American History X Essay Example
American History X
The main theme of the film is racism in America and the violence involved in it. The movie begins in a scene with teen Danny Vinyard, where he races to tell his older brother Derek (who is a neo-Nazi) about three young Afro Americans breaking into his car in front of the house, Derek reacts and gets his gun and with no forethought shoots them. Two of the boys died, so Derek is sent away for three years in prison. In jail he meets a group of neo-Nazis wich are related to other bands from different races. Black Lamont is a black guy who works in the prison laundry with Derek, they start to talk and finally become friends. Gradually he realizes that everything he believed is false and wrong so he is betrayed by the skins of the prison. 3 years later, when he leaves prison, he discovers that his younger brother Danny is following in his footsteps. Realizing he can run the same fate, Derek trys to not only correct the errors of the past, but also persuades his brother from forgetting his nazi thoughts, and to abandon that dangerous and inmoral world he is living in without realising.
Some people may think that a case like the one shown in the film cannot happen in real life. I am not only sure that this cases exist, but they already happen. In Texas for example, there are plenty white supremacists. I'm sure that if a black guy tries to steal from them, the white one will go to jail for murder...
In Europe we are not very conscious about this cases which occur every day, mostly in America because the rate of Afro-Americans is higher. There are also more bands, separated by their nationalities or ideologies.
I think that the movie is very well interpreted and is full of nuances, it seems to be centered on racism but It also tries to express the need for people to feel identified with something or to belong to a group where they feel safe, even though they might not share or even not understand the philosophy of life of that group. The film
The main theme of the film is racism in America and the violence involved in it. The movie begins in a scene with teen Danny Vinyard, where he races to tell his older brother Derek (who is a neo-Nazi) about three young Afro Americans breaking into his car in front of the house, Derek reacts and gets his gun and with no forethought shoots them. Two of the boys died, so Derek is sent away for three years in prison. In jail he meets a group of neo-Nazis wich are related to other bands from different races. Black Lamont is a black guy who works in the prison laundry with Derek, they start to talk and finally become friends. Gradually he realizes that everything he believed is false and wrong so he is betrayed by the skins of the prison. 3 years later, when he leaves prison, he discovers that his younger brother Danny is following in his footsteps. Realizing he can run the same fate, Derek trys to not only correct the errors of the past, but also persuades his brother from forgetting his nazi thoughts, and to abandon that dangerous and inmoral world he is living in without realising.
Some people may think that a case like the one shown in the film cannot happen in real life. I am not only sure that this cases exist, but they already happen. In Texas for example, there are plenty white supremacists. I'm sure that if a black guy tries to steal from them, the white one will go to jail for murder...
In Europe we are not very conscious about this cases which occur every day, mostly in America because the rate of Afro-Americans is higher. There are also more bands, separated by their nationalities or ideologies.
I think that the movie is very well interpreted and is full of nuances, it seems to be centered on racism but It also tries to express the need for people to feel identified with something or to belong to a group where they feel safe, even though they might not share or even not understand the philosophy of life of that group. The film