Writing assignment on the movie American History X - Essay Example

This is a two page MLA citation style essay with three works cited. The theme of this essay is the movie d American History X and howit relates to the following quotations: 1. “It is a generation which defines itself more by its differences than its similarities” (Levine 1993 p 336).2. If you want to be able to walk to be able to walk the mall, youve got to have your boys behind you (Mydans 1990).The cinematic performance titled : American History X relates to both of these quotes in various contexts.

It relates to the quote from the book titled: Higher Learning in America 1980- 2000 which states: “It is a generation which defines itself more by its differences than its similarities” (Levine 1993 p 336). In the movie titled : American History X, a younger brother named Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) conveys to his older brother Derek (Edward Norton) that there is a gang of three black adolescents trying to break into his automobile. Derek responds to this violence by grabbing a firearm and shooting two of the adolescents.

One of the adolescents escapes while Derek smashes the cranium of one of the adolescents against the pavement. This is a movie about racism. It is also about the effects of racism on the psyches of Danny and Derek Vinyard. Derek gets convicted for assaulting the black adolescents and is sent to prison for three years. This movie is a perspective of the multiplying effect of racial animosity and how it can cause a person to overreact. While incarcerated, Derek adopts a nationalistic white supremacist posture.

The element which adds interest to this cinematic work is that Derek is intelligent and articulate. Derek believes that Americans should be given opportunities to work. Derek articulates this point to such a degree that he motivates the adolescents in the neighborhood to attack and rampage through a Korean grocery establishment. Derek justifies this by stating that the Korean establishment should have hired at least one or two Americans rather than hire forty Mexican migrant workers. The quote from the book titled: Higher Learning in America 1980- 2000 which states: “It is a generation which defines itself more by its differences than its similarities” (Levine, 1993 p 336) applies again when Derek in confronted in the correctional facility and is rescued from white supremacists who sexually assault him.

Derek is rescued by a black man who later becomes his friend and coworker in the correctional facility laundry. This black man who ironically saves Derek from members of his own race who sexual assault him is named Lamont (Guy Torry). In this part of the movie titled : American History X, it is demonstrated that there are two sides to every story. The quote from the book titled: Higher Learning in America 1980- 2000 by Arthur Levine which states: “It is a generation more defined by its differences than its similarities” (Levine 1993 p 336) becomes more and more manifest, as the person who becomes Dereks friend while he is incarcerated is a member of the race which had a causal attribution to Dereks incarceration.

The friend who rescues Derek (Edward Norton) is Lamont (Guy Torry).In the middle of the movie, there is a scene where a group of black adolescents confront a white adolescent in the bathroom. The black adolescents justify this act because the white adolescent alerted the class instructor that the black adolescents were cheating on an exam in class. This is where the quotation from the article titled: “Not Just the Inner City, Well to do Gangs” (Mydans 1990) comes into application. The black adolescents are able to confront their fellow student, who is a white adolescent due to their collective members.

This is where the quote from the leader of a gang who was expressing a statement of his unity with the gang states: If you want to be able to walk the mall, youve got to have your boys with you (Mydans 1990). In the end of the movie, Danny (Edward Furlong) is confronted and shot a number of times by a black adolescent with whom he previously had an altercation. This where once again the statement : If you want to be able to walk the mall, youve got to have your boys with you (Mydans, 1990) is applicable.

Danny (Edward Furlong) is killed as a result of this altercation.ConclusionAlthough this movie is based on racism and its effects, it may be observed that the stereotypes of racism and racist behavior is not adhered to. For example, Derek is atypical with regards to the white supremacist stereotypes which society has instilled in our collective psyche. He is well spoken and intelligent. This movie also demonstrates that not all black men are violent racists, as displayed by the interpretation of Lamont (Guy Torry).

This movie also demonstrates that racism is much easier to practice in greater numbers. This is where the statement from the gang leader is applicable which states: If you want to be able to walk the mall, youve got to have your boys with you (Mydans, 1990).Works CitedLevine, A. (1993) Higher Learning in America 1980- 2000 JHU Press , 1993McKenna, D. (1998) American History X, Directed by Tony Kaye, New Line CinemaMydam, S. (1990) “Not Just the Inner City: Well to do Gangs” April 10, 1990 New York Times, A10