The Pursuit of Happyness: One of the Greatest Movies Of The Century!

We all know Racism is a big deal in American society. It is an ongoing yet never ending issue that seems will never be solved. Racism is defined as a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others. Everyday people face racism and deal with experiences that can deeply affect their lives.

An excellent movie that represents common racism in our society and in the media is "The Pursuit of Happyness" it was released in 2006 starring Will Smith. The movie is based on a true story of the life of Chris Gardner. The title of the movie is derived from the words of Thomas Jefferson in the United States Declaration of Independence: "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

The main character in the movie is Chris Gardner who is a very bright and talented marginally employed salesman. Gardner was a business man and invested all his family's life savings in a super X-ray machine. He believed he would become rich as the only distributor in the San Francisco area selling to hospitals and private medical offices. As it turned out the super X-ray machine was not as successful as he thought it would be. Gardner was just barely making it and if he would sell one x-ray machine a month it would last him and his family for about a month's worth of food and rent. Gardner was lucky and very happy if he sold at least one a month. Struggling to make ends meet for his family, his wife decided to leave him. Gardner demanded the child to stay with him and the after some arguing his wife gives in and leaves Gardner and his son.

More devastation occurs when he Gardner has no money to pay the bills. Gardner and and his five-year-old son get evicted from their apartment with nowhere to go. They stay at motel for some time while Gardner persistently looks for a job. Gardner gets lucky and is able to get internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm. Since he is on a no-pay internship he and his son endure many hardships, including starvation, living in the streets and shelters. In one sequence in the movie Chris Gardner tells his son: "You got a dream… You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period." Not too long after in the movie are told he had landed a good paying job with the firm and was able to provide more than enough for himself and his family.

This movie is based on a true story, which makes it even more inspirational. This movie is a great example for anyone out there who faces racism. In the movie Chris Gardner was made fun of, looked down upon, and rejected because of his race. He overcame those obstacles in pursuit of happiness. Chris Gardner is a man anyone could take example from. Through his life story we could learn and realize that nothing can get in the way of our dreams. Just remember his inspirational words: "If you want somethin', go get it. Period."