american history x

[Chriswood8]

ok i know what your thinking that this question should be in the tv and film topic but in my mind i thought this would be the best place for whats on my mind, first of all i've watched this film a couple of times and love it but i need some one to explain to me about the concept of this film, firstly why is derek in the film start off by hating black people and have such strong beliefs against other racis, in what some people would finds facts (the truth) about racis for example the part in the film where his is being interviewd on tv and the part where he rounds up all the skin heads and gives his speech the attacks the store. what i'm trying to say is how can he go from that to who he was in the end, from going on fact to believing it's wrong and in his words bull s**t, how can he go from one extreme to the other based on true facts from when he was a racist? does this film really contradict it's self?! and why does he realises his beliefs and the way he is 'wrong'? i think i need a philosopher or a psychiatrist to help me out on this one. (sorry if i don't make any sence) thanks chris

[ann_h]

Because the "facts" are not facts, they are interpretations and opinions.

He becomes mature and experienced enough to realise this once he is removed from his "mates" through his prison sentence. Bearing in mind that his fellow convicts were probably majority black (that's another issue) and he had to rely on and genuinely befriend his black co-worker while inside.

He decides the interpretation of facts that he previously believed to be false and changes his mind.

[Chriswood8]

yeah but what i'm trying to say is if you recall when he's talking to him skinheads, the speech about the goverment spending over 4 billion doller on services for illigal imagrants who weren't suppose to be there in the first place, i'm talking about those fact, surly they are facts he can't just make that up he got that from some sourse so what i'm saying how comes he totally ignors those facts then change?

[ann_h]

If the fact is true, then perhaps he decided that the governments expenses don't justify smashing someone's face in, especially when you consider that a) the average black man in the USA is not an illegal immigrant but a decendant of someone Derek's ancestors kidnapped, and b) Derek's ancestors immigrated by force too. 

Secondly, "he must have got the fact from somewhere" You would be surprised how many people believe what they are told without checking it for themselves, especially when it suits them to do so. I don't know how much the US spends on dealing with immigration, but I'd want to know from an official source before I based a lifestyle on it.

Other than that, I'd have to watch the film again, I guess.

[Gevs1966]

It is also highlighted that the character Cam in the film had manipulated Derek for his own gains when he was young and impressionable. He was trying to do the same thing to Derek's younger brother Danny before Derek intervened. Basically he was made to believe these "facts" which (like any form of statistic) can be manipulated themselves to show what you do want or don't want them to show.

 

His opinions on these "inferior" people changed due to the relationships forged with his prison mate and former teacher who helped him out when he really needed it and made him realise how ridiculous everything he had stood for was. He probably came to the conclusion that spending that amount of money on immigrants might not be such a bad thing after all.

 

Hope that makes sense.

[Chriswood8]

ok thanks ann_h and gevs 1966 i think i've got my head round it now, but i must add if you know your history about the slave trade you will find out that africans kidnapped africans, tribes would kidnap members of other tribes for money so dereks ancestors prob did not kidnap african people.  i suppose it all boiles down to the point where Dr sweeney says to derek '' has anything you done made your life better?' in which he replys 'no'. thanks again

[ann_h]

Yes, Chris, you're absolutely right about the slave trade, I was just trying to make a point in a cak-handed way.

[Chriswood8]

fair enought ann_h, i'm white and i have a black girlfirend so don't think i'm racist or anything lol.