NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
American History X displays many controversial issues such as racism and prejudice. The story revolves around Derek, who is a white supremacist that changes his ways when someone points out to him that all his campaigning only served to make his life even worse than it had been before. A major influence on Derek in this movie was his high school English teacher Mr. Sweeney.
Derek had always placed Sweeney on a Pedestal and had a great deal of respect for him. Despite Derek's hatred for blacks throughout the movie, Derek still continued to admire and respect Sweeney. The movie American History X explains to us a new meaning of racism. The movie shows a modern-day racial hatred taking place in the United States today. The purpose of the movie is to realize that racial hatred does not achieve anything except of creation of more hate bringing new problems. The director and writer of this movie did a great job in showing all the aspects of existing problem with racism in character development, the targeted audience, and cinematography.
The story in the movie is told in a mix of black and white and color, using the film tone to indicate transitions between the present and the past. Character development best helps to accomplish the purpose of the movie American History X. The most developed characters in this film are Derek and Danny. Derek's character is full of racial hatred and plays as a leader of a neo-Nazi group in Venice Beach, California at the beginning of the movie. He does not become like this until his father was killed in a black neighborhood while extinguishing a fire. Derek preaches to young skinheads about his beliefs of the American society and how minority groups are corrupting the society and wasting taxpayers money.
They have to put an end to these immigrants, and Derek constantly encourages his followers to take any kind of actions to stop these immigrants. Derek shows great hate towards minority groups by raiding the Korean market and by murdering two black teenagers who attempted to break into his vehicle. Derek's murderous attack on the two black teenagers gave him three years in the penitentiary. He had no problem with finding a group of friends that were also skinheads but later finds out that they were not true to their beliefs. Derek tries to get them to hate all the minorities and to become a white supremacist group but instead, they turned on Derek and raped him in the shower. Derek was forced to work with a black man in the laundry room that helps him survive the rest of his prison sentence.
He gradually began to discover the error of his racial beliefs and becomes good friends with the black man. Danny, Derek's younger brother, attempts to follow Derek's footsteps and turns in a paper on Mein Kampf. Concerned that Danny is following the same path as his brother, Sweeney gives him a new assignment to write about Derek's history as a skinhead, and how he came to be that way. Danny was shocked to see how serving time in prison has affected his brother greatly. Upon getting out of prison, Derek tries to change Danny's beliefs of white supremacy and does not want Danny to follow the same tragic path that he has taken. Derek tells Danny the tragic story of life in prison and how his life has been turned around.
Danny understands the harm that hate can put a person through and also changes his racial beliefs. The scene where the two brothers are stripping the wall in their room helps viewers understand that both Danny and Derek no longer want to live a life of hate. The director and author both team up to create an outstanding movie. Using character development, the targeted audience, and cinematography helps accomplish what the purpose of the film is. Derek has become a changed person but yet another family member has died by another black person. Will Derek go back to his old, horrid, racial ways or did spending time behind bars have a great affect on his life that he will stay the same sentimental person as he is?
Derek has definitely learned a lesson. His old racial ways has only created more hate and anger that led to the murder of his younger brother.
Free research essays on topics related to: targeted audience, racial hatred, younger brother, minority groups, american history x
Research essay sample on American History X Racial Hatred
