Running head: THE BLIND SIDE: THE STORY OF MICHAEL OHRE

The Blind Side: The Story of Michael Ohre

Rachel Page
Texas A&M University

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The Blind Side is a true story about an African American teenager
named Michael Oher. Michael was an At Risk youth who was taken in by an
upper-class white family, named the Tuohys, during his senior year of high
school. Through the support of this familys loving home, Michael was able to
graduate high school, go to Mississippi State University and eventually get
drafted into the NFL.
Homelessness
While coming home from a play, the Tuohys drive up on Michael as
hes walking, down the street in the freezing rain in shorts and a t-shirt.
Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullocks character) gets out of the car and asks
Michael if he was able to find shelter for the night. When Michael replied,
yes he did have a place sleep, Leigh Anne knew that he was too ashamed
to tell her the truth; so she offered for him to come home with her family.
Michael was a homeless young man who either stayed in laundry mats or
rode the bus overnight so that he could have a place to sleep. There is more
that one definition of homelessness but an individual who lacks permanent
housing, and is unavailable to make a home; therefore they have to live on
the streets, is homeless. Chapter 16 defines homelessness as, having a
primary residence that is public or private shelter, emergency housing, hotel
or motel, or any other public space, including parks, cars, abandoned
buildings, or aqueducts (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009)..
Children who are homeless suffer, physically, psychologically, socially

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and academically. It is unconscionable that many of these children and youth
are not being served, when a portion of this population could be identified
through homeless shelters, foster care and other social agencies (Ch. 16)
It is important for a child to feel safe and have a since of regularity and
security in their lives. Chapter 16 discusses how over 97% of homeless
children, move every year. This makes it harder for the child to stay on track,
with his or her peers, while in school. Falling behind could lead to a number
of problems such as being retained in school, getting passed along without
the knowledge or skills to get to the next grade, or becoming a high school
dropout. The movie touches on Michaels low grade point average of 0.6 and
his illiterate status, when he first gets accepted into the private school.
According to research and statistics, he should have already become a high
school dropout. Multiple barriers are present that discourage homeless
children from attending school. For example, they may not have school
records, immunization records, a permeant address, transportation, school
supplies, gym shoes, or appropriate clothing (National Center on Family
Homelessness, 2004). Fortunately for Michael, he was identified as a
special needs auditory learner so his teachers started giving him the test
orally.
Dysfunctional Family Dynamics
We only get a quick glimpse of Michaels home life because the movie
focuses more on his achievements. His mother was also an at risk youth, a

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drug addict and had all of her children taken away from her by the state to
be put in foster homes. Dysfunctional family dynamics both precede and
fuel at risk behaviors. The greater the difficulties demonstrated by the youth,
the larger the number of issues that need attention within the family. It is
inappropriate to assume that the identified problem child is the only family
member with mental health needs or the only family member who may be at
risk (Ch. 4.) Michael was described as a runner which means that he
would run away from foster homes to try and find his mother. There was a
scene in the movie where Michael asks Leigh Anne if she could help him get
a drivers license. She said, Michael, why do you need a drivers license if
you cant even drive? And he said, Something to carry with my name on
it. That was a pivotal point in the movie because it was a time when he felt
safe enough to not to run anymore. The dysfunctional family dynamic was
now taken out of his life and replaced with a loving and supportive dynamic.
The movie ends with an epilogue describing Michaels life after high
school, college, and his eventual draft into the NFL. Michael Ohre went
through deplorable conditions as an At Risk youth, but he was never violent
or aggressive to others except when his protective instincts kicked in. Even
though the Tuohys provided him with a chance to be successful, it was
Michael perseverance and determination that made him succeed and
become the man that he is today.