Believing that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities, and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race is know as racism. This phenomenon in the sociological area is defined as a system of group privilege. In Portraits of White Racism, David Wellman has defined racism as “culturally sanctioned beliefs, which, regardless of intentions involved, defend the advantages whites have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities”. Sociologists Noël A. Cazenave and Darlene Alvarez Maddern define racism as “...a highly organized system of 'race'-based group privilege that operates at every level of society and is held together by a sophisticated ideology of color/'race' supremacy.”
Sociologist and former American Sociological Association president Joe Feagin argues that the United States can be characterized as a "total racist society, a statement that can be clearly proved in the film Crash.
In United States, people tend to be judgmental and learn to develop a very deep fear towards other cultures. American citizens are know by their extremely nationalist attitude, which lead them to build a rejection when they are being raised, to foreign human beings. Following this further, although throughout the years this country has had many important leaders battling against racism, nowadays the expressions of it keep being rougher as we can see in the movie.
This film differs from many other films about racism in its rather impartial approach to the issue. Rather than separating the characters into victims and offenders, victims of racism are often shown to be racist themselves in different contexts and situations. Also, racist remarks and actions are often shown to stem from ignorance and misconception rather than a malicious personality.
The film shows us many stereotypes and racism’s expressions that are seen in the American everyday life. The fear to black people, the