Crash and Racism
Paul Haggis’ Crash is a drama set in the Los Angels area, the main concept of the film is racial and social tensions in L.A., Paul Haggis claims that it’s a “passion piece” due to it being inspired by a real life incident wherein his car was stolen outside a store in 1991 as he clearly states on the Crash commentary track.
Now my reaction to this film was at first shocked and in awe of the brutality of the first 30 minutes. Such as Anthony and Peter’s discussion in the first few minutes about the white persons being afraid of the black, even if they were the only two in the surroundings and yet they stole the car, proving the hypocritical nature of the film. Granted, this film is filled with racist remarks and yet somehow, none of this is relevant to me at this current time, it might just be that I’ve been prejudiced in any way after moving around. Yet, I still do believe that Crash is incredibly hyperbolic about the racism in the time after 9/11.
Having lived in the Dominican Republic, I’ve experienced quite a lot of racism.
Racism in the Dom. Rep. is different; it’s more of a black people looking down on the white. There’s a high level of thievery and just plain insulting of anyone with white skin. So, I guess one can say that I’ve experienced it more than once. I’ve been called a ghost; a whitey, a cracker, a gay, and a couple that wouldn’t be appropriate in this essay. This would happen every time you would walk down the street, whether you are a woman or a man. Granted, the woman would get more abuse than the males, but yes, I can safely say, I’ve experienced racism in one-way shape or form multiple times during my eight years in the Dominican Republic.
Tom Hanson, played by Ryan Philippe, is probably the one character that I, personally, can relate to and even surprised me most. The way he kept his cool during the LAPD and Cameron Thayer incident. The way he just didn’t go with the racist profile or even try to arrest him. It’s like Officer
Now my reaction to this film was at first shocked and in awe of the brutality of the first 30 minutes. Such as Anthony and Peter’s discussion in the first few minutes about the white persons being afraid of the black, even if they were the only two in the surroundings and yet they stole the car, proving the hypocritical nature of the film. Granted, this film is filled with racist remarks and yet somehow, none of this is relevant to me at this current time, it might just be that I’ve been prejudiced in any way after moving around. Yet, I still do believe that Crash is incredibly hyperbolic about the racism in the time after 9/11.
Having lived in the Dominican Republic, I’ve experienced quite a lot of racism.
Racism in the Dom. Rep. is different; it’s more of a black people looking down on the white. There’s a high level of thievery and just plain insulting of anyone with white skin. So, I guess one can say that I’ve experienced it more than once. I’ve been called a ghost; a whitey, a cracker, a gay, and a couple that wouldn’t be appropriate in this essay. This would happen every time you would walk down the street, whether you are a woman or a man. Granted, the woman would get more abuse than the males, but yes, I can safely say, I’ve experienced racism in one-way shape or form multiple times during my eight years in the Dominican Republic.
Tom Hanson, played by Ryan Philippe, is probably the one character that I, personally, can relate to and even surprised me most. The way he kept his cool during the LAPD and Cameron Thayer incident. The way he just didn’t go with the racist profile or even try to arrest him. It’s like Officer