Hoop Dreams is a documentary focusing on two young African-American teenagers from Chicago. It is about their hopes and dreams to one day be in the NBA. William Gates and Arthur Agee are two young teenagers who have the same dreams and the same ambition. With this ambition they take the opportunity to attend a high school, St Joseph’s, that is outside of their county. They both travel 40 minutes each way to school, in hope to have a better life for themselves. The film does not only document the lives of the two young boys but those who are in them as well. The film begins with a man who grew up in the same area of the two boys, on the weekend he works as a recruiter for the local high schools. Without this man seeing potential in the two young teenagers, the two of them would never have had the opportunity to attend St. Joes High School. Even though the film focuses on the young teenagers becoming great basketball players, there is a deeper meaning and investment to the film. The underlying meaning of the film is the focus on race, discrimination, and class within society.
The scene in the film that stood out to me the most was in the event where the players attended the Nike basketball camp, where only the best high school players attend. In this event they attended practices and classroom activities. Within one classroom experiences, two black men were labeled the truth. They stated how black men are labeled and suspected to deal drugs, use drugs, and molest women around them. They proceed to tell the players you are only here because the coaches believe you will be an asset to their team and will help them win. When this quick clip finished, I realized even today’s world this status may still exist. Of course, coaches want to win to keep their job and they will go to the extent, but would you consider this bad if it does help lower income people leave and have a better life? In the end, it is realized that african-american people have a struggle to be accepted in society. Their struggle is in all aspects of their life, home, work, and school. Their hope for out is through limited opportunities that occur.