American History X Essays - English-language Films,

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.