It's been sixteen years since the release of "Remember the Titans". This movie changed how I view racial issues today because it is set only 45 years ago from today, at the period of school integration. It mixes humor and honesty to show the power of a team working together to win. In the process, the team unites a town divided along racial and economical lines. The story is based off of real life events and characters who rose above the racial tensions in their community. Today it is clearly a classic, not just because it stars the fabulous Denzel Washington, but because we can still take lessons from it today. Here are five reasons to always remember the titans.

1. Equality.

The young men on this football team are fighting to be seen as equals, and to show what's on the inside rather than the skin color on the outside -- all while being integrated into an all-white school. There are similar issues today with the Black Lives Matter movement. Considering many people still see just black and white, rather than who the person truly is, the Titans were able to actually see each other for who they really are and realize that they were not very different from each other. Maybe we could take a lesson from these guys.

2. Teamwork.

In society, there is so much independence -- which isn’t always a bad thing -- but many people don’t know how to work as a team. Yes, you could be on the team, but that doesn’t necessarily make you a team player. If the Titans are able to be team players when every atom in their bodies and everyone around them told them they shouldn’t, then we can all be team players in this day and age.

3. Soul.

There’s no doubt that these guys have soul, whether it be in the locker room singing Marvin Gaye and dancing, on the football field kicking butt and having fun, in their fight for equality, or the passion these guys show to win the championship even after the quarterback, Bertier, is permanently paralyzed in a car accident.

4. Hard work.

If there is anything that all these men have in common, for sure, it's their work ethic, which coach Boone instills in these guys. It obviously takes mental and physical toughness for the Titans to have succeeded with everything they had against them.

5. Friendship.

Today, it is sometimes so hard to find a genuine friend so the fact that against all odds the two alpha’s, Bertier and Julius, became best friends in a time when whites were scrutinized for associating with blacks, is inspiring.