American History X Essay, Research Paper

American History X

American History X is a very controversial movie. It is a movie about a

Venice Beach skin head gang called the D.O.C. The gang is run by the master mind of

Cameron Alexander who likes to poison children?s minds with racism and other negative

things like stealing and vandalizing.

The story is based around the family of Derek Vineyard who Cameron

decides would be the spokesperson for the group. It shows how everybody in his family is

effected by his negativity especially his younger brother Danny. Danny sees Derek as a

hero and wants to become someone like him. Derek learned alot of his hate from his

father. When he passed away Derek became a more hateful person. His girlfriend Stacy

believed in everything he said and would stand by him no matter what.

Doris the mother was torn apart for the fact that Derek couldn?t be happy

for her when she tried to start a new life again with a Jewish man after her husband died.

After Derek commits the murders and goes to prison he comes to realize

that everything he ever believed in life was a bunch of nonsense. Mr. Sweeny had a lot to

do with his whole mind change. I feel that he is a very significant character in this movie

because it is good to know that there are people who are willing to look past the

ignorance and help.

In the three years that Derek was in prison things were getting more hectic

for Danny. He started running into the same problems as Derek.

Devina the oldest sister was very concerned for Danny because she knew

the kind of people that he was running around with. I think that she felt some kind of

sisterly instinct that something was going to happen to him. She was right because Danny

was shot to death. I can relate a lot to this character because my brother went through the

same situation with a gang and he is in prison right now for dealing drugs know exactly

how she is feeling. It is hard to grow up around that kind of thing.

I think this is a great movie for people to watch and see what really goes

on with families like this. I feel that it can teach a lot of children that hate is not the

answer. I think that they should show this movie in the first year of high school so these

students don?t do stupid things to try to fit in at a new school. I don?t think this movie

should have been as censored as it was. Everyone can learn something from this movie.