American History X Discrimination

American History X is clearly a film dealing with the social topic of racism. The interesting thing about this film is the way in which the subject is presented. First of all, it is obvious that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any reservations or dummying down. Second, the film's figurehead for racism, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), is not an unintelligent redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in fact well-spoken, charismatic and bright, although he clearly holds ideals that are terribly wrong. Finally, the film shows that it is not only the white, neo-nazi racists who are fools for being involved in this, but all those who hold hatred in

American History X is clearly a film dealing with racism. The interesting thing about this film is the way in which the subject is treated. First of all, it is obvious that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any reservations or dumming down. Second, the film's figurehead for racism, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), is not an unintelligent redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in fact well-spoken, charismatic and intelligent, although he clearly holds ideals that are terribly wrong. Finally, the film shows that it is not just the white, neo-nazi racists who are fools to be involved in this, but all racism is foolish. Through these methods, the film shows the viewer,

While the film “Crash” has several complex characters with storylines that all become interconnected in various ways, the movie is predominantly about how prejudice plays into people’s everyday lives and how such prejudice usually has negative implications. The characters in the film all had their own prejudices, or attitudes judging others in negative ways, which set the stage for discrimination, stereotypes, racism, and scapegoats. Thus, one can see how prejudice plays such a pivotal role in people’s relations with each other. As a result, it is best to analyze this film from a symbolic interactionism point of view by analyzing how the labels the characters encounter in this film affect their perception and in turn create prejudice

Malcom X is a biological film that takes viewers through the life of Malcom Little. The movie begins with him as a child and shows the hardships black families faced because of racism and white supremacy in America. The movie shows how white people would show up at the houses of these families to burn and diminish their already complicated lives. He starts off working as a porter assisting people with the luggage where he got the name Detroit Red, but shortened it to Red soon after.

At first the murder of their father by a black man appeared to be the catalyst of hate towards blacks for the boys but once Danny .began to analyze his life he realized his father was actually responsible for the indoctrination into a life filled with hate, resentment and conflict towards all minorities. He recalls a conversation that took place during dinner between Derek and his father; Derek is praising the academics and teaching approach used by his new black history teacher; Mr. Sweeney. His father begins to use derisive labels to discredit the achievements of his teacher. His father is actually nurturing racism into

I began to notice a change in Derek during his incarceration. As time progressed he was introduced to a third person view in which he was able to see the reversed roles exhibited in Jail. He was not the glorified male he once believed he was accredited too. The first notice of change was within his first days, he realized he was surrounded with men that reflected the two men he had killed moreover, after his initiation into a Neo-Nazi gang within the Jail, he began to notice that everything within the inmates was transparent. Race flows fluidly through the Jail.(Derek is also paired with a Black male to do laundry duties). With this in mind, Derek frustrated and angry sought out retaliation against the Neo-Nazi's thus resulting in Derek succumbing

While both parties experienced racial divide growing up X’s was far more violent. X’s father was murdered by Whites, “My father's skull, on one side, was crushed in” is how X described his father’s body after the violent beating (X 37). White men also burned his house down while his family was sleeping inside “My mother, with the baby in her arms, just made it into the yard before the house crashed in, showering sparks” (X 25). These terroristic acts upon X’s family as a young child led to his deep rooted hate of White Americans. Another major difference in the upbring of the two was the White people Moody was around for the most part were respectful of her up until high school. On the other hand Whites that came into contact with X treated him terribly. In the autobiography he recalls his history teacher “One day during my first week at school, I walked into the room and he started singing to the class, as a joke, “ Way down yonder in the cotton field, some folks say that a nigger won’t steal.” (X 75). Moody did see how the whites were treated differently in society however. For example when her and her mother are furniture shopping and

Jim Crow refers to a series of racist laws and measures that discriminated against African-Americans. These laws were made in the south to keep African-Americans from voting or just being free people. Even though the laws are disbanded, the effects of it still remain in the United States, in the form of racial stereotypes. In “This is America”, it demonstrates the examples of stereotypes that came as a result of the laws, such as African Americans being violent and the primary people involved in shootings and murders.

In the film we see issues of race and racism as being a "white" problem, contrary to what we see in society as race and racism as being a "colored" problem. Victor and David Lee both make the statement that to be "American" is to be white. In society we usually see racism as individual acts of violence or discrimination towards others, but as David Lee points out, racism is an invisible system conferring unsought racial dominance by am oppressive group, mainly whites. "White power secures its dominance by seeming not to be anything in particular" (Lipsitz, 135). Victor says how he could get things his mother couldn't get just because his skin was a lighter black than hers. Lee then brings in a picture of Victor and his mother where the difference in skin color can be seen. Lee often brings in pictures of the participants of when they were young, and when they are with their families. This helps the viewers to draw more of identification with the characters.

But as the sub-context of his controversial crusade, we also learn as the film unfolds that Malcolm X's mother, father, uncles, and countless other relatives and friends were direct victims of the hatred and violence of the white majority in America, during a time when the nation was supposed to be free and equal for all.

Throughout the movie showed a sociological concept known as ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is the means that we judge other cultures by the standards of our own and that we also believe that our own culture is better than everyone else's. For example in the movie Graham and his Latina girlfriend fight and he pokes fun at her culture by calling her Mexican even though she isn't. Ultimately Graham was mock his Latina girlfriend, assuming the superiority of his own culture. Another example would be when Officer Ryan makes a joke about the name Shaniqua which is more of a known name from the African American culture. (The Movie Crash and the Concepts of Sociology - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/the-movie-crash-concepts-sociology-437437.html). The movie also showed elements of Microaggression which is the idea that specific interactions between those of different races, cultures, or genders can be interpreted as small acts of mostly non-physical aggression; the term was coined by Chester M. Pierce[1] in 1970.In Crash the film director gave examples of subtle insults which would be him people telling him the film wasn’t black enough or the he advises him to tell the black characters to make his movie sound more “blacker”. These would be

Another issue in the movie was attitudes. All races have attitudes towards people that are not like their own, whether they are good or bad. Attitudes I believe are connected with experiences. What one experiences with another race can affect the way their attitude is towards them.

In conclusion, A Time to Kill has many examples of how conflict between characters reveals society's dominant racist attitudes. These attitudes are presented to be negative throughout the film by representation of social groups, characterisation of Jake Brigance and the perspective from Carl Hailey. Together these conventions allow the viewer to understand the character Carl Hailey, and see how the film presents the dominant racist attitudes

The film Crash, written and directed by Paul Haggis, examines racial exchanges in several different ethnic groups living in Los Angeles. As the film move forward, we are able to view how each characters’ own racist experiences change their attitudes towards other races. Paul Haggis illustrates those change through the mood tone, setting, and even the music. By the end of the movie, the audience is left with a feeling of hope and an ambition to examine its own thought and actions towards others. Even though critics argue that the film Crash is stereotypically racist, the film encourages America to see past the misbelief we have of each other because empathy and self-examination is the starting place for change and the destruction of society is based on one’s choices.

The brutal 1998 movie American History X, directed by Tony Kaye, follows former skinhead Derek Vinyard while he is trying to prevent his younger brother, Danny, from going down the same path Derek was led down. While leading a violent white supremacist cult and being a large part of many racial crimes throughout the L.A. area, Derek was sentenced to three years in prison for killing two black men who attempted to break into his truck. Throughout the three years, Derek learns that there are good and bad people in every race and becomes more open and friendly to those he believed he was superior to. After getting help in prison, Derek is released on parole and tries to cut ties with his old “brothers,” it is then that Derek realizes how much