American History X, released in the year of 1998, is a story about a boy named Danny who is eager to follow in his older brother Derek’s footsteps – his brother being the leader of a nazi-following, Hitler-worshiping army. Directed by Tony Kaye, and written by David McKenna, American History X encourages its viewers to challenge their beliefs, as it anticipates much action to be taken in regards to its very plot line and hot topic.
This film came out just short of two decades ago, and some of you readers, were most likely not even born yet, but regardless, it is one of the most significant productions released in its time. Having always been one of the greatest issues our society and world has dealt with, racism plays a great role in American History X, revealing how prominent it truly is in the minds of many individuals; for centuries it has been paving the way for a world filled with hatred, disgust and overall discrimination toward every race apart from white.
Edward Norton plays the character Derek Vinyard, former neo-nazi who eventually attempts to prevent his younger brother Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) from pursuing the same lifestyle and making the same mistakes he once did while leading an active white supremacist gang — a life encompassed by pure violence and dissatisfaction.
Throughout the film, there is a great amount of abuse, murder and hatred specifically toward the black race, as those belonging to the gang commit many cruel and unmerciful acts for pure entertainment. As a result, many innocent lives are harmed and some even murdered. Derek leads his gang for a solid two years, but due to his disrespectful actions, he is eventually encountered by two personally victimized men attempting to rob him. As a result of this, Derek shoots down and brutally murders both of them, leaving no chance for survival, and ultimately getting himself thrown into prison.
While imprisoned, Derek has a chat with his former high school principal Bob Sweeney and is left pondering his actions and poor lifestyle when asked what — if anything — had he accomplished within his lifetime. Sweeney inquires:
“Has anything you’ve done made your life better?”
After this encounter with Sweeney, Derek discovers within himself a few things about life and what it looks like to live with equality, treating every individual with honor, respect and love. Unfortunately, it takes a great deal of difficulty and physical pain to get there mentally, but nevertheless, Derek is eventually able to conclude that his past self and life and choices made were completely unjustifiable; the mindset he once had was paving the way for destruction and did nothing to make his life better in any way, as Sweeney had suggested.
This film is full 0f passion, and it does well to show the world the struggle that remains within society to treat everyone equal; to give equal rights, respect and privileges. Though it has decreased drastically over the years, there remains the issue of racism, and oftentimes it is taken to a dangerous level, risking the lives of innocent human beings.
There is no excuse for this; nothing can make it acceptable for any race to discriminate or purely hate another individual because of what color their skin is. Nothing good comes from hating another; nothing can be accomplished, other than pushing aside unity and creating a space for more hate, more murder, more discontentment within life. Hatred creates a world of pain and ruins lives — American History X revealed this reality.
When love is spread among every single race, there is a greatness and beauty to be found in living; opportunities for creativity and power to change the world and make it a better place arise when everyone comes together and treats one another with respect. This needs to be the one thing that individuals strive for, and when it happens — when love obligates the myth that one skin color is greater than another — only then will the world be as it was created to be.
American History X repeats the past; it gives viewers a glimpse into what it might have been like decades ago when ethnic minorities were treated like nothing. We are living in a country where the white skin color is given superiority; white supremacy is a real and dangerous issue. There remain people and gangs within this country who are stuck in the past — people who believe that equality is only for white people and whom, as a result, hurt and oftentimes kill others.
There is so much bad and hurt in our world, and it is a frivolous thing to tell another human being that they are nothing — that they are less than worthy of being treated with love or respect in the least. There is also a significant amount of good in our world, but we need to make that prominent by living our lives in a way that truly reflects what we believe.
Watch this film for a real-life lesson on what it means to fully live and to thrive with equality. Sometimes we simply need to step back and realize that there are still issues of race in our own communities, but we can do something about it; we can choose to live our lives differently and do something that matters — something that can enhance and make every individual’s life better, regardless of skin color.
Additionally, this film asks the question of what really have we accomplished that has helped enhance our lives? Is there something more out there that needs to be done in order for us to be proud of how our lives turned out?
American History X is a thought-provoking film that will allow viewers to gain new perspective and a stronger realization that endless, unconditional love needs to be displayed in our world even today. Racism is not something to be proud of; hate is not something to praise or hold in high esteem. Be aware of this, and keep loving everyone around you, because there is enough bad in the world as it is.
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