American History X
What is America to you at this current time? Is it home, a war zone, a nation struggling against a virus, or is it the same place you read about in your text books 60 years ago when the nation was divided publicly? This is all of the above, just on a new playing field with a slightly new set of rules to seem more “fair”. American History X dives right into the intensity we are currently living in through the life of Neo-Nazi, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton). While this film is more on the artsy side, it’s impact on viewers remain just as strong as the day it was released.
The Swastika over the heart symbolically displays Derek’s ways and thoughts for the world around him.
We’ve been in quarantine for close to 100 days now and we cope with the COVID-19 virus with social distancing. But the other virus that we have no answer for yet is racism, and Black America has been facing it for over 400 years now. I must break the continuity of this review to wish those who lost someone to this virus a peaceful journey from the grief they are enduring currently. But most of all, George Floyd, Rest In Peace brother and I am wishing your family well. The day I stumbled across that terrible video of the ignorant cop, who is also named Derek (Chauvin), pressing his knee into the neck of George Floyd, I couldn’t stomach the sight. Much like the scene in American History X where Derek Curb stomps Lawrence’s head through the pavement. And for what reason? As he threatens him to place his mouth on the concrete at gun point, he uses racial insults as he executes him. The only difference between the two murders is that one was a fictional adaptation inspired by the life of former white supremacist, Frank Meeink, who now fights against the racist skinhead movement.
Rest In Peace George Floyd.
Derek Vinyard was a victim of trickle down racism which he inherited from his father who passed away. His way of coping with his fathers passing was carrying on his ideologies while his younger brother, Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong), followed in his footsteps. The murdering of two young black males lands Derek in prison where he realizes he no longer has privilege and is now the minority among the Blacks and Latinos that he harassed for fun. During his three years in jail, he learns the hard way of what his hatred has created and reforms against it. But the true damage is to the surroundings that the racist person holds. When you carry ideologies that cripples ones freedoms, abilities to make relationships, and their reputation for being associated with you, you must realize the damage can not be fixed until you fix your mindset.
Danny Vinyard is a product of Derek Vinyard’s ways and it is up to Derek to help his brother out of the hole he has dug for him. Most of this movie is shot in black and white identifying the past from the present, also to show the separation between race symbolically. You’ll also notice the racial slurs in music that Neo-Nazi’s prefer to sing, and how darker colored candies are disregarded. What stands out the most to me is the haunting smile Edward Norton delivers while in charActer as Derek after murdering those two black males. As if he had just saved the world and inspired his brother, when really he had just committed a horrid horrific crime to display authority over another race.
Right to left : Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) and Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton)
What also stands out in this movie is the looting and rioting the Neo-Nazi’s perform to protest against immigrants attempting to be working citizens. They destroyed goods and stole from people and recorded it and were never threatened. Riots are expressions of rage through irrational acts by people who feel neglected by a system. But the system never neglected these “law abiding citizens”, they created their own system to white wash their communities...but at what cost?
American history X scores an 8.5/10 and deserves to be seen. This thought provoking film carries some strong acting and memorable yet unsettling cinematography. A dark story from start to finish, we can all learn something about the power of hate and how it can bleed into unexpected areas of life.
Notice the “Right Turn Only” sign in the frame. Derek Vinyard represents Right-Wing politics which represents notions such as authority, hierarchy, order, duty, tradition, reaction and nationalism mixed into his Neo-Nazi mindset.
Derek Vinyard is an example of how hatred feeds on people and how it spreads. Hatred is a sickness nonetheless, highly contagious, and deadly in its effects. Don’t look for it in America, look for it in the mirror. Look for it before the world burns down all together.
