the express - the Ernie Davis story

Got this movie a week or two back - am now wonderin whether has this movie been shown on our shores here in Malaysia as yet. That aside, here goes...


The story opens up somewhere in the 1940s. Pennsylvania. Along some railroads of some quiet train station. The part where you get introduced to the huge discrimination the whites had against the blacks during that time, evident even amongst children. Seen on this film, as experienced by the central figure of this story.

Davis had such optimism - it dawned upon me, that what some of us face is virtually nothin compared to what he did. He was brave to speak at the expense of compromising whatever he had. As it turns out, his entire football team inclusive of his coach, would become those of the early fews who learned to see beneath the skin tones that separate 'em races.

He went down in history heaps as one who attained status as 'first of this, and first of that kinda thing' amongst many other notable achievements.

He was personally acknowledged by The Mr. President of that time, Mr. Kennedy.

And perhaps the Lord above love him all too much, that He had in mind a much better place for him to be in. He passed on to the afterlife, at the young tender age of 23 due to leukemia.

His legacy impacted many during his lifetime, and continues to live on to this very day.

The movie closes with a passage quoted:

"He was an outstanding young man of great character who served — and my hope is, will continue to serve — as an inspiration to the young people of this country."
- John F. Kennedy on Ernie Davis