Who is Michael Oher?
Many know the name Michael Oher from the movie The Blindside, which is about how his life was transformed from nothing to becoming one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the National Football League (NFL). His natural athleticism paired with his work ethic and remarkable genetics carried him to the top, but what was his primary focus before he found football? Given his circumstances, it was survival.
Michael Oher’s American Dream
As briefly covered in the movie, Michael Oher had an extremely rough upbringing. That said, for those who have seen it, the movie did not cover his childhood extensively before being adopted into a welcoming family. Michael did not receive much care as a child due to an absent father, who was eventually murdered in prison, and a mother who was dependent on alcohol (TheFamousPeople, 2023, par. 3). He bounced around from foster-family to foster-family, experiencing a multitude of problems with each one ranging from violence in the area or families who did not truly care. Eventually, in 2004 at the age of 16, he was adopted by the right family who met his wants and needs which allowed him to focus on things he liked – the primary one being football. He was offered many scholarships, played well in college, and wound up getting drafted into the NFL and having a successful career. Despite all the setbacks and adversity, he accomplished his goals defying the odds.
Up for Debate
Some sources, such as The New York Times, draw up the debate as to whether Michael Oher actually achieved his version of the American dream. That is because he formally requested the court of Tennessee to “end his legal relationship with the family (the Touhys) who took him in, claiming that he had never actually been adopted and had been tricked into signing away his decision-making powers so the family could make millions of dollars off his life story” (Nerkar, 2023, par. 1). The Tuohys leveraged confusing contracts Oher thought was necessary for adoption to strip his decision-making ability and proposed The Blindside movie and did not grant him any proceedings. This is an ongoing case and is up for debate whether he is living his American Dream.
References
Editors, TheFamousPeople. (2023). Michael Oher: Biograohy. The Famous People. Retrieved from: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/michael-oher-6143.php
Nerkar, S. (August 14, 2023). ‘Blind side’ Player Says He Was Conned With Adoption Promise. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/14/sports/football/michael-oher-blind-side-lawsuit.html#:~:text=The%20former%20N.F.L.%20player%20Michael%20Oher%2C%20whose%20journey,make%20millions%20of%20dollars%20off%20his%20life%20story.