Jillian Turner Blog 9: What is America's History?

A history junkie myself, I have learned over the years that history is one of the most subjective things we learn abut in school. My curriculum of the Civil War is much different, being from Massachusetts, than that of  a person from Alabama for example. If that is so, what else has fallen victim to interpretation? What is our history?

American History X, explores the tension between African Americans and caucasians in Los Angeles. In the film, brothers Danny and Derek Vinyard struggle after the death of their father. The brothers were highly influenced by Cameron Alexander, a local white supremacist who was a master manipulator and made Derek, the older brother, his protege. Tensions between racial groups grew to an all time high after Derek brutally murdered two African Americans who tried to steal from his house. His resulting incarceration greatly affected the life of his younger brother, Danny, as he then was Cam's focus. The most interesting part of the film, however, was Derek's integration back into civilian life after he was released from prison.

While in prison, Derek first aligned himself with a white supremacist group as a means of companionship and protection. After he spent time in the laundry room with an African American who eventually became his friend, Derek gained a new perspective about race. When the supremacist group found out, however, they gang raped Derek. This experience further changed his perspective. He, for once, was the minority.

After watching this film, I watched part of a documentary on Netflix on the Arian Brotherhood. The brotherhood is an advanced gang organization strictly run through prisons across the country. The basis of their arguments revolve around white supremacy. I wondered when I watched this film if the prison gang depicted in American History X was related to or modeled after the Arian Brotherhood. Both groups seemed to antagonize others simply on the basis of race but what was most terrifying to me was the fact that the Arian Brotherhood is still real today.

While finishing the film today, I couldn't help but think about the scene where Sweeny visits Derek in prison. He asks him: are you asking yourself the right questions? I found this scene very interesting. It is often commendable to ask oneself questions; am I doing the right thing? am I helping people? am I giving back? Very seldom, however do we know what the right question is. This, like history, is highly subjective.

American History X gives another perspective to racism. Unlike some of the other texts we have observed, this film is shown from the point of the supremacist, the oppressor. Somehow still, Spivak's subaltern speaks. In the jail, Derek is the minority. His friend Lamont whom he works with in the laundry room gives Derek yet another insight. He proves to Derek that African Americans are people too. They aren't of lower intellect or class. Through Lamont, the subaltern is speaking. Lamont changes Derek's perspective.

What I found most frightening about the film, was how modern it was. I personally feel like I have lived in a racial bubble, a place in which I haven't been oppressed or abused for being African American. I know however that racism is still out there, even if it is hidden.

When writing this blog, I stumbled upon this CNN article about a high school in Georgia that has finally integrated their prom. The divisions between black and white are present in our modern culture, even if they are subdued or hidden. Just because we have an African American president doesn't mean that the country is completely progressive nor does it mean that African Americans are whole-heartedly treated in society. Divisions still continue. So, as a country, are we asking ourselves the right questions?

http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/05/big-plans-for-georgia-students-first-racially-integrated-prom/?hpt=us_t4