1989 Film Glory

The 1989 film Glory depicts the men of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment during the Civil War. The Massachusetts 54th Regiment was unique; it was the first African American regiment fighting for the union in the Civil War. As members of the first African American regiment, the men of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment faced different challenges than white union soldiers. The common goal to end slavery united the men of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment. Although the white union soldiers were also fighting to end slavery, the issue of slavery was more personal for African American soldiers. African American soldiers were not treated with the same respect as other soldiers by the military. They were not given proper shoes or uniforms, they were told …show more content…
Once the confederate army learned that the union army would enlist African American soldiers, they stated that any captured African American soldiers would be sold into slavery. As free African Americans, the men of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment risked losing their freedom by enlisting. However, they took on the personal risk of re-enslavement in hopes of ending slavery. According to an 1863 newspaper article, “If the report be true, those [of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment] who were captured in the assault upon Fort Wagner, were not treated as prisoners of war, but sold into slavery” (Anderson). The risk of re-enslavement was a risk that was unique to African American soldiers. In Glory, when this risk is revealed to the men of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, they decide that it is a risk they are willing to take in order to fight to end slavery. The men of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment redefined the role of African American men in American society. In their display of bravery, they proved their humanity to the general population. The assault on Fort Wagner changed policies in the union. At the end of the film Glory, text appears on the screen discussing the aftermath of the assault on Fort Wagner, “As word spread of their bravery, Congress at last authorized the raising of black troops throughout the union. …show more content…
This allowed other African Americans to volunteer as soldiers, which may have played a major role in the outcome of the Civil War. The role of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment in the Civil War not only contributed to the end of slavery, but also changed the role of the free African American man in American society.
The issue of slavery united African American soldiers to fight for a single cause as a cohesive group. The opportunity to fight to end slavery united the Massachusetts 54th Regiment despite the many divisions in experience, education, and personal history. Because slavery affected the life of every African American directly or indirectly, African American soldiers were willing to unite and fight for its