american history x danny essay

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American history x (movie) ending explained.

This post includes a brief plot summary and an explanation about the ending of “American History X” (1998). Beware of spoilers.

Directed by Tony Kaye, the 1998 drama stars Edward Norton as Derek Vinyard and Edward Furlong as Danny Vinyard.

The film “American History X” is about two brothers, Derek and Dan, who get involved in a neo-Nazi group in Los Angeles. About three years ago, Derek was sentenced to prison for the brutal murder of two black men who were trying to steal his car.

What Happens in “American History X”? (Plot Explained)

While incarcerated, Derek befriends a black inmate named Lamont, who works with him in the laundry room and helps him change his views on race and hate. As Derek navigates through prison life, he meets violence and hostility from both black and white inmates.

Meanwhile, Danny follows Derek’s footsteps and joins the same neo-Nazi group, led by Cameron, a charismatic and manipulative leader. He often hangs out with Seth, a violent and racist skinhead. Derek’s former teacher, Dr. Sweeney, notices Danny going down the same path as his brother. To change Danny’s ways, Sweeney orders him to write an essay about Derek’s life and how it affected him.

When Derek is released from prison, he tries to reconnect with his family and protect Danny from the neo-Nazi group. Derek even takes a step further, he confronts Cameron and renounces the group’s ideology and violence.

Then, Derek reveals to Danny what really happened in prison and how it changed his outlook on life. After hearing his brother’s story, Danny decides to change his ways and abandon the neo-Nazi group.

The Ending of “American History X” Explained

The ending of “American History X” shows a black student shooting Danny at his school, someone with whom the latter had a previous confrontation. Derek arrives at the scene and holds Danny’s lifeless body in his arms. The film ends with a voice-over of Danny reading his essay, in which he quotes Abraham Lincoln: “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.”

Who shot Danny in American History X?

The young man who shot Danny Vinyard is the black student whom Danny previously antagonized at school by blowing smoke in his face. There are other theories suggesting that the guy is connected to the man that Derek previously killed (the curb victim). He is either the little brother or at least affiliated with the same gang.

What is the significance of the shower scene?

The shower scene at the end of American History X is very significant. It shows that Derek, the former neo-Nazi leader, has changed his views and regrets his past actions. He is no longer proud of his swastika tattoo and what it represents. After getting out of prison, Derek also realizes that his hatred has cost him his family and his freedom.

What is the message of “American History X”?

The film “American History X” tries to convey the message that hate is a dangerous cycle. It leads to violence and unpredictable consequences. Hate and prejudice are harmful not only to the victims but also to the perpetrators. Nonetheless, it’s possible to prevent it through education and compassion.

As the story unravels, Derek goes through a major character transformation. He went from a hateful extremist to a “reformed” human being. However, redemption doesn’t come easily, and Derek still had to face the consequences of his past decisions. Unfortunately for the protagonist, it came at the cost of his little brother’s life, who had to meet a tragic end.

Sadly, the film doesn’t have a happy ending, but it has a rather realistic one. The ending of “American History X” suggests that racism is a destructive ideology and that violence only breeds more violence. Although Derek tries his best to protect Danny, past actions are irreversible and have their own repercussions in the present.

“American History X” Discussion

The film “American History X” explores the themes of racism, hate, and redemption. It uses various symbols to convey its message: black and white, the swastika tattoo, the curb and the American flag.

The black and while filter serves to illustrate Derek Vinyard’s violent past and show that this side of him is history. In addition, this particular technique also emphasizes the unwavering ideologies that neo-Nazis live by.

Then there is the swastika tattoo. In the beginning, Derek wore the neo-Nazi symbol with great pride and joy. But after seeing the hypocrisy of the movement and weighing what he lost in the process, the swastika has become a symbol of shame.

The curb stomping scene holds a special significance in “American History X” because it shows the extreme violence and hatred that used to govern Derek’s life. In this particular scene, the victim was no longer a person in Derek’s eyes, he was just a target for his rage.

Last but not least, the American flag is a symbol of the characters’ misguided patriotism. Their prejudice and hateful beliefs are a distorted version of the American dream. Also, the object foreshadows the hate and violence brought upon by extreme ideologies.

“American History X” is an essay about racism and mostly human nature. It shows how easy it is to blame one’s problems on others rather than actually reflect on the real issues. In addition, the story highlights the need to educate oneself on matters before formulating an opinion on them.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, “American History X” is a masterpiece of cinema that explores the complex and disturbing realities of racism, violence, and redemption. The film has a timeless story that shows how people can change and overcome their prejudices. In addition, it showcases the consequences of their actions and how they can haunt them and affect those they love.

One of the aspects that makes “American History X” a provocative and challenging piece of art is that it does not shy away from showing the brutal and graphic scenes of violence and discrimination that the characters experience. The film raises important questions about the roots and effects of racism, the role of family and education, and the possibility of forgiveness and redemption.

Edward Norton’s performance as Derek Vinyard is one of the best of his entire career. The actor delivers a powerful portrayal of a complex and conflicted character. Norton made Derek’s transformation from a ruthless neo-Nazi gang leader to a reformed man believable.

Not only that, but Edward Norton makes the audience root for his character when Derek tries to save his brother from making the same mistakes. There is intensity and vulnerability in his character, and Norton’s physical and emotional transformation was definitely impressive.

Overall, “American History X” is a very noteworthy watch. It’s a work that deserves discussion, as it offers a compelling and realistic depiction of one of the most serious and relevant issues in our society. The storytelling, editing, music and acting create a memorable cinematic experience that will haunt the audience long after watching it.

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The 10 Saddest Things About Danny From American History X

Released in 1998, "American History X" is a bold film that tackles racism in a truly uncomfortable, yet powerful way. 

Edward Norton portrays Derek, a young white supremacist who goes to jail for a short stint after violently killing a Black man attempting to break into his truck. During his time in prison, Derek begins to question his belief system, wondering if the propaganda he's been fed has steered him down the wrong road. Once released, he is dismayed to find that his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong) has joined the same white supremacist gang, called the Disciples of Christ (D.O.C.). As Derek tries to dissuade his brother from the group, Danny's story increasingly looks like one that will have a tragic ending.

In the decades since, the film's stature has only grown. A big part of that is the powerful performances not only from Norton, but Furlong as well. Below are 10 of the saddest (and spoiler-heavy) things about Danny from " American History X ."

Danny was initially mortified by his brother's actions

"American History X" provides two narratives — one in the present and one in the past. In order to differentiate itself from past and present, scenes taking place in the past are all stylistically shot in black and white. While this makes it clear to the audiences where we are in the timeline, it also provides context for the characters, as Danny's brother Derek sees the world in black-and-white terms. For him, you're either an extremist on one side or the other.

This is apparent in Derek's character. After his father is shot and killed by a Black narcotics dealer he joins the white supremacist gang D.O.C. His time with them sees Derek violently act out against anyone he deems "different." After playing and winning a basketball game against a group of men from the Crips gang, they decide to retaliate by going to his home and attempting to break into his truck. Once Derek realizes what's happening, he shoots the men and  brutally stomps one of their heads on a curb.

Danny watches in horror at his brother's capacity for violence — especially when he sees how happy Derek is for his actions, as he shows no remorse. This scene, while already difficult to watch due to the subject matter, is especially upsetting to see from Danny's point of view. Danny has just lost his father and is now watching his older brother slip into darkness. And the worst part is that audiences see how Danny was so distraught by Derek's actions, only for him to follow in his footsteps of hatred a few short years later. Danny went from being mortified by Derek's actions to putting him on a pedestal.

Danny had no one to protect him

Following the murder of their father, "American History X" takes audiences to the past, where the Vinyard family are picking up the pieces of their lives. Doris Vinyard (Beverly D'Angelo) has brought her new boyfriend home for a meal with her children. They are discussing riots and police brutality during the time of the 1992 Rodney King LA riots. Derek takes the perspective that all Black people are criminals, while his mother's boyfriend suggests that circumstances have turned the riots into an expression of rage. In the end, Derek gets verbally abusive toward his family, all except for Danny, who joins in with his brother and laughs with his jokes because he wants his approval. That is, until he starts to violently attack his sister for disagreeing with his opinions. 

This scene shows that the racist roots have begun to take hold for both Derek and Danny. For Derek, we see it in his anger. For Danny, we see it in his need to make his brother proud — just as their father was proud of Derek for agreeing with his racist rants at the very same dinner table.

So, once Derek goes to prison for murder, Danny has no one to protect him and becomes an easy target for the D.O.C. gang. Derek's old mentor, Cameron Alexander ( Stacy Keach ) cuts contact with Derek as he's in prison, and sets his focus on grooming and mentoring Danny to take his place.

Sadly, Danny never stood a chance.

Danny became his father

Danny begins to realize that it wasn't his father's death that sent Derek off to join his neo-Nazi group — it was his father himself. Danny remembers a time when Derek discussed his new history teacher, Dr. Sweeney (Avery Brooks), at the dinner table. Initially, Derek looked up to him, but once their father learned that Dr. Sweeney was a Black man teaching Black literature, things took a turn at the dinner table.

The film shows him urging Derek to question Dr. Sweeney, sharing that these days, people are forced to hire under-qualified employees for a job in order to fit a racial quota. He suggests it's not fair that qualified "hard-working Americans" are now being overlooked for people who don't fit in his version of America. Derek quickly changes his stance to agree with his father, causing his dad to say that he's proud of him. As Danny reflects on the conversation, he begins to cry, realizing the same indoctrination has claimed him. They've both became versions of their dad.

The scene is a powerful moment, showcasing how their father's racism has clouded his judgement. Dr. Sweeney is likely the most qualified person for his job, yet their father insists that under-qualified people are given jobs over qualified ones; according to him, Dr. Sweeney is in the wrong.

Danny just wants Derek's approval

When Derek returns home from his time in prison, he and his brother reunite with such love and excitement. It's a sweet moment that is ruined once Derek takes in the appearance and attitude of his younger brother. Danny proudly shows Derek his D.O.C. tattoo in the hopes of getting his approval. However, much to his dismay, Derek looks at Danny with shame, resulting in Danny saying "I thought you'd be proud of me."

Danny did all of this for his brother, to make his brother proud that he was carrying on the D.O.C. fight in Derek's name while he couldn't. But after his time reflecting in prison, all Derek sees when he looks at Danny is a mirror image of himself from years prior. He sees the rage, he sees the entitlement, and he sees his own mistakes being reflected back at him.

Much to Derek's dismay, Danny has done everything he can to become Derek, while Derek has done everything he could to stop being who he was. It's a heartbreaking moment, as you can see the disappointment in both brothers' eyes, with Derek realizing that he's failed his brother, and subsequently ruined Danny's life.

Danny makes his own choices

When Derek returns home from prison, he spends the majority of his time trying to get Danny away from the D.O.C. gang. Derek attends an event being held by the D.O.C. where he confronts his old mentor and gang leader Cameron Alexander, asking why the gang left him to essentially rot in prison where he was abused. Derek then proceeds to violently attack him and tells the gang to stay away from Danny. The two brothers leave and have a talk where Derek shares with Danny his experience in prison, which included being abused and assaulted by a neo-Nazi gang and saved by a black inmate.

Much of Danny's actions in "American History X" are to make others happy, whether it was his brother or Cameron Alexander. This time, Derek gives Danny the choice, stating that he's not going to tell him what to do. Instead, he's just sharing his opinions with Danny because he loves him and thinks of Danny as his best friend.

From there, Danny makes his own choice to change his life. The brothers go home and share a sweet moment with their family before heading to their bedroom. Danny looks at the racist posters hanging on the wall before silently getting up to remove them. The two take everything down together without saying a word. It's a powerful moment in itself, but it also acts as the first time that Danny truly makes a choice on his own.

Danny stares at a blank wall

Once Danny and Derek have taken down all the racist posters and Nazi imagery in their bedroom, they are left to stare at an empty wall. Derek leaves the room to shower while Danny stays in the bedroom deep in thought about where this leaves him now.

It's a compelling moment, as it showcases that Danny is literally left with a clean slate. Up until now, his entire life has been influenced to think one way. While he still might hold some of the same stances and opinions, he's now made the choice to end the violence that's consumed him, his brother, and his father.

Much like Derek felt deep shame when seeing Danny for the first time as part of the D.O.C. gang, Danny is feeling the weight of his actions as he sits on his bed in an empty room. In this small moment, audiences see a glimmer of positivity, as it looks like Danny might reset his life and enjoy a real childhood. It gives hope that Danny will be able to change things around, especially since he's only shown hatred when being influenced to do so. 

Unfortunately, Danny never gets the chance to make things right, and that's what makes this scene so heartbreaking. 

Danny's paper had a hint of hope

At the beginning of the film, Dr. Sweeney gives Danny an assignment to write an essay about his brother Derek. He wants Danny to look at how Derek's ideology has affected their family and how Danny views the world. As Danny is working on his paper throughout the film, viewers see him coming to terms with the idea that his life has been impacted by the choices of his brother. He learns that, ultimately, his brother's decisions were affected by his father's own racist beliefs. 

His eyes have opened to the complex nature of racism, realizing that it stems from hatred. Danny includes in his paper the idea that at its core, "hate is baggage." While Danny hasn't become a completely different person, his paper hints at a brighter future, that he understands the weight and potential consequences of his choices in life.

Danny chooses to end his paper with a quote from Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address, insisting that people are not enemies. While "American History X" has a tragic and violent end, Danny's paper gives a glimmer of hope that if someone like Danny and his brother Derek can change, maybe it's not too late for others.

Danny's death

Just as things seem to turn around for Danny, audiences are given a gut-wrenching end for his character. As he's about to hand in his paper to Dr. Sweeney, he is murdered in the school bathroom. Once he looked his murderer in the eye, he didn't even seem confused as to why it was happening. 

Earlier in the film, Danny interacts with the same kid at school. He's a young Black teenager Danny meets in the bathroom as he and three friends are beating up another kid. While Danny doesn't say anything, his confidence stops the three teens from continuing their attack. Instead, they claim that they have to get to class. This same kid is the one who later shoots Danny dead in the bathroom — likely as a power play to show strength.

Once Derek arrives on the scene and finds his dead brother in the bathroom he immediately begins to cry as he holds Danny's lifeless body. Instead of reacting with anger, he simply asks "What did I do?", blaming himself for introducing Danny into a violent "us vs them" mentality.

It's a devastating end to a character who showed promise of a brighter future.

Danny's death represents how Dr. Sweeney is fighting a losing battle

"American History X" is a powerful, thought-provoking story that tackles difficult questions about people's relationship with race. While that's an uncomfortable conversation, it's the heart of the film, as both Derek and Danny must learn how their perceptions on race help shape the world. 

This is never more prevalent than with Derek. Throughout the film, audiences see that the only characters who ever truly help him on his journey are two Black men — his friend Lamont (Guy Torry) from prison, and his old high school teacher, Dr. Sweeney. It's thanks to Sweeney's guidance that Derek begins to have a change of heart. Similarly, it's Sweeney's private American History X class with Danny that gives the young teen another perspective on race and how his family has influenced him to go down a violent path.

However, Danny's death shows that Dr. Sweeney is fighting a losing battle. He continues to try and help his students, yet the cycle of violence swallows them up whole — on both sides. For a film that attempts to show redemption in its main characters Derek and Danny, the ending is a bleak tale, one that suggests violence would have found them no matter what path they ended up taking.

Danny's legacy

Perhaps the saddest thing about Danny, as it turns out, is that "American History X" fans don't have the full picture on what message his story, life and death were ultimately intended to convey.

"American History X" director Tony Kaye had a legendarily difficult time working on the film, going to war with New Line Cinema over the film's ending and ultimately having parts of the film (including the ending) re-written by Norton himself. Ultimately,  Kaye distanced himself from the project, refusing to watch the final cut for years. So, what was Kaye's intended ending? Over on  Reddit, theories abound  regarding Kaye's vision, which would have reportedly had Derek shaving his head after the death of Danny — implying that the cycle of violence and hate was beginning again.

According to a 2020 ScreenRant article, the ending of the released film conveyed much the same message, even if Kaye took umbrage with it.

"In Norton's version, Derek sees his ideologies bite back in the worst possible way when Danny is gunned down after he emulated his Neo-Nazi ways. As Derek mourns, Danny's voiceover reciting Lincoln's words can be heard," the article reads. "Though still depressing and with the same message about the cycle of violence, this new conclusion wasn't as hopeless as the original. This was one of the many things Kaye took issue with, which led to 'American History X”s controversies that weren't even related to its subject matter."

Either way, there's little doubt that Danny's death haunted his older brother, long after the movie's conclusion.

Cultural and Political Essence of the “American History X” Film Essay (Critical Writing)

American History X film, directed by Tony Kaye, is not just a good masterpiece but also an important film. It cultural aspects and political attitudes come out clearly as Tony Kale explores American history.

The story develops quite well. The story opens with Danny seated outside the principal’s office waiting to answer questions about a report he had written praising Hitler’s actions during his reign. Dr. Sweeney; the principal, rebukes Danny and tells him that from then he would be his history teacher. He gives Danny an assignment, which is about his jailed brother Derek. In the next scene, Danny rescues a fellow white boy from hands of three black kids who were punishing him for revealing that one of them had cheated.

The next scene echoes the superb way in which the story develops. It is a flashback where Derek transforms to a supremacist after the death of his father in the hands of black thugs. Cameron; a senior supremacist, influences Derek by pointing out that his father’s death was a sign of racism.

Finally, he kills two black men as they try to steal his truck; this act sends him to jail for three years. The good film’s character development comes out clearly here as the audience starts to learn how Derek influenced Danny into becoming a supremacist.

In jail, Derek encounters many problems including rape and when Dr. Sweeney come visiting, Derek makes it clear that he would love to leave the jail and move away from his family because he did not want to influence them into white supremacy. Unfortunately, he learns from Dr. Sweeny that Danny had become a supremacist after which they agree that Derek would help Danny once he is released.

Derek comes out from prison as a changed man only to realize that the supremacists groups he formed earlier had mushroomed. That night he accompanies Danny to a homecoming party organized for him by Cameron. However, he disagrees with his girlfriend Stacey, he ends up punching Cameron in the face, and after confrontation with Seth a former friend, they go home.

Once home, Danny concentrates on finishing his paper as Derek takes a shower after which they remove every paper about white supremacy propaganda from their house wall. The following day Derek takes Danny to school only to learn that Seth and Cameron were ran over the previous night.

After parting, Danny enters the school bathrooms only to be shot by one of the black kids he found beating a fellow white boy as the film started. Finally, Derek finds his dead brother in the washrooms. He laments sorrowfully having introduced Danny to white supremacy. The film ends with Danny’s voice narrating what he had written in that assignment about Derek. He emphasizes that hate is a luggage.

The story develops well in an explicate manner. Through flashback, we learn the genesis of Danny’s involvement in white supremacy. Character development is perfect as we learn slowly the nature of the two important characters, Derek and Danny, bit by bit. This film depicts the culture that one is likely to encounter in American streets.

Murder, poverty, and gang bullying echoes Nazism, violence, and depravation, that characterizes America today. However, the significance of this is outstanding as those who are locked into it can abandon it just as Derek abandoned it. Anne Dudley did the soundtrack of this film. It serves to set the humor of the movie by its dark score undertones. It underlines the deeper meaning of the film.

American History X is not an ordinary film. It is culturally important as it addresses some of the pertinent issues in American society today. As a reprieve, it insinuates that supremacists can quit their behavior just like Derek before they die like Danny. The story and character development are perfect. The soundtrack sets the humor of the movie. This movie is a masterpiece.

Works Cited

Kaye, Tony. “American History X.” IMDb Movies, 1998.

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IvyPanda. (2022, February 22). Cultural and Political Essence of the "American History X" Film. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-history-x/

"Cultural and Political Essence of the "American History X" Film." IvyPanda , 22 Feb. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/american-history-x/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Cultural and Political Essence of the "American History X" Film'. 22 February.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Cultural and Political Essence of the "American History X" Film." February 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-history-x/.

1. IvyPanda . "Cultural and Political Essence of the "American History X" Film." February 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-history-x/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Cultural and Political Essence of the "American History X" Film." February 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-history-x/.

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The Dangerous Message of American History X, Essay Example

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American History X , which starred Edward Norton and Edward Furlong, and was directed by Tony Kaye, contained a number of controversial scenes depicting racial violence, prison rape and an infamous scene involving the murder of a young black man by the character Derek Vineyard.  However controversial those scenes may have been, it does not compare to unsettling message of the film. On the surface, American History X appears to be a morality tale about the emptiness of hate and the possibility of reform, however the imagery presents a different story, a different view of the racial state of America; hence the title American History X.

The morality tale of redemption and salvation is what the audience craves and has come to expect from films depicting racial issues. The general expectation is that, although a character may hate an individual or racial group in the beginning of the film, by the end, that character has reformed his or her ways and now sees the world anew.  Audiences have also come to expect the unjustified hatred by the character in question, so that the audience can separate themselves from the main character.  The audience wants to identify with the reformed character, not the hate-monger.  Therefore a certain amount of audience pandering has come to be expected.  The film portrays the racist character as someone whose racial hatred lay outside the realm of what the audience can understand, but, by the end of the film, the character has transformed into one of the tolerant masses, someone with whom the audience can relate and accept as one of their own.

This is not the case with American History X .  The reason that X could be considered a dangerous film is not because of the controversial scenes but rather the ambiguous message that drives straight to the heart of the American racial dilemma. Derek Vinyard’s hatred did not burst forth from nothing, it was a reaction, a survival mechanism, to the environment in which he was raised.  His hatred is not foreign to the viewer- he is, in essence, justified.  Derek’s father, who had lightly planted the seeds for his hatred, was a firefighter, gunned down by gang members as he tried to put out a fire in a burning building.  Danny Vinyard, Derek’s younger brother, narrates the tale and tells how the family’s living environment changed; “Venice Beach didn’t always look like this, it used to be a great neighborhood… Over the years, though, it’s just gone to hell.  The gangs are like a plague- they moved west from Englewood and South Central and basically just took over.  That’s why Derek started the DOC, he said that white kids shouldn’t have to walk around scared in their own neighborhood and for a while there, he really made it like it was ours again.”   The audience is allowed to see the environment through Vinyard’s eyes, see the fear that the characters had felt, and, in essence confront their own racial fears.  It could be postulated that, as they sat in the theaters watching American History X , some audience members may have squirmed at the idea of gangs of racial minorities moving into their own neighborhoods and “taking over.”  X plays into American racial fears and forces the audience to confront their own prejudices.  The viewer is not allowed to look upon Derek and Danny as being anything other than a mirror reflection of his or herself.

The ultimate message of the film is captured in the last scenes.  While the audience comes to expect the usual happy ending, the reformation of Derek and the saving of Danny’s soul, Danny is suddenly gunned down by a young, black gang member with whom he had a dispute the day before.  The solace the audience attains at Derek’s reformation and possibility of a new future for Danny pales in stark comparison to the blood spattered bathroom wall or the image of Danny Vinyard lying in a urinal covered in his own blood.  The black youth billows hatred from his eyes, spattered with the blood of the character in whom the audience had greatest emotional investment; Danny was the innocent, the malleable, the one for whom there was hope and now he was gone.  While on the surface a morality tale, American History X not only digs into the audience’s personal prejudices, but also justifies them with an act of unmitigated violence on a youth who was merely trying to find his way.

American History X begins and ends with the ocean- a sandy California beach staring out at the eternal ocean that never changes and never stops crashing at the shoreline.  This is perhaps the most dangerous aspect of the film, the image of the eternal, the idea that racism, violence and hate is something born within mankind and destined to be there until the end of time.  Danny’s voice narrates over the scene of his brother holding Danny’s lifeless, bloody body in his arms; “So I guess this is when I tell you what I’ve learned, my conclusion… My conclusion is hate is baggage.  Life’s too short to be pissed off all the time, it’s just not worth it.”  The film then cuts to the view of the Pacific Ocean once again, the waves crashing at Venice Beach.  Danny’s childlike conclusion is one of superficial understanding- something echoed again and again in popular culture and media to argue away hatreds, but these words cast over Danny’s dead body and the eternal sea, are ironic at best.  The film leaves with a sense that perhaps society’s platitudes about hatred, about it being “baggage” and “not worth it,” fail to address the stark reality of the human condition, one that has lasted unchanged throughout history.  Perhaps those platitudes don’t address the real underlying issues of environment, poverty and fear.  Perhaps all the efforts at peaceful coexistence are pointless, merely words thrown at an ocean.  This is why American History X is a dangerous film, because it affirms these old hatreds, stirs deeply held prejudices and shows the futility of salvation.

How can Danny’s innocent words compare to a timeless ocean of hate?

Works Cited

American History X.  Screenplay By David McKenna.  Dir. Tony Kaye.  Perf. Edward   Norton, Edward Furlong. New Line Cinema, 1998, DVD.

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American History X Essay

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American History X Will racism ever come to an end or will its path go on infinitely? For the most part, the majority of people respect those who are different either in color, race, and/or heritage; however, there are those few that hold bigoted views towards people who are different than they are. The movie American History X by Tony Kaye displays an example of people who hold bigoted views. Derek, a Neo-Nazi leader, must contend with his actions relating to his past racist views and actions. This powerful movie explores its characters thoroughly and gives reasons why people become so callous and turn towards a racist group. It also exposes insight to problems that plague America when it comes to racism in …show more content…

Derek realized that hatred towards people did not help him, his family, or the situation at hand. Instead of being negative and destructive, why not be positive. Hurting people and destroying property does not solve problems, but only makes them worse by causing more resentment and tension between people (Theriou). Nothing good has ever come out of a situation where one person has been the victim of a crime or abuse. Good things come out of situations where people show hospitality, good will, and compassion; not hatred. It is made very clear that Derek and Danny have no affiliations with the Ku Klux Klan. Derek calls the KKK a bunch of disorganized rednecks that very inanely run around with sheets on their heads. Instead they are part of a Neo-Nazi group in Southern California. In America today there are “estimated to be about 200,000 members 602 3 associated with white power groups (included in these estimates are supporters and hard core members plus their families)” (Suall). That is a lot of people who are affiliated with known racist groups. When looking on the Internet a person can realize how much hate is present in our world. John Hron website has estimates of Neo-Nazis in countries and a little bit about how that country views Nazism. America has about 85,000 Neo-Nazi members compared with 47,000 German Neo-Nazis. Germany though has a lot

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American History X Essay examples

American History X is clearly a film dealing with the social topic of racism. The interesting thing about this film is the way in which the subject is presented. First of all, it is obvious that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any reservations or dummying down. Second, the film's figurehead for racism, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), is not an unintelligent redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in fact well-spoken, charismatic and bright, although he clearly holds ideals that are terribly wrong. Finally, the film shows that it is not only the white, neo-nazi racists who are fools for being involved in this, but all those who hold hatred in

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After the American Revolution, Americans, who had just broken free from the British, completely changed their politics, economy and society. The Founders decided to change how they wanted to run their society, even though, in the end, they went back to a more powerful federal government like Britain. Most people’s daily lives didn’t change much but the principles from the revolution made some try to look for better financial opportunities. Women, slaves, and loyalists were changed a lot in society. Women had more freedoms, some of the slaves were set free, and many loyalists left America. America did not go through much economic change, but it did experience social and political change.

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Looking back at American History, we can see many instances where bravery and courage combined with a leap of faith changed the course of our country's history. The declaration of independence was perhaps the most significant of all those actions. In the late 1700's Britain began abusing their colonies in America, this did not sit well with the colonists, and soon people could no longer endure such unfairness and hardship. The founding fathers were more than justified to declare independence from Britain, liberating the people of America from the tyranny and abuse of the British crown.

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Americas history is what defines us and who we are as a country. We were built on hard work, sacrifice, wanting to be free and independent to be who we want to. Now a-days, we seem to have fallen away from this. Everything is given to us so easily on our computer and through technology that we have no need to work hard anymore. This is the downfall in humanity because as we keep going, life will continue to get easier and we won’t want to do anything. History is our hope so that we can learn from what we did in our past and how things were done then.For starters, we can see what mistakes we did and make sure we don’t do them again. If we continue to the same thing over and over again, there’s no way for our society to improve from this. Our

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American imperialism seems at first to be an oxymoron. After all, when this country was established, it was done so by a group of people fleeing the imperialistic oppression of their own homeland. These people had a dream of creating a place where a man could live for himself, free of the subjugation of his government or any other coercive force. This seemed like a relatively simple dream to fulfill at the time, when America was new and lacking the corruption of power. As it grew, however, the simplistic approach to life in the U.S. altered drastically. The power that came with the size and wealth that was soon associated with America brought changes in attitude. Why should America limit its ambition to

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1. The experience of empire for conquered peoples was broadly similar whoever their rulers were. Does the material of this chapter support or challenge this idea? Support your answer.

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Unity within colonies was extremely strong because it was assembled in a primal urge for survival. The colonists were in this entirely new land, so it was natural they would stick together to the familiar, and therefore build strong bonds and loyalty to their colony. Exclusion also excellently describes early America because of the way colonies expelled their own people if they did not follow the colony's strict ‘rules' of life. The primary source documents; "City upon a Hill", "Ann Hutchinson's Trial", "Founding Of The Iroquois League", and "The Mayflower Compact" are all brilliant examples of this contradictory yet surprisingly honest view of early American history. Early American History should be remembered as

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For instance, Google data reveals searches for KKK hit an all-time high after Trump wins presidency revealing the direction America is going in in 2016. One of the largest Ku Klux Klan groups in the country has also announced a parade to celebrate President-elect Donald Trump's win. The Loyal White Knights of Pelham, N.C., say on its website that the parade will take place Dec. 3. Other incidents from 2016 are when on February 29, 2016 three people were stabbed and 13 arrested over the weekend in what was described as a “bloody melee” between members of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and anti-Klan protesters in Anaheim, Calif. Likewise, prominent past members such as David Duke, ex-Grand Wizard of the Louisiana based Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, white supremacist activist and politician, claims “Racial idealism, or racialism, is the idea that a nation's greatest resource is the quality of its people. It means examining all questions of government on the basis of whether the proposed measure is good or bad for our race...Neither Communism, Capitalism, nor any other materialistic doctrine can save our race; our only racial salvation lies in a White racial alliance uniting our people with the common cause of racial idealism." Duke achieved a remarkable shift in Klan targeting - from blacks to Jews - by recruiting members such as Alabama hardliner Don Black. This effective Nazification of the Klan became

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American society is known for having the highest standard of living across the globe; this is solely due to the consumerist culture that is brought forth by capitalism. Americans in the U.S. take pride in these standards and in the freedoms that this democratic nation has established. The 20th century will always be remembered in American history as a century of radical changes on the social and political fronts of the nation. Literature, too, evolved quickly from specific, compartmentalized fields which fit into categories, to works which had no set definition—nobody knew what to do with them. These changes also took place in poetry; artistic expression began to change across the arts and so did the mediums. Poets across the nation

Theory Assignment on American History X Essay

This movie tells the story of a young man, from Southern California, that is the product of several unfortunate incidents, and his misguided search trying to answer the question why his life is the way it is.

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American History X

• Bob Sweeney : There was a moment, when I used to blame everything and everyone for all the pain and suffering and vile things that happened to me, that I saw happen to my people. Used to blame everybody. Blamed White people, blamed society, blamed God. I didn't get no answers 'cause I was asking the wrong questions. You have to ask the right questions.
• Derek Vinyard : Like what?
• Bob Sweeney : Has anything you've done made your life better?
• Danny Vinyard : [ Narrating his essay ] So I guess this is where I tell you what I learned - my conclusion, right? Well, my conclusion is: Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time. It's just not worth it. Derek says it's always good to end a paper with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and go out strong. So I picked a guy I thought you'd like. 'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.'
• [ Derek is leaving prison ]
• Lamont : 'Sup, man? You getting outta here? Well, c'mon man! What the fuck you waiting on?
• Derek Vinyard : Yeah, you know, I got this funny feeling.
• Lamont : Oh yeah? What's that?
• Derek Vinyard : I'm thinking the only reason I'm getting outta here in one piece is you.
• Lamont : C'mon man! Get the fuck outta here, man! You think I'm gonna put my neck on the line for some crazy-ass peckerwood?
• Derek Vinyard : Yeah, right. Stupid.
• [ a moment of silence passes and Lamont looks away ]
• Derek Vinyard : That's what I thought. I owe you, man.
• Lamont : Man, you owe me shit, a'ight?
• Derek Vinyard : Yes, I do.
• [ Derek offers his hand and Lamont takes it ]
• Derek Vinyard : You'll be outta here in no time.
• Lamont : C'mon man, it's a piece of cake, a'ight? You just take it easy on the brothers, a'ight? The *brothers*!
• Cameron : This is stupid. Go cool off, get laid, do something, come back when you're ready to talk.
• Derek Vinyard : Yeah, but it really doesn't matter if I do, does it? Because you got a whole crop already lined up, you fuckin' chicken hawk!
• Cameron : Excuse me?
• Derek Vinyard : You prey on people Cam. I lost three years of my life for your fuckin' phony cause, but I'm onto you now, you fuckin' snake.
• Cameron : Hey, watch it Derek, be careful. Remember where you are. This isn't some fuckin' country club where you can waltz in and outta here!
• Derek Vinyard : Shut up! Shut the fuck up! I came here for one reason, to tell you that I'm out. Out! And Danny's out, too. And if you come near my family again, I'm gonna fucking kill you.
• Cameron : Well excuse me, but fuck you Derek. You can't come in here barking threats at me. Look, you can do whatever you want, but Danny's a good kid. He's not some whiny pussy like you. He needs my help and I'm gonna give it to him.
• Derek Vinyard : If you come near Danny again, I will feed you your fucking heart, Cameron.
• Cameron : I won't have to. He'll come to me. I'm more important to him now than you'll ever be.
• [ On Derek's change in prison ]
• Danny Vinyard : I'm sorry, Derek. I'm sorry that happened to you.
• Derek Vinyard : I'm not. I'm lucky. I feel lucky because it's wrong, Danny. It's wrong and it was eating me up, it was going to kill me. And I kept asking myself all the time, how did I buy into this shit? It was because I was pissed off, and nothing I ever did ever took that feeling away. I killed two guys, Danny, I killed them. And it didn't make me feel any different. It just got me more lost and I'm tired of being pissed off, Danny. I'm just tired of it.
• Doris Vinyard : [ Yelling to Derek through small holes in the Plexiglas, during visiting hours at the prison ] You think you're the only one doin' time, Derek? You think you're here all alone? You think I'm not in here with you?
• [ Inside prison laundry ]
• Lamont : [ to Derek ] Don't fuck with me 'cause I'm the most dangerous man in this prison. You know why? 'Cause I control the underwear.
• Lamont : [ They walk down to the underwear station ] All right, pick 'em up over here and you sort 'em over there. I hope you can work out all right because the last guy they sent me didn't wear no drawers, couldn't read the sizes in the drawers, and he used to sniff the drawers. All right, we got two sizes, medium and large, all right? All you got to do is put the mediums with the mediums and the large with the large. All right, I know it's a borin' job, but it's better than that last shit they had me doin'. I spent two years in the kitchen...
• [ He laughs ]
• Lamont : ... scrubbin' hot ass pots and pans that you don't want to do, al right?
• Reporter : [ Rasmussen shows a video of a crying Derek with his mother talking to a reporter after his father's death ] Look I know this is tough. But how do you feel right now?
• Derek Vinyard : How do you think I feel? I think it's typical.
• Reporter : Typical how?
• Derek Vinyard : Well, this country is becoming a haven for criminals so what do you expect? You know, decent hard-working Americans like my dad are getting rubbed out by social parasites.
• Reporter : Parasites?
• Derek Vinyard : Blacks, Browns, Yellow whatever.
• Reporter : I don't understand you're saying that you think maybe your father's murder was race related?
• Derek Vinyard : Yeah it's race related! Every problem in this country is race related not just crime. It's like... immigration, AIDS, welfare those are problems in them. The Black community, the Hispanic community, the Asian community, they're not White problems.
• Reporter : Derek, are those really issues that deal with poverty?
• Derek Vinyard : No. You know, no. They're not products of the environment either that's crap. Minorities don't give two shits about this country, they've come here to exploit it, not to embrace it.
• Reporter : What does this...
• Derek Vinyard : I mean millions of white European Americans came here and flourished you know within a generation so what the fuck is the matter with these people going around shooting a... fireman?
• Reporter : What does this have to do with the murder of your father?
• Derek Vinyard : Because my father was murdered doing his job! Putting out a fire in fucking Nigger neighborhood. He shouldn't be giving a shit about. He got shot by a fucking drug dealer who probably still collects a welfare check!
• Murray : What are you doing Derek? This is your family.
• Derek Vinyard : Right, my family. My family so you know what? I don't give two shits about you or anybody else or what you think. You're not a part of it and you never will be.
• Murray : That has nothing to do with it!
• Derek Vinyard : Oh it doesn't? You don't think I see what you're trying to do here? You think I'm gonna sit here and smile while some fuckin' kike tries to fuck my mother? It's never gonna happen Murray, fuckin' forget it, not on my watch, not while I'm in this family. I will fuckin' cut your Shylock nose off and stick it up your ass before I let that happen. Coming in here and poisoning my family's dinner with your Jewish, nigger-loving, hippie bullshit. Fuck you! Fuck you! Yeah, walk out, asshole, fuckin' Kabbalah reading motherfucker. Get the fuck out of my house.
• Derek Vinyard : See this?
• [ Pulls down shirt to reveal a huge swastika tattoo on his chest ]
• Derek Vinyard : That means "Not welcome".
• Cameron : You made the fat kid a little nervous. He thinks the joint messed with your mind.
• Derek Vinyard : It did.
• Doris Vinyard : I'm ashamed that you came out of my body!
• Danny Vinyard : [ writing the beginning of the essay ] People look at me and see my brother.
• Lamont : [ From workprint director's cut ] Nah nah nah, you were a little more harder then that. you uh, probably robbed some old lady huh? Nah, you probably fucked your sister huh?
• Derek Vinyard : Kay, how about this? How about I killed two fucking niggers who tried to jack my car? If I had my way, I wouldn't spend five minutes next to your fucking nigger ass. I'm going to see you folding clothes and dreaming about what I would do to you if I found you on the street at night. Just fold your fucking underwear, keep your mouth shut and we'll pass the time fine.
• Lamont : [ laughs ] Bad ass cracker with an attitude huh?
• Derek Vinyard : Every night, thousands of these parasites stream across the border like some fuckin' piñata exploded.
• [ the skinheads laugh ]
• Derek Vinyard : Don't laugh! There's nothin' funny goin' on here!
• [ the skinheads immediately quiet down ]
• Seth : Are you calling me a blimp, you fucking democrat!
• Davina Vinyard : You know, when was the last time you were able to see your feet?
• [ Seth gives Davina the finger ]
• Lamont : [ When Derek doesn't respond to his question, he laughs ] Okay, I know your kind, right? Bad ass peckerwood with an attitude. Well, let me tell you something, man. You better watch your ass 'cause you're in the joint. You the nigger, not me.
• Lamont : [ Lamont holding a white sheet over his head pretending to be a KKK leader ] Alright boys, this is what we're gonna do. We gonna hate some niggers. That's what we're gonna do today. We gonna hate some goddamn niggers. That's all we'll do, is hate niggers all day. I don't even know what a nigger is, but you know what? We gonna hate 'em. My cousin Derek is in the Pen right now - working next to a nigger, driving him nigger crazy!
• Danny Vinyard : [ arguing about his "Mein Kampf" paper ] Look Sweeney, did you bring me here to talk about Derek? Because what happened to him has nothing to do with me.
• Bob Sweeney : Everything you do right now has something to do with Derek.
• Seth : Come in here Danny.
• Danny Vinyard : Seth... Hey man you going to Cam's party tonight?
• Seth : Is Davina's ass water tight?
• Danny Vinyard : You're fuckin sick man.
• Seth : Alright, relax let me ask you a few questions.
• Danny Vinyard : I'm not in the mood I got a lot of homework to do.
• Seth : Tell me some of the shit you've learned fuckass before I pistol whip you!
• Danny Vinyard : Ok, I believe in death, destruction, chaos, filth, and greed!
• Seth : Cut the shit Danny come on. Tell me what I wanna hear asshole.
• Danny Vinyard : You mean that shit about your mother man?
• Seth : You wanna get fucking beaten Danny?
• [ Davina starts to laugh ]
• Seth : I'm not fucking talking to you Davina why don't you shut up?
• Seth : Who do you hate Danny?
• Danny Vinyard : I hate anyone that is a white Protestant.
• Seth : Why?
• Danny Vinyard : There a burden to the advancement of the white race. Some of them are alright I guess...
• Seth : None of them are fucking alright Danny ok? They're all a bunch of fuckin' freeloaders. Remember what Cam said we don't know em we don't wanna know em They're the fucking enemy. Now what don't you like about them and say it with some fucking conviction!
• Danny Vinyard : I hate the fact that's cool to be black these days.
• Seth : Good.
• Danny Vinyard : I hate this hip-pop fuckin' influence on white-fuckin'suburbia.
• Danny Vinyard : And I hate Tabitha Soren and all there Zionist MTV fucking pigs telling us we should get along. Save the retorical bullshit Hilary Rodham Clinton cuz it ain't gonna fuckin' work.
• Seth : That's some of the best shit I've heard come out of your mouth.
• Davina Vinyard : No Danny I feel sorry for you. You don't really believe any of that shit do you?
• Seth : Shutup Davina!
• Davina Vinyard : No you shut the fuck up! Get out of the fuckin' house now you piece of shit please go!
• Derek Vinyard : Nigger, you just fucked with the wrong bull! You should've learned your lesson on the fuckin' basketball court! But you fuckin' monkey's never get the message. My father gave me that truck motherfucker! You ever shoot at fireman? You come here and shoot at my family? I'm gonna teach you a real lesson now motherfucker. Put your fuckin' mouth on the curb.
• Lawrence : Come on man...
• Derek Vinyard : I said put your mouth on the curb!
• [ Lawrence bites onto the curb ]
• Danny Vinyard : Derek, no!
• Derek Vinyard : That's it! Now say good night.
• [ Derek stomps Lawrence's head into the curb ]
• Derek Vinyard : Alright listen up, we need to open our eyes. There's over two million illegal immigrants bending down in this state tonight. This state spend three billion dollars last year on services, on people who had no right to be here in the first place. Three billion dollars. 400 million just to lock up a bunch of illegal immigrant criminals who only got in this country because the fucking INS decided it's not worth the effort to screen for convicted felons.
• Seth : [ singing ] My eyes have seen the glory of the trampling at the zoo, We've washed ourselves in niggers blood and all the mongrels too, We've taken down the zog machine Jew by Jew by Jew, The white man marches on!
• Danny Vinyard : [ referring to Dr. Sweeney ] He's one of those proud to be nigger people, I hate those guys.
• Cameron : Now wait a minute Danny, he's not proud. No, he's a manipulative, self-righteous Uncle Tom who's trying to make you feel guilty about writing about Adolf Hitler. Yeah, when some nigger or some spick writes about Martin Luther King or fucking Caesar commie Chavez, he gets a pat on the head. You can see the hypocrisy in that, can't you?
• Curtis : [ offscreen, to another skinhead ] Hey man, want a toke?
• Derek Vinyard : Curtis, what are you doing? Weed is for niggers. You put that away right now. Have a little self respect.
• Bob Sweeney : This racist propaganda, this "Mein Kampf" psychobabble; he learned this nonsense, Murray, and he can unlearn it too. I will not give up on this child yet.
• Derek Vinyard : [ Narrating while removing his shirt to reveal his swastika tattoo ] All the wrong people knew who I was anyways, so I figured I'm just gonna put up a flag and hope a friend sees it.
• Danny Vinyard : It's hard to look back and see the truth about people you love.
• Derek Vinyard : One in every three black males is in some phase of the correctional system. Is that a coincidence or do these people have, you know, like a racial commitment to crime?
• Murray : I'm so sorry Doris. I really am. He's gone.
• Doris Vinyard : He's just a boy. Without a father.
• Murray : Doris, you don't know the world your children are living in.
• Bob Sweeney : [ arguing with Danny Vinyard about his "Mein Kampf" paper ] I think the street would kill you. Your rhetoric and your propaganda aren't gonna save you out there.
• Lamont : In here, you da nigger.
• Seth : Who do you hate, Danny?
• Danny Vinyard : I hate anyone that isn't White Protestant.
• Danny Vinyard : They're a burden to the advancement of the White race. Some of them are all right, I guess...
• Seth : None of 'em are fucking all right, Danny, OK?
• Derek Vinyard : We're so hung up on this notion that we have some obligation to help the struggling black man, you know. Cut him some slack until he can overcome these historical injustices. It's crap. I mean, Christ, Lincoln freed the slaves, like, what? 130 years ago. How long does it take to get your act together?
• Murray : Derek, what are you trying to prove?
• Lamont : Yeah, you got a woman, man. Let me give you some advice, all right? When she comes to visit you... whatever you do, no matter what... don't let her leave there in a fight, man. Don't let her walk out with a bad attitude... 'cause if you do, you spend the next week wondering if she's getting her fuck on with somebody else, you know what I'm saying? So when she come to see you, it's nothing but sweet talk. Send her away floating, all right? 'Cause it's not like the real world where you can fight, 'cause you can make up and have that make-up sex. Know what I'm saying? That angry sex. That sex with an attitude. You lay on your back and let her take out that aggression on you. All guys know that, man. That's that good sex. That's that pow, pow, pow. Let her get on top, and she'll punish you first. You been a bad boy, huh? You been a bad boy, and I'm gonna punish you. I'm gonna put it on you. Don't you ever... let... me... catch... you... looking at... another... woman. Yeah, yeah. I may forgive you if you bring it. I think I can. I... l forgive. I forgive. Right there. You're hitting it. My spot. That's it. Right. Yes. I for... l forgive you. I forgive you. l for... l for... I for... l forgive you! I love you!
• [ Lamont and Derek crack up laughing. It cuts to them some time later talking to each other in a very friendly way ]
• Derek Vinyard : How do you figure the Lakers to ever be a bigger dynasty than the Celtics? The Lakers are a flare-up, a fluke.
• Lamont : Are you crazy? One good coach for four years.
• Derek Vinyard : The Celtics are a dynasty!
• Lamont : Come on, man. The Celtics, right? The ugliest team in the history of sports. A dynasty of ugly motherfuckers, man. Look at Kevin McHale.
• Derek Vinyard : James Worthy? That guy has a head like, like a melon.
• Lamont : He had ladies.
• Derek Vinyard : I can't even talk to you. I don't know what you're saying.
• Danny Vinyard : [ from work print cut, Danny is narrating ] Derek wasn't afraid of anything, he showed the rest of us that we didn't have to be afraid of Blacks. It's like training a dog, he said. Don't show any fear and let him know who's the boss. He can bark and growl and show his teeth, let him. It makes him feel good. But deep down inside he knows you own him, and at any moment you can kick his ass just cause you feel like it.
• [ Danny walks in on Derek and Stacey having sex ]
• Danny Vinyard : [ whispering ] Der. Derek.
• Stacey : [ Stacy sees Danny in the room ] Jesus, Danny! Fuckin' perv.
• Derek Vinyard : Jesus, Danny. What the fuck are you thinking?
• Danny Vinyard : Derek, there's a black guy out there breaking into your car.
• Derek Vinyard : How many Danny? How many?
• [ Derek quickly pulls on white boxers and black combat boots ]
• Danny Vinyard : One I think.
• Derek Vinyard : Is he strapped?
• Danny Vinyard : Huh?
• Derek Vinyard : Does he have a fucking gun Danny?
• Danny Vinyard : Man, I don't fucking know!
• [ Derek pulls out a gun from his dresser drawer ]
• Stacey : Oh, my God! Derek, what are you doing?
• Derek Vinyard : Not right now honey.
• Murray : He's lost.
• Huge Aryan : [ as Derek is being held against the shower wall by the Huge Aryan's gang ] You wanna be a nigger, sweet boy?
• Derek Vinyard : Fuck you!
• Huge Aryan : We're gonna treat you like one!
• Derek Vinyard : [ Derek sees the Aryan Mitch doing a drug deal with a Hispanic inmate ] What the fuck is that? What's that all about?
• Huge Aryan : That's just politics, man. Favors, you know?
• Derek Vinyard : He's doing favors for that fucking spic?
• Huge Aryan : Mitch has just got a little something extra... on the side with them boys, you know?
• Derek Vinyard : You're kidding, right?
• Huge Aryan : No.
• Derek Vinyard : That's bullshit, man. Somebody should say something to him. What the fuck is he thinking?
• Huge Aryan : Mitch is the only reason you're not a corpse right now. Remember that.
• Derek Vinyard : You know what? I don't fucking give a shit. I can take care of myself. He shouldn't be doing that. I'm getting sick of it, man. There's a lot of fucking hard talk around here and not a lot of follow-through.
• Huge Aryan : [ spits on the side ] I think you better chill out on the preaching bullshit. We're getting a little tired of that shit around here. Ease up on it.

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Why Did Danny Get Killed in American History X?

American History X is a 1998 American drama film that tells the story of a former neo-nazi skinhead named Derek Vinyard, played by Edward Norton. The film explores themes of racism, hate crimes, and redemption.

One of the most shocking moments in the movie is when Danny Vinyard, Derek’s younger brother, is killed by a gang member. But why did Danny get killed in American History X? Let’s take a closer look.

The Background

Before we dive into why Danny got killed, it’s important to understand the context leading up to his death. Danny was heavily influenced by his older brother Derek’s beliefs in white supremacy and neo-nazism. However, after Derek is sent to prison for killing two black men, he reevaluates his beliefs and becomes an advocate for racial unity.

Danny begins to follow in his brother’s footsteps and becomes more open-minded about people of different races. He even writes an essay for school about Adolf Hitler being a charismatic leader who led Germany down a path of destruction.

Despite his changing views, Danny still has ties to the white supremacist gang that he used to associate with. One night, he attends a party with them and gets into an argument with another gang member named Little Henry. This argument sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads to Danny’s death.

The Shooting

After the party, Little Henry seeks revenge on Danny and breaks into the Vinyard household with two other gang members. They confront Danny in the bathroom and shoot him multiple times.

The reason for the shooting is not explicitly stated in the movie but it can be inferred that it was payback for Danny disrespecting Little Henry at the party. It’s also possible that they saw Danny as a traitor for distancing himself from their white supremacist beliefs.

• Could It Have Been Avoided?

Danny’s death serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences of hate and violence. It’s clear that if Danny had not been involved with the white supremacist gang, he would not have been Targeted for retribution.

However, it’s also important to note that Danny’s death was not solely caused by his association with the gang. The root cause of his death was the hate and bigotry that led to the creation of such groups in the first place. Had Danny grown up in a world without racism and prejudice, he would not have been exposed to these harmful ideologies.

In conclusion, Danny Vinyard’s death in American History X was a direct result of his involvement with a white supremacist gang and their violent actions. However, it’s important to remember that this tragedy was ultimately caused by the larger societal issues of racism and hate.

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American History X 1998

Danny Vinyard: So I guess this is where I tell you what I learned - my conclusion, right? Well, my conclusion is: Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time. It's just not worth it. Derek says it's always good to end a paper with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and go out strong. So I picked a guy I thought you'd like. 'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.'

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American History X Essay

American History X is an American film released in 1998, directed by Tony Kaye (his first feature film) starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong in the leading roles. The film tells the story of the two Vinyard brothers, Derek and Danny and their family living in Venice Beach, California. Derek is a member of a neo-Nazi group and is very involved in the defense of the white race he calls '' higher '' while Danny, younger, admires his brother and just wants to behave like him. Sentenced to three years in prison for the murder of two black criminals trying to steal his car, Derek leaves Danny alone with no marks and under the influence of the neo-Nazi group and its founder Cameron Alexander. Although intelligent but young, Danny seems lost and falls into racist ideas that the milieu he frequents keeps hammering him. It begins to affect his school work where, one day, he writes an essay praising Mein Kampf. Dr. Sweeney, the black Principal of the Venice Beach High School, is almost paternal to Danny and tries to help him despite his xenophobic and dangerous behavior. The film's title is actually the name Dr. Sweeney gives private lessons he decided to teach himself to the young Danny, his first duty being to write a new essay about his brother, which will serve as a guideline to the film. The Principal aims at preventing Danny from having the same fate as his brother and eventually ending up in jail, because he has hope in him and does not want to abandon him in this unhealthy environment, starting with Seth, the former obese friend of Derek, deeply racist and hateful toward African-Americans. After his release from prison, Derek realizes the consequences of his behavior on Danny and in what situation he has left his family. Follows... ... middle of paper ... ...y the sudden death of the little brother, his blood splashing symbolically his essay in the school toilets as a finger salute to this attempt to break this cycle of violence, as if it always had the last word. It's a bit the feeling that the viewer at the end of the film because all the efforts of two brothers to restore order in both of their lives are ruined by this murder committed by a black classmate Danny with whom he had an altercation earlier. The helplessness and the inevitability feelings in a society where hate always ends up winning, but also bitter, seeing the waste of two lives. This is thus a very pessimistic message that is conveyed at the end of the film, contrasting with the encouraging conclusion that Danny writes in his paper with a quote from Abraham Lincoln, full of hope and friendship, and witnessing the progress he has made, although in vain.

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• American History X

... is the brutality of hate and racism. The emotions running high in the movie makes it powerful and moving and the death of Derek’s younger brother Danny Vinyard is shocking enough to bring tears to many viewers’ eyes. The movie ends with Danny’s voice reading his paper out loud and he ends his paper with a very important quote by Abraham Lincoln. This quote shows how Danny’s, as well as Derek’s, mindset changed from the beginning of the movie to the end. When hearing this quote it leaves the viewers in awe that Danny finally started to look past his hateful ideologies but ends up dead because of the lifestyle him and his brother decided to lead. “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained we must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature”.

The Conflict Theory Of Deviance In American History X

American History X is a great film that delivers a very strong message about deviant behavior. The story of Derek Vineyard and Danny inspires a lot in terms of changing the deviant behavior through various social concepts. The film shows good application of these theories and it involves the audience into a gripping tale of the change one hoes through to fight deviance and get through the tough journey of correcting oneself and choosing the right path.

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• American History X (1998)

Danny Vinyard Quotes in American History X (1998)

Danny vinyard quotes:.

Danny Vinyard : [ Narrating his essay ] So I guess this is where I tell you what I learned - my conclusion, right? Well, my conclusion is: Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time. It's just not worth it. Derek says it's always good to end a paper with a quote. He says someone else has already said it best. So if you can't top it, steal from them and go out strong. So I picked a guy I thought you'd like. 'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.'

[ On Derek's change in prison ]

Danny Vinyard : I'm sorry, Derek. I'm sorry that happened to you.

Derek Vinyard : I'm not. I'm lucky. I feel lucky because it's wrong, Danny. It's wrong and it was eating me up, it was going to kill me. And I kept asking myself all the time, how did I buy into this shit? It was because I was pissed off, and nothing I ever did ever took that feeling away. I killed two guys, Danny, I killed them. And it didn't make me feel any different. It just got me more lost and I'm tired of being pissed off, Danny. I'm just tired of it.

Danny Vinyard : [ writing the beginning of the essay ] People look at me and see my brother.

Seth : Come in here Danny.

Danny Vinyard : Seth... Hey man you going to Cam's party tonight?

Seth : Is Davina's ass water tight?

Danny Vinyard : You're fuckin sick man.

Seth : Alright, relax let me ask you a few questions.

Danny Vinyard : I'm not in the mood I got a lot of homework to do.

Seth : Tell me some of the shit you've learned fuckass before I pistol whip you!

Danny Vinyard : Ok, I believe in death, destruction, chaos, filth, and greed!

Seth : Cut the shit Danny come on. Tell me what I wanna hear asshole.

Danny Vinyard : You mean that shit about your mother man?

Seth : You wanna get fucking beaten Danny?

[ Davina starts to laugh ]

Seth : I'm not fucking talking to you Davina why don't you shut up?

Seth : Who do you hate Danny?

Danny Vinyard : I hate anyone that is a white Protestant.

Seth : Why?

Danny Vinyard : There a burden to the advancement of the white race. Some of them are alright I guess...

Seth : None of them are fucking alright Danny ok? They're all a bunch of fuckin' freeloaders. Remember what Cam said we don't know em we don't wanna know em They're the fucking enemy. Now what don't you like about them and say it with some fucking conviction!

Danny Vinyard : I hate the fact that's cool to be black these days.

Seth : Good.

Danny Vinyard : I hate this hip-pop fuckin' influence on white-fuckin'suburbia.

Danny Vinyard : And I hate Tabitha Soren and all there Zionist MTV fucking pigs telling us we should get along. Save the retorical bullshit Hilary Rodham Clinton cuz it ain't gonna fuckin' work.

Seth : That's some of the best shit I've heard come out of your mouth.

Davina Vinyard : No Danny I feel sorry for you. You don't really believe any of that shit do you?

Seth : Shutup Davina!

Davina Vinyard : No you shut the fuck up! Get out of the fuckin' house now you piece of shit please go!

Derek Vinyard : Nigger, you just fucked with the wrong bull! You should've learned your lesson on the fuckin' basketball court! But you fuckin' monkey's never get the message. My father gave me that truck motherfucker! You ever shoot at fireman? You come here and shoot at my family? I'm gonna teach you a real lesson now motherfucker. Put your fuckin' mouth on the curb.

Lawrence : Come on man...

Derek Vinyard : I said put your mouth on the curb!

[ Lawrence bites onto the curb ]

Danny Vinyard : Derek, no!

Derek Vinyard : That's it! Now say good night.

[ Derek stomps Lawrence's head into the curb ]

Danny Vinyard : [ referring to Dr. Sweeney ] He's one of those proud to be nigger people, I hate those guys.

Cameron : Now wait a minute Danny, he's not proud. No, he's a manipulative, self-righteous Uncle Tom who's trying to make you feel guilty about writing about Adolf Hitler. Yeah, when some nigger or some spick writes about Martin Luther King or fucking Caesar commie Chavez, he gets a pat on the head. You can see the hypocrisy in that, can't you?

Danny Vinyard : [ arguing about his "Mein Kampf" paper ] Look Sweeney, did you bring me here to talk about Derek? Because what happened to him has nothing to do with me.

Bob Sweeney : Everything you do right now has something to do with Derek.

Seth : Who do you hate, Danny?

Danny Vinyard : I hate anyone that isn't White Protestant.

Danny Vinyard : They're a burden to the advancement of the White race. Some of them are all right, I guess...

Seth : None of 'em are fucking all right, Danny, OK?

[ Danny walks in on Derek and Stacey having sex ]

Danny Vinyard : [ whispering ] Der. Derek.

Stacey : [ Stacy sees Danny in the room ] Jesus, Danny! Fuckin' perv.

Derek Vinyard : Jesus, Danny. What the fuck are you thinking?

Danny Vinyard : Derek, there's a black guy out there breaking into your car.

Derek Vinyard : How many Danny? How many?

[ Derek quickly pulls on white boxers and black combat boots ]

Danny Vinyard : One I think.

Derek Vinyard : Is he strapped?

Danny Vinyard : Huh?

Derek Vinyard : Does he have a fucking gun Danny?

Danny Vinyard : Man, I don't fucking know!

[ Derek pulls out a gun from his dresser drawer ]

Stacey : Oh, my God! Derek, what are you doing?

Derek Vinyard : Not right now honey.

Browse more character quotes from American History X (1998)

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Characters on american history x (1998).

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