*Note: I know this movie is extremely graphic, but it is the first movie that entered my mind when I thought of movies pertaining to Social Justice, and I absolutely could not resist writing about it. I hope that's okay.
American History X is a story about a former white supremacist, Derek Vinyard, who changes his way of life after a harrowing experience in prison following two murders he committed, and his subsequent attempts to save his brother from following in his footsteps.
Oh boy, where to start, where to start! This movie is just begging for commentary from a Social Justice student. . . so let's start into this.
The first point I can raise up also happens to be the earliest chronological one in the movie, too: Derek and Danny's upbringing. Their father, firefighter Dennis Vinyard, is seen as an integral part of their belief in white supremacy; his constant comments to Derek over their dinner signify that Derek has not been raised in a manner of seeing others equally. In fact, it's quite the opposite; he believes that minorities are below him, and that he is above them via his skin colour. This idea is only further emphasized when his father is shot, and killed, while fighting a fire in a suspected drug den in Compton.
While the boys may have been raised in a middle-class home, and received a fair upbringing in regards to their status' in life, they are lacking in areas of access extremely. They do not accept people of other ethnicity, do not view their ideas in the same light, and it would be safe to say that they don't even really treat them like people.
However, as the movie continues, and we are introduced to the prison life that Derek has endured (although in the movie, the events are nonlinear), we see that he begins to change his character. He is remorseful for his actions, because, as it turns out, the very people he joins with in prison - the Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacist gang - are the ones who end up hurting him the most, and a black inmate named Lamont turns out to be his biggest saviour and best friend, despite his obvious Neo-Nazi tendencies. This friendship really is a turning point for Derek, and, as time passes, he begins to change his ways, and is much more accepting to other races.
When he is released, he realized a grave mistake he has made; he has shown his brother, Danny, a way of violence and hatred, one he has been all too eager to follow. Derek attempts to right this wrong, and bring Danny out of the Neo-Nazi movement. He goes with him to a meeting, only to tell their "ringleader", Cameron, to stay away from Danny. While Cameron is incredulous that Derek would want to leave, even denying the idea outright, he informs Derek that he [Danny] will "come to him [Cameron] rather than you [Derek], because I'm like his father now," Derek responds by beating him unconscious. While this is a somewhat controversial claim, I think that this is the only way Derek could have made his point clear.
After the ensuing confrontations, Derek tells Danny about his entire time in prison, and why the road he is walking down is an absolutely wrong one. After hearing about his brothers brutal treatment in prison, and his subsequent rescue by a black inmate, Danny begins to have a change of heart about the activities he is involved in. This is symbolically portrayed when the two go home, and rip down all of their Neo-Nazi paraphernalia from their walls.
It is interesting to note that, while Derek is a Neo-Nazi, he treats his black English teacher, Mr. Sweeney, with a very high level of respect. While this occurs before he truly enters into his realm of Neo-Nazism, it nonetheless does show that Derek has some form of understanding and respect to people of other races.
I won't spoil the ending of the movie; however, let it be known that it is an extremely sad conclusion, and one that shows just how meaningless and dangerous racism can be. It's unfortunate that Derek and Danny have to learn this in such a hard way, but it really does push the point of the movie home.
All in all, American History X is an amazing portrayal of how racism is not a solution to any problems. While the movie can be extremely graphic, and the tone of the movie is depressing, I would recommend anybody that thinks they can handle it to watch it as soon as possible.
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