Racism in American History X “Get the fuck out of my house!” exclaims Derek as he pulls down his wife-beater to reveal a swastika tattoo‚ “See this? That means not welcome.” American History X‚ directed by Tony Kaye‚ is a movie about the transformation of Derek Vinyard: a young neo-Nazi skinhead. Derek’s father‚ Dennis Vinyard‚ was a middle-class fireman who disagreed with many of the ideological changes–such as affirmative “black” action–happening in America at the time. His father died while
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Racism has a strong history in this country and even though it ended nearly 150 years ago‚ it still exists today. American History X is a movie surrounded around the hate crime caused by the division between the white supremacists and other minorities. Blacks and whites refused to even play basketball with one another and rejected each other because of the skin color. But no one is born with such hate‚ it is learned. There are many ways one can learn‚ but the movie focuses on two ways‚ rhetoric and
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American History X Analysis Jeffrey Golden Eastern Nazarene College “American History X” is a movie that depicts the life of a young white supremacist named Derek Vinyard and his younger brother Danny. Growing up in the suburban area of California‚ the boys are faced with many ethnic backgrounds and cultural differences. When their father‚ a fireman‚ is shot and killed by a black man Derek strives for white supremacy in his small area. Following the most infamous
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American History X Hate is part of the human condition. From our very beginning of our being comes our need to judge and be apprehensive toward people that are strange to us. In the classic film "American History X"‚ directed by Tony Kaye‚ two brothers are raised in a white supremacist world of racial hatred‚ self- pity‚ and social ignorance. It is only through the hard work and concern of a couple people that saved them. The movie opens with a scene from the ocean‚ forecasting a recurrent theme
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AMERICAN HISTORY X American History X (1998) illustrates how segregation is aggravated by missing father figures as well as the herd mentality of the characters in the film. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche ’s concept of the herd mentality states that people need a concept or a worldview to adopt in order to give meaning to their lives. This herding of people who choose to adopt this certain ideal or ideals in effect causes the stifling of individual thoughts or creativity because everyone
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American History X The setting takes place in Venice‚ a little beach town in the Southern California. Derek‚ the leader of the neighborhood skinhead gang gets arrested and put to jail for killing two members of a Crip gang that tried to steal his car. His little fourteen year old brother has seen everything and testified for Derek‚ for only that reason he did not get life sentence‚ and just three years in a prison. In jail Derek learns the truth behind “white power” gangs and what he believed
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The title of American History X is derived from the name of a class Danny (Furlong) is forced to take after writing a controversial essay on Adolf Hitler’s autobiography‚ Mein Kampf. When his Jewish teacher (Gould) becomes outraged‚ he bursts into Principal Sweeney’s (Brooks) office and complains. Danny is called into the office and is told that he must write about the life of his brother‚ Derek Vinyard‚ and have it on his desk the next morning or face immediate expulsion. Danny continually complains
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Reflection on American History X After watching American History X‚ I swore to myself that this would be one of my favourite movies of all time. It changed my view on racism‚ violence‚ abomination and change. These four were all exposed in the movie. Those three were very much shown in the film even at the beginning of the story when Danny told his brother‚ Derek‚ that a group of black guys were breaking in to his car. Their father‚ Danny and Derek‚ was killed by a black man that caused Derek’s
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American History X This is my favorite movie. One would think that America as a more modern society is moving forward with affirmative action‚ equal rights‚ and government laws. Differences in skin color and cultural beliefs are the visual characteristics that have caused various hate crimes. Laws that give non-white ethnic groups the rights to share in education and form businesses add a new frustration to white America. Danny Vineyard‚ played by Edward Furlong‚ young life has seen its share
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Danny’s history teacher (Elliot Gould) explaining to the principal‚ Dr. Sweeney (Avery Brooks)‚ that Danny wrote a book report on Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf. The teacher tells Dr. Sweeney that he is offended by Danny’s gesture and he wants to see him punished‚ declaring that Danny was pressured into writing the paper by his older brother Derek‚ although Sweeney assures him that Derek was not involved. Instead‚ Sweeney asks the teacher to leave and asks Danny to step in.Danny then puts an American flag
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