riding on their backs about winning a championship. Others
had home and girlfriend issues. When they were on the field they had to let everything else go if
they were going to win. They had to live up to the expectations in playing good football and
winning a title with who they had on the field. They had to persevere and dig deep inside if they
were going to win. They needed to gain respect from the fans and community.
When Boobie was active there was a lot of trash talking amongst the players. When he realized he
was not able to play anymore that season, he cleaned out his locker and gave his teammates a pep
talk. This pep talk gave the active players the motivation they needed to push forward. He matured
tremendously and lifted their spirits and gave them a sense of pride to be the best players that they
could be. The third string running back stepped up his game and the team started to win. They had a
running and passing game that would make any fan proud. These players gave everything they had
to play a good

Friday Night Lights : A Recurring Theme
Marcos Vieira Filho
Due: March 31, 2015
Friday Night Lights
Book Essay
Racism: A Recurring Theme in Friday Night Lights The surprisingly non–fiction novel, Friday
Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, was written by H. G. Bissinger in 1990. The story
follows the Permian High School Panthers football team of 1998. The setting takes place in the town
of Odessa, Texas. Bissinger describes this town as, "the setting for this book, but it could be
anyplace in this vast land where, on a Friday night, a set of spindly stadium lights rises to the
heavens to so powerfully, and so briefly, ignite the darkness." (16). It highlights the teams attempt at
a Texas state championship with plenty of distractions and obstacles along the way. The main barrier
for players and staff of Permian High was racism. Some may find it hard to believe but in the town
of Odessa, desegregation was simply a "suggestion" and the community refused to accept the fact
that white and blacks are equal. It was not until the early eighties that Odessa desegregated.
To better understand the theme of racism throughout the novel towards African American players
and staff of Permian High, a school made up of almost ninety percent minorities, one must
understand the background on how this book came about. The other two schools were Caucasian
and almost entirely white schools. While at Harvard, Bissinger had an idea to write a book that was
focused on the impact that high school football had on American culture

The Importance Of Parenting In Friday Night Lights
Parenting is very important to children, and it directly or indirectly affects all aspects of a child's
life, from school and behavior to social relationships and sports. The non–fiction book, Friday Night
Lights, by H. G. Bissinger takes place in Odessa, Texas in 1988 and focuses on the Permian Panther
high–school football team. Football acts as a "driving force" for many high–school and upper level
athletes, and often keeps the players striving to do better on the field, and in life. The support parents
give physically, emotionally, and financially to their child that is participating in sports is important;
however, fathers' involvement specifically can often bring added pressure due to the high
expectations. Mike Winchell,Permian's starting quarterback, strived to make his father proud. His
father, Billy Winchell, had been in an oil accident that "Had cost him his leg," and eventually his
father leg go,all too soon for Mike(Bissinger,73). Mike's fathers death at 13, combined with his
parents split–up when he was 5, forced Mike to grow up at a very young age. Billy and Mike had a
very strong father–son relationship,and his father assisted in coaching Mike the sports that he
played; Billy was a very demanding and harsh,but compassionate instructor, guiding Mike through
his baseball and football career. Billy was very leaneate in certain charastics of raising his son,but
also consequential in other aspects,insisting "He had to go to college,there could be no two ways

Friday Night Lights: Review
Friday Night Lights is a non fictional novel following a high school football team in the midland of
Texas. Odessa, Texas is the home to what used to be a powerful oil mill but since the oil ran low the
small town has only relied on football to keep it going. The author of the book follows a high school
program, Permian Panthers, during their season as many players go through life lessons outside of
the football field. The author uses several key characters for the Permian Panthers, Ivory Christian,
Boobie Miles, Brian Chavez, Jerrod McDougal, Mike Winchell, and Don Billingsley. Each of these
players see the themes of poverty, priorities, principles, and humbleness. I chose the football as my
poster image because it symbolizes the importance

Research Paper On Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights Research Paper In H.G. Bissinger's novel Friday Night Lights he goes in–depth
describing the world surrounding high school football in Texas. There is nothing like high school
football in Texas, it is the best thing to happen to many of the people that live there. Winning a high
school state championship in Texas can make someone a hero for the rest of their lives. This being
said, it causes a lot of difficulties once this peak in their life is over at such a young age. Many of
these people do not know how to live with themselves after their days of football are over. They
grow up and live through their kids. Sports and academics are two of the areas of life where parents
attempt to live their dreams and ambitions through their children. Some parents try to continue their
athletic careers or have a successful athletic career through their kids on a daily basis. This can come
from them not fulfilling lifetime dreams or having an unsuccessful career when they had the chance
to participate in these athletic events. Charlie Billingsley is a very good example of one of those
parents. He lives his old running back career through his son, Don Billingsley, who also plays
running back. Charlie was a very successful player for the Permian football team. He played in
college but let alcohol become more important than football. Charlie admitted to it in Friday Night
Lights in a conversation. It is stated, "As Charlie Billingsley said, "I got him to live through,

Friday Night Lights Byh.g Bissinger
Sports are so glorified in some areas that schools will put athletics in front of academics. This is
exactly what happened the book Friday Night Lights by H.G Bissinger. BIssinger explains that the
town of Odessa houses the school Permian where everyone grows up on football. The school and the
town give so much praise to the football team that some football players couldn 't care less about
class and eventually the teachers don't care how those players do in class. Mount Vernon is a place
where the students are expected to do well in class first and everything else is second. The school
has extracurriculars, but knows the school's main job is to give students an education. Permian and
Mount Vernon are opposites on the scale of sports and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Permian doesn 't look forward to kids doing great things in academics.
Mt. Vernon does have other things to look forward to in the town so they would never spend 5.6
million on a stadium. The booster club is only willing to buy jerseys for the team every four years,
and those are varsity only jerseys. That means the freshman are wearing jerseys up to ten years old.
In fact the school did its first major improvement to the field in decades. The school put in brand
new bleachers into the side of a hill because they don 't want to spend the money to make a real
stadium. The money for these bleachers didn 't come from the town directly either. It came from
hard work of fundraising and the players and players parents doing most of the work. Bryce Cox, a
Mt. Vernon lineman, drew a picture that sold for five hundred dollars. It is all going to the football
program because the program is doing anything to get money for better gear and more opportunities
on the football field. With attention all the time on the football team, some players think football is a
job and everything else is in the way. Everything else includes school. Classes take a back seat as
players go to class, but zone out to focus on football. All that matters to them in winning on Friday
nights because that is what has been instilled in them. Boobie hated classes between the friday pep
rally and the game and

Essay On Friday Night Lights
H.G. Bissinger tells the story of the obsessive town of Odessa, Texas in his book, Friday Night
Lights. This town has a toxic obsession with high school football and wastes away the week, only
seeking the excitement of Friday nights that are filled with Panther football. The expectations held
for the athletes of Odessa are suicidal and the preparation for life outside of high school is almost
non existent. The town of Mount Vernon, Iowa also lives for Friday nights, however it has a healthy
balance between the thrilling football nights and ordinary, day to day life. Mount Vernon athletes are
held to reasonable standards and are thoroughly being prepared for a successful future. The town of
Odessa is an insane town with twisted ideas that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Most coaches just expect their players to show up, follow the rules, and try their best. If a player is
on time and doing their best at practices, then the coaches are usually happy and satisfied. Mount
Vernon coaches would actually be angry at their players if they lied about having an injury, because
that would result if the player being out of the the season longer than if they taken a break to heal
their wounds. While coaches want to win games in Mount Vernon, just as the coaches of the
Permian Panthers, they still respect the health of their players and almost always put them first.
Permian high school has little to no academic expectations for their student athletes, especially the
football boys. If someone was injured on the team, the coaches didn't expect them to go to class.
Bissinger states, "There was no point in coming to school just to go to class" (Bissinger 49). These
boys are being taught that academics aren't important because football will be their only future. If
these boys do attend their classes, their academic ability is way below average. '"Even though you
have trouble reading, I think you read good. I hope that you become a professional football player,
said Shauna"' (Bissinger 50). Isn't it sad that a high school boy's reading ability is so bad that a
young girl knows that that isn't normal? The academic system for Permian athletes is setting up
these kids for total

Friday Night Lights, By H. G
Friday night, under the fluorescent lights glistening off the white shinning helmets with a large black
letter P on both sides. The smell of popcorn and hotdogs fill the air. The screams of twenty thousand
fans echo throughout the arena. That 's more than the number of fans at some NBA games. Football
is more than a game to the people of this town. It 's a way of life, it 's serves as a way out for many
in the town, and it helps forget the horrible economic struggles the town faces. Football for this
town created a false atmosphere, and became an addiction to this town. Football becoming an
addiction has positives and many negatives. "Friday Night Lights," by H. G. Bissinger, tells the
story of the small town of Odessa, Texas, and how football has become an addiction and taken over
the lives of everyone in the town. First, football is more than a game to the people of Odessa, Texas
it 's a way of life. Something they 've been taught about since the day they were born. The tradition,
the honor, the respect that you receive from playing on the Permian football team. This isn 't you
average High school football team where you walk on and your apart of the team. If you suck then
don 't even bother to try out. These kids learn the guts that it takes to be able to even put on a
practice jersey for the team. Football is fearless to the people. The parents want their children to play
even though they could get seriously injured. Their not like some parents today who say football

Essay on Friday Night Lights
Brant Norlander
2/20/11
Sociology of Sports
Prof. Delany
Friday Night Lights Sustaining the ambitions of not only themselves but the alumni and town of
Odessa, Texas is a lot to ask from a young adult. That's exactly what Permian football provides to
the people of Odessa, where the post economic boom of the oil business has left the town in a
racially tense, economic crisis. The lights on Permian High School's football field are the only
sanctuary for the west Texas town. Socially and racially divided, Odessa's mass dependence on high
school football constructs glorified expectations for the football team to temporarily disguise the
disappointments that come with living in a town tagged as the "murder capital" of ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
He is eventually cleared to play through court cases and relentless commitment by the school's
administration. In the midst of all the madness and all of the hype surrounding high school football
in Texas, it is clear that there is no recognition of the importance of education. There is so much
emphasis put into high school football in these communities like Odessa that athletes pour all of
their hopes and dreams into it. Ultimately once these you athletes are eventually stripped of the
game of football, their futures are jeopardized and their lives are irrevocably damaged. They are
finally exposed to the real world more underprepared than ever. Fundamentally all that is left is a
few memories of athletic stardom and still an inadequate education. Bissinger does a good job of
depicting Permian's sex roles which emerge from the social significance surrounding the football
team. Gender inferiority is abundant throughout Permian's socialization. The football identity was
something that was revered. The girls of Permian desired anything having to do with their football
team, while their proximity to the epicenter of the program gave them more honorable status within
the schools social

Friday Night Light Comparison
The main characters in "The Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan and "Friday Night Lights" by H.G.
Bissinger, Waverly and Don are expected by their parents to do better than they did when they were
their age. There is a central idea of parental expectations developed by Waverly's Chess playing and
Don's football playing abilities. Although both characters participate in different activities, they are
both expected by their parents to do things in the same manner. The story "The Rules of the Game"
shows how Waverly's ability to play Chess well increases her mother's expectations throughout the
story. In the beginning Waverly wanted to play chess so much so that she was begging her brothers
to let her play. Waverly says " Let me! Let me!' I begged ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Bissinger use the central idea of parental expectations to develop the stories.They show how both
parents are hard on their children because they expect them to be the best version of themselves, as
well as to never give up on themselves. Being hard on their children will make them seem mean to
their children, but they really just want the best for

Football In Friday Night Lights By Buzz Bissinger
In the famous book Friday Night Lights by Buzz Bissinger he details a story of a place called
Odessa texas and its extreme love for football. Throughout the book he details the 1988 season of
the Permian High School panthers football season and the events it brings about. However, although
football is a great pastime it kills kids lives in Odessa Texas leaving them confused and unprepared
by too much community involvement, unrealistic expectations, and excessive dreams.
In high school we try to live it up and get as much in as we can experience. For Odessa high school
football is everything and what thrills the town and they love friday night football. Although it is
great the boys are always doing something involved with football and being successful in the ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Constantly the boys are instilled with the dreams that they are gonna be big in college and then
possibly the NFL. Realistically this is very untrue as in Permian's fifty–five year football history,
only six players have tried for or made the pro leagues telling us that football is not a good career.
The boys envision themselves playing for some of the biggest colleges in the nation, however for
many they want even have the grades to stay in college academically. "Charlie Billingsley found out
that life in college was a whole lot different ...you were a whole lot more expendable in
college...there was always a bunch of guys ready to replace you in a second"(Bissinger
63).Furthermore the boys once in college will finally realize that they are disposable. No more are
they the once "stars" that they were in Odessa but players needed to get wins and a good record.

Friday Night Lights Speech
Sports movies are knows as blockbuster movies. Sports movies are know for there monologues. A
monologue is a long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast
program. Coach Gary Gaines, in the movie "Friday Night Lights" has a speech called "Being
Perfect". "Being Perfect" is a very powerful, emotional, and motivating speech. This speech is not
your normal locker room speech. "Being Perfect's" purpose is to inform the players and others that it
doesn't take much just to feel good about yourself.
Coach Gaines, speaks with confidence allowing all the players to know he cares and believes in
them. Pathos pours out as coach Gaines shows his eagerness and determination towards their last
two quarters of their ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
And you got two more quarters and after that most of you will not play this game again as long as
you live." Emotional huh? The real emotional part is saying that they will probably not play this
game anymore for the rest of their lives, but the most emotional thing said through the whole speech
was "Perfect" said five or six times throughout the whole speech, also that would be called
anaphora. Repeating the word only formatting the word into various definitions strengthening the
meaning and message that is being sent to the players. A metaphor is used in the story as well "I
want you to close your eyes, and I want you to think about Bobbie Miles, who is your brother. And
he would die to be out there on that field with you tonight." He is not a real sibling to all those boys.
Coach Gaines "Being Perfect" speech is very well spoken. His verbal delivery is given very well,
throughout the speech he pauses when appropriate, however the enunciation is correct along with
his emphasis. His speech is powerful,emotional, and motivating.
"Can you live in that moment, as best as you can, with clear eyes and love in your heart? With joy in
your heart? If you can do that gentlemen then you're perfect." Doesn't take much dose it? This
speech has so much meaning and and purpose behind it.
In conclusion, Coach Gaines speech "Being Perfect" is a very powerful, emotional motivating
speech, during the speech many rhetorical devices, along with a bunch of pathos are used. The
Purpose is to motivate the players to play even harder the last two games of their championship

Friday Night Lights Book Report
H.G. Bissinger tells the story of the obsessive town of Odessa, Texas in his book, Friday Night
Lights. This town has a toxic obsession with high school football and wastes away life until Friday
nights. The expectations held for the athletes of Odessa are suicidal and the preparation for life
outside of high school is almost non existent. The town of Mount Vernon, Iowa also lives for Friday
nights, however they have a healthy balance between these exciting events and ordinary life. Mount
Vernon athletes are held to reasonable standards and are thoroughly being prepared for a successful
future. The town of Odessa is an insane town with twisted ideas that only focus on winning football
games, rather than preparing its young for a successful ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The football field is always filled on Friday nights however, unlike Odessa any other day could be
just as exciting. Almost every month, one can visit small festivals or events. These events bring the
community together and keeps the town lively unlike the dead town of Odessa on any other day. The
people of Mount Vernon express themselves in various things such as, art and antique festivals,
weekly band concerts in the summer, and an annual town festival. Mount Vernon also has a lot to be
proud about such as, all of the state championships from every sport, the historic buildings, and a
strong sense of community spirit. Everybody know everybody and tends to lend a helping hand
when needed. If football was taken away from them, they would be perfectly fine because they have
a balance between football and other aspects of

The Importance Of Football In Friday Night Lights
Within sports, pressure is always there; you have to learn to deal with it. H. G. Bissinger's book,
Friday Night Lights, hones in on the football team the Permian Panthers of Odessa. Through this
focus on the team, one can see how football is an integral part of the town thriving, maintaining its
hopes and dreams. Despite the racial and social divide within the community, those Friday night
games become a place where dreams may be made possible. In this way, sports, specifically
football, not only have an impact on the players but the community as well.
Within the novel, one can see how athletics, specifically football, holds more importance than
education for the town of Odessa. Because of this, players on the team start to be treated differently,
like men rather than teenagers. In which, players become improperly prepared for the future and
tend to only make it out of Odessa through athletic ability alone. As for one of the players, he learns
the hard way the effects of such emphasis on athletics over education: "I've got no idea what I want
to do. I've got no idea what school I want to go to. My SAT won't be worth a shit. And no football
school wants me." (Bissinger, Epilogue) This highlights sports in society, as well as the four agents
of socialization due to parental and educational impacts. Because of this, players follow a path that
has been shaped for them rather than shaping their own path, causing future difficulties. For the case
of Permian Panther players,

Symbolism In Friday Night Lights
H. G. Bassinger's 1990 novel, "Friday Night Lights", explores the effects of a reigning football team
found within a rural and obscure town. Permian High School's black and white colors resonated
among the town of Odessa, Texas. The popularity of Permian football stretched throughout the
whole town, cramping its inhabitants into a stadium for the seasonal ritual. Along with the high
succession rate of the Permian panthers, came the lone legacy of its gifted players as well as the
town itself. Permian football was more than just a sport, it was the symbol of Odessa and the
definition of its glory. Odessa is not the glorious town it's made out to be. Being a town found on
one solitary success, Odessa is merely its own nation, detached from the rest of the world. In all
truthfulness, it is seen by its own residents as "the worth town on earth" and described as "hell"
(32,30). Established in the late 19th century, Odessa was built by education–deprived men working
in its labor–driven oil industry. In 1982, Odessa was given "the distinction of having the highest
murder rate in the country" (31). The abundance of conservative values and church buildings
resembled its individuals, and their faith reflected their faith in its football program. Consequently,
the isolated populace of Odessa created its own reputation for its biased, racist, and idolized values.
The history of the town was scarce in comparison to the "235–page history that had been written
about Permian football" (24).

Argumentative Essay On Friday Night Lights
The show Friday Night Lights gives viewers an inside look into the lives of high school football
players of a small town in Texas. The show is astonishing on many levels, from it's unique camera
styles to the complex characters. Many people usually dismiss athletes as dull characters and some
think of sports as something pointless or shallow. The show disproves these thoughts by giving
viewers a perspective into the lives of the players, coaches, and fans of the Dillon Panthers football
team. This show ultimately builds empathy for the lives of the football players in the show, which
helps in understanding real life athletes and their coaches. Coach Taylor is a major character in the
show, he embodies what a good coach and husband is supposed to be like. He cares for his team like
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This made the show feel more real and therefore gets the audience more into what happens in the
show. The close–ups are very important, they reveal a lot of what's going on and often are symbolic.
A good example of this can be seen in season 1 episodes 1 when Jason Street (Main quarterback) is
laying on the ground, facing up and not moving after having tackled a defensive player. As the
medics rush to assist him the camera zooms into his eyes which are blood shot red and reveal he's
extremely scared. Then in shows a close up of his feet which aren't moving and reveal he might be
paraplegic. This is effective because it makes the audience feel what the character is feeling and
almost makes one feel like they're there. What this show does is show that theres more to football,
the players, and the coaches than meets the eye. Through complex characters, the show builds
empathy for these individuals and possibly real life people. It also shows the copious factors that
make a sport great. Complimented by film techniques such as the camera angles, all these factors
make the show

Friday Night Lights By Lewis Lapham
"At times Odessa had the feel of lingering sadness that many isolated places have, a sense of the
world orbiting around it at dizzying speed while it stood stuck in time...300 miles from the rest of
the world" (33). Odessans don't mind the isolation because they have high school football to wrap
their lives around. In 1988, H.G. Bissinger moved to Odessa,Texas and had the up close and
personal opportunity to study a small southern town and see how high school football affected the
lives of its residents. In the same fashion, writer Lewis Lapham studied how sports affect people
from all over the nation and came to the conclusion that sports must "preserve an illusion of perfect
innocence." Lapham's views can clearly be linked to the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After all, the Permian school district gerrymandered the boundary lines in order to get as many
black kids to play on their football team as possible. However, they only convinced themselves of
their tolerance. When almost all minorities lived behind the barrier, over the tracks, excluded from
white interaction outside of school, it is hard to believe that the love for sports triumphed over
racism. On the field, blacks were welcomed for their athletic skill. Off the field, it was back over the
tracks where they belonged. Blacks knew what the tracks represented: "Symbolically and physically,
the tracks were still a barrier and still defined an attitude" (92). The school and team integration
covered the racism that was still clearly present in Odessa. The former principal of the "black
school" said that "[t]here 's no integration, there is desegregation. There is no integration in this
community, the same as any community in America" (98). The townspeople of Odessa know in their
hearts that true integration doesn't exist, but it didn't matter because the government saw that
Permian high school finally became integrated and allowed blacks and Mexicans to play on their
sacred sports team. In this case, football wasn't just a game. The integration of the team was a
blanket to cover all of the racism and separation. At the end of the day, sports didn't save the
minorities; they had to go back to the rough side of town.

Friday Night Lights Book vs. Movie Essay
Friday Night lights
Is High School football a sport, or is it more than that to some people? I've learned that the book is
more sociological, which means that it focused on our human society of racial issues and also
emphasizes the economy and the divide between the wealthy residents of one city versus the more
working–class denizens of another are all subjects that are given an in–depth examination. This is
more of the main or focal point of the whole book and in not so much in the movie. Although
Bissinger's story is a true–life recounting of the 1988 football season of the Permian High School
team, it reads like fiction and even though I believe his book is superior, the theatrical adaptation
still stands apart as one of the great ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In Odessa, Texas high school football is a major contributor to the society of a small town in Texas
society. Every Friday night, 50,000 people fill the stadium to see high school students put their lives
on the line to win a football game. H. G. Bissinger writes a novel called Friday Night Lights, about a
year in 1988 where High School players prepare and play on the High School team, and what an
impact they have on a small city in Texas.
The novel begins with preseason football in the heat of a Texas summer. The players and coaches
practice over 4 hours a day in 100–degree weather. The media is affecting every player pushing for a
state championship and college scouts at every practice. The boys who gave completely of
themselves for their sport are unique personalities. From dedicated quarterback Mike Winchell to
Harvard–bound Brian Chavez to the inscrutable Ivory Christian, the team was full of young men
who were singular human beings, each one bringing something special and indefinable to their
group. And that's just scratching the very surface.The book recounts the tragic story of Boobie
Miles, team's star running back who had been highly recruited by all of the major programs. He is
expected to attend and earn a scholarship to a large state college. The community

Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger Essay
H.G. Bissinger's Friday Night Lights brings to mind the cold, autumn nights of 1988 where a town,
just like any other rural town in America, was brought together in such a raw and emotional way.
From the rise and fall of Boobie Miles to the push for the playoffs, it is clear that 1988 Odessa was
swept up in the glory of football to replace the grandeur of the 1950s, which seemed to deteriorate
throughout that hectic decade. While a modern reader may view Bissinger's masterpiece as a tale
from a dated and faraway place, several factors have kept it in the public's eye. What is it about
Friday Night Lights that still resonates today? The answer can still be found in the same rural towns
of America. Though it may seem incredible, Texas is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Furthermore, the English department at Permian High School was starved of necessary learning
materials so funds could instead go towards the football program. Gerrymandering even occurred in
the school district so Permian could hold on to its precious team and receive all of the talented black
players from the poor side of town. Practices such as the ones mentioned above are by no means
extinct. In my own school district of Round Rock, Texas, similar things occurred.
Though my district prides itself on preparing students for college, football is still king. It seems as if
Round Rock requires at least one of its five 5–A schools to be good at football. In 2010, Cedar
Ridge High School was created in the Round Rock Independent School District. Strangely enough,
once Cedar Ridge opened, all high schools seemed to be concerned about their football teams. All of
the extraordinary players were primarily from the area of the city that Cedar Ridge was being built.
Rather than being proud of Round Rock for accommodating more people due to the school's
location, citizens were angered when Cedar Ridge became the new powerhouse in football. Citizens
of Round Rock not being able to put instances such as this in perspective and celebrate a new school
is a major similarity to the Odessans of 1988. A community and its culture hold a

Friday Night Lights Essay
"The Melodramatic Journey of "Boobie" Miles" The film Friday Night Lights, released in 2004,
provides a visual representation depicting the sources of pride and success for a small Texas town.
Odessa, Texas is where the film takes place, and its unique values and culture is what enables the
town to be so infatuated to a high school football team. When the camera pans the city of Odessa
throughout the film, it is clear that the town does not have much to brag about. The town contains
family diners and small businesses, showing the small stature of the town; however, these same
images provide a sense of closeness between the community. Due to the fact that Odessa may not be
considered a "vacation spot", the community collectively bonds and gains pride through the success
of the towns high school football team, The Permian ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
By the end of his melodramatic quest, he no longer bolsters about himself, but instead he becomes
more involved with the success of the team. Boobie shows his new morality towards the end of the
film when they are preparing for the state championship game. With his crutches, he makes the
effort to go to the field and provide any assistance or advice he can offer. Boobie is showing
glimpses of his reshaped identity including the result of his self–reflection with his efforts to help
the team with no payback. Moreover, his transcendence to a moralistic view of sports contributes to
the togetherness of the entire film. One aspect of the film that is culturally important to point out is
the pride that Odessa was able to find within their own town. With not much else exciting around,
football was able to bring the whole community together for the love of one collective thing. From
this aspect of the film, I would argue that the cultural message to the audience would be to be
embrace and be prideful of your

Essay on Friday Night Lights by Buzz Bissinger
"'Athletics last for such a short period of time. It ends for people. But while it lasts, it creates this
make–believe world where normal rules don't apply. We build this false atmosphere. When it's over
and the harsh reality sets in, that's the real joke we play on people'" (Bissinger xiv). "Friday Night
Lights" shows the darker side of high school football. Players are taught to play games to win, and
thats all that matters. Football players are put under a tremendous amount of pressure, almost
enough to be considered unfair. Even though football is a "team sport", pressure on individual
players is unnecessary. Some players have the burden of the team, the city, their family, and their
future, resting on their shoulders. These players ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"But there was no way he could fulfill the requirements of the NCAA for number of courses needed
to qualify for a nonrestrictive scholarship" (Bissinger 65). Boobie thinks that he has to show the
college scouts more of his football playing ability so he pushes himself too hard and comes out with
a serious knee injury. All Boobie wants is to have a career in football, and now ruins his own
dreams. He has made himself his own worst enemy and ruined the only thing he was prepared for in
life. Boobie also experiences harsh pressure from his uncle, L.V. "Some who knew L.V. thought he
had pushed Boobie too much, wasn't living for him as much as he was living though him" (Bissinger
61). Boobie even admits his uncle pushes him too hard (Bissinger 63). L.V. pressures Boobie
because he himself never got the chance to play high school football, so now he can force Boobie to
experience everything he wants. L.V. treats Boobie's life as his own, which makes Boobie stress
about his game and his life being just how his uncle wants it to be. He wants to exceed his standards
and be better than his uncle ever thought he could possibly be. Boobie also plays for his uncle
because he believes that football is the way to repay him for everything he has done for him. The
way L.V. talks so highly of Boobie makes the audience believe that Boobie's short–lived high school
football career is the most important thing to L.V. "He couldn't get those

Personal Narrative: Western Pennsylvania Friday Night Lights
Western Pennsylvania Friday Night Lights A Fond Farewell I watched my husband, Mike, take the
field during the Freeport High School Football alumni night as part of the farewell season for Swartz
Field. The school district for the tiny town along the Allegheny River recently voted to construct a
new facility since the renovation of the 93–year–old stadium would be too costly. This is not my
hometown mind you. But on this Friday night, I felt a sincere sense of loss. Maybe not as deep and
personal as the Freeport residents, but a sadness for the passing of an era and tradition. Maybe I was
caught up in the perfect September evening complete with a sun–filled, cloudless blue sky that gave
way to a pink and purple sunset and a fall chill in the air–perfect football weather. The stadium sits
in the heart of this old blue collar, hardworking, melting pot town. My husband can still rattle off
any last ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Surrounding these gridiron veterans were the next generation of players, cheerleaders, flag barriers
and majorettes and, on this night as part of the anniversary remembrance for 9–11, the local military
color guard. The stadium sits tucked deep within the valley framed by the homes and the wooded
hills of western Pennsylvania. It's not hard to recognize a Norman Rockwell moment when you see
it. The stands were filled with the same mix of generations whose sons, fathers, grandfathers and
great, grandfathers played in this humble stadium for this unapologetically proud town. And the
people know their football. They live for their football. The rules of the game are just as simple as
the rules they live their lives by–work hard, treat others with respect, be accountable and don't forget
where you came

H.G. Bissinger's Friday Night Lights occurs in Odessa, Texas where Permian football remains the
diversion through which the locals are able to live vicariously through, leading to the local's
attitudes and personal lives relying largely on the success of the team. This is evident when looking
at Jim Lewallen, L.V. Miles, and Charlie Billingsley. Odessa's small size makes it complicated for
people to lead lives separate from football. Most everyone can say that they have taken part in the
football phenomenon, the Permian Panthers. Jim Lewallen may not be a parent, but football is what
he lives for. Being a retiree, Lewallen has been long removed from the highschool scene and yet he
still relies on football as a pastime. He takes satisfaction in the players accomplishments as if they
are his own children. It is what he looks forward to and what keeps his life interesting and prides
himself in knowing all the plays. While anxiously awaiting the beginning of the season Jim explains
to Bissinger, "That football is just something that keeps me going'. You know the kids' moves, you
know 'em personally. It's just like your own kids"(41). The indirect characterization of Lewallen in
this scene leaves us to infer what he is like on a deeper level, leading the reader to conclude that
Permian football is the focal point of Lewallen's life. It presents him as protective, almost fatherly.
The intensity he feels is proven when readers are informed that the players are like his

Friday Night Lights
Is High School football a sport, or is it more than that to some people? Recent newspaper headlines
include such items as coaches abusing student athletes; fathers of athletes murdering coaches, and
mother's disabilitating cheerleading candidates to assure their daughters make the cheerleading
team. In Odessa, Texas high school football is a major contributor to the society of a small town in
Texas society. Every Friday night, 50,000 people fill the stadium to see high school students put
their lives on the line to win a football game. H. G. Bissinger writes a novel called Friday Night
Lights, about a year in 1988 where High School players prepare and play on the High School team,
and what an impact they have ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This novel develops characters that engage in sex, to teachers cheating so their high school football
players can continue to participate on the football field. Many people have a major affect on football
and society in this novel. One of the major characters was Boobie Myles. Boobie was supposed to
be the star athlete on the Permian football team. In the beginning, Boobie was arrogant to his
teammates and wasn't a good team leader. All Boobie cared about was winning and getting to the
next level of football to satisfy his athletic needs. When Boobie is injured, he realizes he took
football for granted and would do anything to play again. The team needs Boobie and Boobie needs
the team. Coach Gaines realizes Boobie was seriously hurt and gives an inspiring pep talk to the
team about how the players need to put their heart in the game and how lucky they are to be playing
for Odessa.
H. G. Bissinger is the author of this book and the narrator. He is very descriptive about each
individual on the football team and how they impact society. Bissinger's word choice and sentence
fluency is excellent. He establishes his characters, develops the plot, and builds the novel to reach a
climatic conclusion. The sentence fluency is well structured and easy to read. Bissinger's writing
will not allow you to put the book down when you start reading the novel.
This book

Essay On Friday Night Lights
The television series Friday Night Lights gave a glimpse to the rest of the world what Texas high
school football is made of. In the series, the entire town of Dillon, Texas is obsessed with the
football team and they do everything to support the boys; the players, cheerleaders, rally girls,
coaches, and even managers are glorified in the small West Texas town. They feel like celebrities
and are treated like it, but the stardom does not last forever. The song Devil Town was written for
this series and with its repetitive lyrics and the dragging sound of the music, it describes the life in
Dillon without any actual details. The music and lyrics of the song simultaneously start, creating a
feeling of hurriedness, and not leaving any time for the listener to think about the music and the
feeling it creates on its own. This reflects the lifestyle teenage boys were thrown into upon the
entrance of high school and their rushed, and somewhat forced, decision to join the Panther football
team. Halfway through the song, the music becomes ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The words "devil town" sound much more pronounced than the preceding lyrics in the line and that
emphasis of the singer's voice adds to the shock of the name– calling. In addition to this, is the
speaker's name– calling of his friends and himself as "vampires." When sang, the word is very
drawn out and sometimes sounds like four syllables which further highlights the word and its
meaning in the context of Friday Night Lights. Instead of bowing down to the people of Dillon like
every other person, the speaker is calling him and his friends blood– sucking monsters. This is
considered borderline blasphemy against the football "religion," as it is often referred to as in Texas.
Accentuating the word "vampire" as the singer does, only pushes his disappointing realization to the
listener

Racism In Friday Night Lights
Racism was a consistent theme throughout the entirety of Friday Night Lights (2015) and was
intertwined with many of the issues and concepts discussed here. Odessa held onto its racial
ideologies for much longer than it should have, even with Federal lawsuits against them (Bissinger,
2015; pg. 107 & Coakley, 2015; pg. 227). These beliefs were deeply held and acted upon that they
still were intact even after the desegregation of the schools. The Southside of Odessa had been and
continued to be classified as the low–income and minority side of town where the blacks and
Hispanics lived, while the East side was for the wealthy and white citizens. The railroad tracks that
ran through the heart of town served as the "divider" for this segregation, or as Lanita Akins called
it: "The American version of the Berlin Wall (Bissinger, 2015; pg. 99)." The physical separation
wasn't the only racial issue that Odessa had. Blacks and Hispanics were both quite underrepresented
in Permian High, only making up about 31% of the student body (Bissinger, 2015; pg. 175). The
black population of Odessa seemed to get the blunt end of the racial stigma though, which is
especially seen at the beginning of chapter 5 with the use and explanation of why some Odessans
used the word ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It was also common for Texas high school football as a whole. These behaviors were seen both off
and on the field and included extreme play against the opposing team, drinking, drug use, fighting,
hubris, and institutional corruption (Bissinger, 2015 & Coakley, 2015). Off–field behavior included
mainly drinking and getting into fights, though the citizens of Odessa even went as far as shooting a
gun inside a bar at one point. The player's drinking had become bad enough that an anonymous
letter frowning upon that behavior found its way into their lockers while they were in the playoffs
(Bissinger, 2015; pgs.

Analysis Of Friday Night Lights By H. G. Bissinger
Relationships , character, teamwork are all things you learn and build through playing the game of
football and winning doesn't teach those things. The grueling practices, the long hours of film, the
adrenaline of games is what builds character and forms unbreakable relationships between players.
In Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger, Permian doesn't care about any of that. They care about
winning and nothing else. Permian fans don't care if Coach Gaines is making the kids better people
or treating them like dogs, as long as Gaines is winning he can do whatever he likes. Making
winning everything puts unneeded pressure on high school athletes, causing them to hurt themselves
and others instead of building themselves up.
Many believe that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Winning is important to build the self esteem of kids but winning isn't everything. Football can be a
stress relief for kids. It is the only place where a person can legally hit another person as hard as
they want, but football can come with great pressure. However football shouldn't come with great
pressure. It is a game where kids can hang out and have fun with their friends. It doesn't and it
shouldn't be life or death over one game, for the players or the coaches. The players and coaches
should be left alone to do their job on the field and fans should not put intense pressure on these

"From the twenties through the eighties, whatever else there hadn't been in Odessa, there had always
been high school football" (Bissinger 35) epitomizes the book in one succinct sentence. However,
the book doesn't blatantly state superficial information about football; it follows the Permian
Panthers through an entire season and reveals the emotions of a handful of football players.
Throughout various parts of the book, Bissinger beautifully utilizes symbols in order to create a
better perception for the readers on the lives of the souls in Odessa. The symbols, include, but are
not limited to; the railroad tracks, the Gary Edwards case, and the school spending reveal the various
facets of life in Odessa. The railroad tracks, which split right through Odessa, symbolized the split
between African Americans and Caucasians and the racism ubiquitous in the heart of the South in
the mid–20th century. Bissinger defined the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
To give us a better understanding of this phenomenon, Bissinger utilizes symbols to create a better
understanding of what Odessa has been through and how committed it is to high school football.
The railroad tracks mark an important schism between races in the town that was prevalent in towns
like these. A star football player from Carter High School in Dallas had ambiguous grades that led a
fracas and a huge decision to make that showed that high school football prevailed when compared
to education. Moreover, when thoroughly examining the district funding for Permian High, more
funds are directed towards athletic supplies than English supplies, showing once again that high
school football is a priority in Odessa. Only by utilizing these symbols throughout the plot, the
readers were truly able to relate to the lives Odessa's population and how engrossed they are in high
school

Slavery was first introduced in the United States in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 and became an
integral part of American society for many years. Ira Berlin says that "[A]ny attempt to address the
question of race in the present must also address slavery in the past." This in fact is true as we must
be able to understand years and years of different viewpoints and ideas to come to an educated
conclusion as to why it began and continued to exist. Racism is still a hot discussion topic in the
modern world with constant reminders that there is still tension. The biggest reason racism is the
way it is today is due to slavery and its conflict in the United States. The popular show Friday Night
Lights has an episode in which race is addressed. One ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this essay, Stampp argues that slaves are the victims to a cruel system designed to take advantage
of them. He fights for the sides of the slaves, portraying them as helpless in a world of pain and
suffering. To prove this he looks toward the slaves who fake injury, ignorance, and even pregnancy
to avoid having to work. This "preoccupation of bondsmen" as Stampp says, was a "Striking
refutation of the myth that slavery survived because of the cheerful acquiescence of the slaves."
(Stampp 301) In this essay, Stampp is standing up against the idea that slaves are weak and
incapable of functioning as free men. People said that the slaves had accepted their fate as slaves
and were alright with it, but Stampp says they have not given up their will to fight for their freedom
and that their rights as people will come. Stampp's portrayal of slaves as the victim is in direct
alignment with the shooting of Michael Brown in which Michael was made the victim far before
anyone knew what really happened. The slaves that Stampp writes about all are sad and distraught
but it's possible that there may have been slaves who were in fact not too unhappy with their lives.
In this instance, there is only one point of view, so another document with the counter to Stampp's
must be examined as

Stereotypes On Friday Night Lights
Kevin Gonzales
English 1301: Tues/Thurs: 2–3:30
Professor Clarke
Friday Night Lights
Across our beloved nation, it is strikingly evident there are a numerous amount of stereotypes that
we can never seem to rid of, which is tremendously emphasized through daily television watching.
In my own personal opinion, one of the truly heart pounding and influential series to be displayed on
television was the Friday Night Lights series; a show mainly focuses on a small town, dead center in
the heart of Texas. The small town, Odessa, relies heavily and whole–heartedly on the high school
football team, Odessa–Permian. As odd as it may seem, this show doesn't only focus on football, but
also displays the lives of the people that surround the football ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Nonetheless, why did there have to be stereotypes to define specific roles. Why couldn't Smash be
part of a two parent middle class household? Or why couldn't he have been a good student who had
an opportunity to go to college without football? Why couldn't the two Hispanics have been normal
teenagers, not part of a gang, without tattoos, or without beating up a "white" kid. Why couldn't Tim
Riggins and Tyra have been clean cut individuals with a bright future? The questions go on, would
the show have been successful without stereotypes? The show has so much heart in the small town,
where the focus is not only the characters, but the small town. It is apparent this is a successful
show, but the stereotypes will always exist and be noticeable to viewers because of the history of
this country. As a country we know more statistics about how unsuccessful and troubled minorities
are than whites. We know that the crime rate is higher among blacks and Hispanics than whites,
which is why shows find it important to focus that on television. Even fifty years after the Civil
Rights Movement, America will never fully be free of

Friday Night Lights By H. G. Bissinger: An Analysis
In Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger uses powerful examples of the harms, dangers, and unethical
behavior in football in order to evoke an emotional response from his readers and change their
opinions about high school sports, specifically football. Bissinger explores the obsession of the
Texas town of Odessa with football, showing the side effects of this culture. In America, the benefits
of high school sports are heavily touted, but the dangers are often not discussed. Bissinger offers a
counter argument in this often one sided debate in order to challenge the domination of sports in
high school environments. By appealing to the emotions of his readers, Bissinger is able to make an
effective argument against the influence and excessive love of high school sports in America. In
order to convince the reader about the dangers of high school football, Billinger shares the stories of
former football players and the long range effects of them playing football. The story of former
Permian player Joe Bob Bizzell showcases the effects and dangers of playing football in high school
and beyond. Bizzell shares the fact that "he felt [the effects of football] in the mornings when he
couldn't bend over to tie his ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Bissinger, in Friday Night Lights, is able to successfully argue against the overarching importance
and harmful practices of football. Bissinger focuses on the negative consequences football has on
the town of Odessa, highlighting injuries, unethical conduct, and the deprioritizing of academics. By
using various forms of rhetoric, Bissinger is able to make the reader reevaluate their position
concerning football and high school sports in general. In addition, the accusatory tone of the novel,
towards football, further brings attention to the wrongs of football and the culture that comes with it.
Through his mastery of rhetoric, Bissinger advances his view about the dangers of football in
America to his

Examples Of Stereotypes In Friday Night Lights
The stadium lights blind everyone. Crowds of people of all color cheering as the Pepettes stand at
the bottom of the bleachers. They shout enthusiastic cheers with bright smiles as the Permian
Panthers run in. This was the peak of all of Odessa's Friday night. This was Friday Night Lights.
H.G Bissinger's Friday Night Lights is a nonfiction novel about a small high school football team in
Odessa, Texas. It was focused during the year of 1988; Permian High School was desegregated a
few years earlier. Odessa came together to support the football team every week no matter what.
However, the town itself was riddled in prejudice towards those of different race. Bissinger uses this
novel to put emphasis on the portrayal of racism in a small town ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Before the time of integration, Odessa was split into two. There was a white and a minority
community which similar to the Berlin Wall had "railroad tracks that inevitably ran through the heart
of town" (Bissinger, 91). The famous phrase "from the wrong side of the railroad tracks" describes
the minority community. The black population lived in poverty, while the write population enjoyed
their riches. However, once desegregation came into Odessa, the minorities that could afford it,
moved into the rich neighborhoods and soon everything was integrated. It, nonetheless, was not
perfect, racism still ran deep within their roots, but it was progress. In the beginning of the 1988
football season, Boobie Miles suffered from a severe ACL injury, which forced him to quit playing
this season. As a result, his assistant coach automatically thinks poorly of Boobie, believing he is a
quitter because he is no longer a star. He then compares Boobie to a "lame horse," who needs to be
"shot" because he can no longer perform (Bissinger, 284). This causes a lot of problems for Boobie
but luckily his uncle, LV, is there to support him. Bissinger describes many conflicts between the
different races to explore the prejudice and racist thinking of this

Friday Night Lights Sparknotes
Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream is a 1990 non–fiction novel wrote by H.G.
Bissinger. The story chronicles the pressures and expectations of the Permian Panthers football team
in socially divided Odessa, Texas. Throughout the story, challenges are presented with each of the
protagonists: James "Boobie" Miles, Mike Winchell, Don Billingsley, Gary Gaines, Brian Chavez,
and Ivory Christian. The book begins with the author talking about his motivation to write the book.
Also the author discusses the importance of Permian's game against Midland Lee High School (their
arch–rivals). Tensions were rising greatly, and by the end of the game, star tailback Boobie Miles
quits the team and Permian lost 22–21, leaving them in a three–way tie, with only two spots open in
the 5A playoffs.
The initial chapters discuss the town of Odessa and its history, unique facts, its people, etc. One of
the major topics discussed is the demographics of the town's two high schools: Odessa and Permian
high school. Also, other social issues such as crime rate, murder rate, and segregation (which is also
dedicated to chapter five). Multiple chapters in the book discussed in depth about characters Boobie
Miles, Mike Winchell, and Ivory Christian. Each of these players had varying backgrounds, and
motivations about why they played football. These chapters also discuss the lives of players off of
the field, and how the academics at Permian were backseat to their powerhouse football team.

Analysis of Friday Night Lights
Analysis of Friday Night Lights Friday Night Lights is a good view of how football envelops the
live of everyone in the Texas town of Odessa. While it does use football as a main theme, I don't
believe it is a book mainly about sports. The story is mostly about the people in a town that has
nothing to look forward to except football. The story chronicles the lives of a few players and their
parents. The author describes their background, characteristics, and reactions to football and life ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Odessa wasn't even integrated until the early 1980s. Even after it was integrated, the district lines
were drawn so that Permian would get most of the black students and Odessa High would get the
Mexicans students (105). Even with Permian getting the majority of African Americans, there were
only six black players on the team. Of those six, five of them started and one of them was injured
(107). The black players at Permian were usually regarded as the best on the field. Even so, most
coaches still considered them a lower class. Even Nate Hearne, a black coach that usually dealt with
the black players, described Boobie as just another dumb nigger if he couldn't carry a football under
his arm (18)." The racism wasn't just within the town and the team, it was affected other teams
Permian played. When it came time to play the Carter Cowboys in the quarterfinals, a meeting had
to be set up to discuss the terms of the game. This was mostly due to racism since over 90% of the
Carter school was African American. The Permian coaches argued over where the game would be
held. A neutral location was chosen for the safety of the fans. After the final pass of the game, player
Clint Duncan knew it was incomplete when he looked up and "saw a bunch of cocky niggers
jumping up and down (334)." Male figures dominated Permian mostly for the fact that they

Friday Night Lights Movie Review Essay
The movie "Friday Night Lights" is based on a book by author H.G. Bissinger. It takes place at
Permian High School in Odessa, Texas in 1988 when tension between races was still strong in some
areas of the south. There is a focus in some areas of the film having to do with the racial tension and
ongoing conflict between the student body and the city as a whole. Even though desegregation had
happened by the time the book was written and the film was made, schools sometimes were still
racially divided. I also felt the movie showed how this football program exploited their black
athletes. Of interest to me was, the following of two of the main football players who are black.
Boobie Miles and Ivory Christian. They are as well respected as their white equivalents on the
football field but, it illustrates how attitudes change when the players walk off the field. The movie
touches on the many controversial subjects like, racism, hypocrisy, and failure where as the book is
extremely socially–oriented, and centered primarily on racial issues and educational priorities. The
film touches on these issues, but, as I wrote, it is not the focal point of the movie. It appears that
some of the scenes in the movie were actually filmed in the football stadium the Panther's played
yet, other home games looked as if they had chosen another Texas stadium to film. Football is huge
in Texas. While researching the truthfulness of the movie, I came to find that the local affiliate pre–
empted a Major

Racism in Friday Night Lights

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Racism in Friday Night Lights