American History X

No Power in Racism 

American History X was made in 1998 and depicts the life of two brothers growing up in Venice Beach, California.  Edward Norton plays the main role of the older of the two brothers, and is a leader in a neo-Nazi racist group.  Norton was incarcerated at the beginning of the movie for voluntary man-slaughterer.  Norton gunned down two African American’s and graphically “curb stomped” another.  This is an extremely important scene in the movie because it portrays the level of hate breed inside him through his racist leader in the group.  When he gets out of prison, he finds out that his brother has followed in his footsteps.  Norton’s time in prison eventually lead to him having a change of opinion and opened his eyes.  Unfortunately, his brother was too deep and ended up being killed in the bathroom of his school.

            This movie is sociologically impactful because of the power of groups and socialization especially adding the family dynamic to it.  The death of Norton’s brother happened, in part, because of his involvement with the neo-Nazi group.  The racist life-style immersed his brother, and held on tight.  In the same regard, we can see a huge separation between the whites and African Americans through out the movie.  One of the major examples of this was portrayed through a basketball game between the two races.  Symbolically this is showing the separation between them through means of sport interaction.  Both teams did not show any sort of interest in the other.  This is a reoccurring role through out the movie.  However, the racial issues are truly portrayed through the role of extremist that is played.  This is obviously an extreme case in which people will pass as a fictitious role within society.  Even though there are gut wrenching racist acts within the movie, it does not hold much validity among many people today.  Most Racism today is not as radical as this movie plays out, and it is hard to relate and truly address the problem.  Race in America is masked by anecdotal humor and is minimized through “colorblindness”. 

            In conclusion the movie is a great portrait of an extremist situation through the lens of very few.  Due to the lack of reality for average people, it is extremely hard to learn a lesson through the film, or take away much.  Although it does build a grave lesson that is necessary through violence, the overall message loses strength through its connectivity to the masses.