I thought that the characters were very complex and carried a lot of negative social baggage into what turned out to forge very personal and complex relationships. Alfred Blalock the surgeon in the movie was very interesting to me, because of the thin line he walked between his social responsibility to not promote blacks regardless of their competency and his drive and commitment to his life's work. Although Vivien Thomas the lab technician turned surgeon was obviously the main focus of the movie, and I did get the over arching goal of the movie and I was touched and proud of the history they were able to forge in spite of the social prejudices of the time. I tended to pay more attention to Blalock to see how he would act when confronted with various situations.

Blalock promoted Thomas many times during a time when his actions could have ruined his career and may have even brought himself and his wife bodily harm. The prejudice that was entrenched in American society at this time was not only egregious, but it was dangerous. I feel that is important to judge the actions of leaders framed within the constraints of social norms. White’s at this time in America’s history were not expected to go against the establishment that stated that minorities regardless of their talents were to occupy certain positions, Black were at this time expected to know their limitations and stay within them. Blalock was brave enough to do what was needed to further the field of medicine he loved and poured his life’s work into. I do not believe that he was at anytime oblivious of the doors he was tearing down, I believe that he was very aware and worked very carefully to elevate a man he respected while not overtly disrespecting the White establishment.

At times a leader must work bravely but carefully for change to occur. If a leader races forward with the change he or she feels needs to be enacted they run the chance of hurting those they intended to help. I am very surprised that I came to the conclusions that I did. I watched this film when it was first released, prior to my work in this degree program and I as I watched it today, I was able to see past the big story and for that I am grateful.