American History X 1998 is a film whose central theme revolves around the idea of racism and how a particular community is affected by the racism problem. One of the most provoking issues in the film is how racism is portrayed. The film has clearly illustrated that racism is a tough subject to deal. However, the film American History presents the topic in a very frank manner without any hesitation because this is an issue that is persistently affecting our contemporary society. In the movie, we can see the role of different characters such as Derek Vineyard, who is considered as a “god” for racism. In the film, we can witness both Marxist theories and labeling theories. Marxism theory entails mainly the struggle between social classes whereby labeling approaches indicates individuals behavior regarding stereotyping and self-fulfilling prophecy.
Derek Vineyard, who is acting as Edward Norton, begins the film as a gentleman, even though in later stages he begins to advocates for issues that contradict with the morals in our society. Finally, in the movie, it is being unveiled that it is not only whites who are racists per se, but also the neo-Nazi racists who are also deeply entrenched with racists, and also individuals with a hatred perception. Through the theme, the film provides inspirations to the viewer, in a convincing manner, that hatred and racism destroy not only an individual moral but also his acquaintances.
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When the film begins, it is clearly displayed that it is time to shift away from the past and that everyone should wake up and fight towards the reality on the ground. Racism is slowly drifting back and killing our society. The films theme illustrates the story of two brothers, Danny, and Derek from Venice Beach. Their dad, who works as a firefighter is murdered by a black drug dealer while on duty in Southcentral, and as a result of the death, Derek becomes bitter towards the black community and joins the neo-Nazi movement. In a separate event, Derek encounters two black thugs trying to break into a truck that he inherited from his late dad, and due to anger and neo-colonialism, he kills the two gangsters as revenge. The law enforcement agency gets hold of Derek and sentences him to three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.
The film then indicates how Danny was influenced through his older brother’s action and in specific when he blows out smoke in a black school and only saving his white colleague. It is also being illustrated, how Derek’s life is influenced by through the jail sentence when Derek is involved with violent rape from the white inmates. The events are more rather disturbing, and Derek is now trying to prevent his own Brother Danny from undergoing the same experience that he encountered. When Derek is finally freed out, begins changing his old way. He begins by waving goodbye to his old crew that his younger brother Danny has become part. Even though Derek is a changed man, and he explains to his sibling why he need to cut ties with his group by explaining the misdeeds he underwent while on a jail term.
The same day when Derek is released, Danny’s history teacher reports Danny to the principal due to his contribution towards Mein Kampf, a story praising Adolf Hitler. Dr. Sweeney the high school principal bans Danny from attending the history classes, but instead, Danny is forced to participate in the history class taught by his school principal. They decide to give a new class a new name, and later on, they call the principals history class “American History X.”
During the first lesson, the school principal instructs Danny to write an event behind the story leading into Derek’s incarceration, his old brother. Danny agrees after he is threatened with expulsion. Come the next morning the paper is complete.
Derek agrees to meet with his parole officer. However, when Danny was in school, he decided to visit the urinal where he is confronted by a black guy whom he had a confrontation with the previous day. The black man pulls a firearm, shoots at Danny’s chest, and instantly kills him. Moments later, the brother Derek arrives, runs into the bathroom while crying at his brother's death. The film concludes when Derek recounts part of his story, whereby he also uses former U.S President Abraham Lincoln maiden address “we are not enemies but friends.”
American History X is a remarkable film because the audience can watch how the two main characters get transformed as responsible people in the society. Throughout the movie, it is clearly outlined that racism exists in the contemporary American society, and therefore we should try as much as possible to hold back our society through racist remarks. We should always consider each other as brothers and sisters regardless of the color of the skin, because, the air we breathe or the color of our blood is the same.
