American History X
Today being the day that MLK Jr.'s birthday is observed, it got me thinking about one of my top movie American History X and my experiences with racism. There are so many memorable scenes and marvelous performances. Edward Norton's face as he's getting arrested is the chilling combination of pride and evil yet his character's evolution is fascinating to watch. Beverly D'Angelo pushed my image of her being Mama Griswald out of my mind.
The scene that really connected with me is when Edward's character (Derek) becomes aware of his father's latent racism. I grew up watching Boy Meets World so it was hard to see Cory’s dad act like a bigot and successfully teach his son to be the same way. Derek's reaction is interesting to watch because he doesn't know how to take it because it's coming from the person that he loves the most. We want him to reject his father’s views because we've already seen how to it will eventually destroy him. I also related to him because his father is exactly like mine.
Unless you're straight and Asian or white, he fucking hates you. His bigotry and rage is really strong towards African Americans and I never knew his pathetic excuse. This Thanksgiving he said that a black guy took his bus pass during his first month here in the US. Since then, he's made no effort to hide his hatred. My sister's friend Aleem came to our door to ask for directions to only have my mother slam the door in his face and to hear both my parents called him the N-word in English and Khmer. When Barack Obama was elected, I could see his head exploding. Knowing that my sisters and I voted for Obama kills him too.
Obviously, my older sisters and I rejected both our parents’ ignorant and malicious views instead being like Derek and adopting them as our own. We had this innate feeling that it was wrong. We all had friends of different backgrounds and races and to us they were/are people not labels. That's being said, we've all had experiences with racism.
When I was ten and my older sister was arrested for stealing a pair of baby gloves that cost $1.50. The security guy who caught her ignored a white woman who was blatantly stealing hundreds of dollars worth of brand name clothing in front of her children. Then, as my sister was being escorted by the arresting police officer (he was white) my cousin went up to her. She asked her if they were really arresting her for stealing something that and I quote, "Cost fucking $1. 50?!" She was clearly talking to my sister and not the police officer but he said to my cousin, "Why don't you mind your own business you Asian bitch?!"
That set her and my other cousin/her little sister off and they just started calling him every name and swear known to man as they walked away. He arrested them but charges were not filed because they were minors, they didn’t really do anything wrong and he knew what he did.
I've been called racist slurs and had things thrown at me. Both times I did nothing to provoke such attacks. It felt absolutely demeaning and for some reason..humiliating. Even before these experiences I didn’t use hate speech but after..I knew that I never would. I don’t want anyone to feel the way I did because it burns a piece of your soul and heart. I can’t talk about it without crying because it really does feel like reopening an old wound.
In his essay, Edward Furlong’s character (Danny) writes, “Hate is baggage.” it is. The dangerous combination of hate, ignorance and rage ruins Derek’s life and tears apart his family. Unfortunately, it takes a very traumatic sexual assault to make Derek to reexamine his beliefs and views. It’s amazing to watch his evolution throughout the film because he does come very far.
Today, I believe that we have too. A biracial dark-skinned man named Barack Hussein Obama became President of the United States, a country with a very tumultuous history with race. I’m not naïve; I know that there will always be a group of ignorant hateful people but their size and power decreases with each generation. We still have a very long way to go but I’m confident that we’ll get there.
Chillin'
Thanks for reading, Acerbus, it is very loong entry and I didn't expect anyone to but I still wanted to put it out there. I appreciate that you took the time to also reply :)
It is amazing to see the ridiculousness of racism (and sexism) dwindling. It has taken a long time to get to this point and hopefully soon we can get to where we need to be. Realizing no matter what sex we are, color we are or beliefs we have we are all equal.
That was very well written and I'm glad you posted it. It's a shame that some people will hate another person just by the color of their skin. I don't see how they can live carry around hate like that. Just live and accept one another for who they are. Anyway thanks for posting your story and American History X is a powerful film which I have seen several times and it was thought provoking and timely.
Thanks Jekupa, I absolutely agree. I know we're getting there partly because of changing attitudes and well, I'll be frank the racists in the generations before ours are becoming extinct.
Thanks Logan, I see how my father holds onto his hatred and how he can't see that he weighs him down. I don't think he'd know to function if he'd let go because he's been so angry for most of his life. I honestly don't see him changing his ways. Like anyone who has a "at home" bigot, you tolerate that part of them and embrace the side of them that is human.
"Like anyone who has a "at home" bigot, you tolerate that part of them and embrace the side of them that is human."
I don't know if that's yours or it's borrowed, but that is one amazing and powerful line.
It's mine. I know most people who have at least one family member that is a bigot usually it's an aunt, uncle, or a grandparent. They're still loved because there is a part of them that is kind and caring.
Well said. It is a powerful film and I enjoyed reading your take on it.