American History X

One of my favorite actors is Edward Norton. I finally watched the 1998 film, American History X earlier this month. A good, scary, tragic, powerful and provocative film that tells the story of two brothers, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) and Daniel "Danny" Vinyard (Edward Furlong) of Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California. Both are extremely bright and charismatic students, and Derek is drawn into the neo-Nazi movement after their father, a firefighter, is murdered by a black drug dealer while trying to put out a fire in a South Central neighborhood. Derek kills two black gang members trying to steal his truck, and is sentenced to three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter. The story shows how Danny is influenced by his older brother's actions and ideology and how Derek, now radically changed by his experience in confinement, tries to prevent his brother from going down the same path as he did.

I think the film portrays a lesson on the realistic aspect of the racial lines and division that is always simmering in American society. And, the ending signifies that there is a tragic end to racist views that cross generation lines. The film is a call to all of us to re-examine the 'hatred' that implode ourselves when faced with the difference of one's race and all the connotations that race embodies. One scene in the dining room where the family was having Sunday lunch became a heated debate that turned into an argument and even fighting. Heavily charged with hatred, Derek doesn't realize the negative impact he has on his family and the amount of 'hatred' he had internalized from his deceased father. It was not until Derek was imprisoned and was confronted with the reality of whites selling drugs to Mexicans instead of the reverse thus he saw an unsettling camraderie among the white and brown prisoners. Ultimately Derek was saved by the so-called 'enemy race' African American male in the laundry room who sets things straight for him.

The whole prison storyline reminds me of The Autobiography of Malcolm X where for most of Malcolm X's life he was misguided and lost, and it wasn't until he was imprisoned for theft and robbery that he learned how to read in prison and turned his life around.

American History X is hard to watch at times because of its take on hatred. It is in your face and troubling to see good, bright young men failing to live up to their potential and fall into the wrong path of hate. I highly recommend this film as an accompaniment to a lesson on American History particularly on a discussion or debate on racial equality in the U.S.

Below is a trailer for the film: