Racial Execution Throughout history, American society has faced racial tensions that have impacted the lives of anyone with a conscience. As a result of the Civil War in the 1860's, slavery was abolished, marking the first step in the right direction for breaking the barriers of racism and prejudice.
Following World War II, the civil rights movement was the next step towards racial equality. With major leaders like Malcolm X, Booker T. Washington, Louis Farrakhan and Martin Luther King Jr., Americans of all colors were forced to confront the issue of separation between Blacks, Whites, Jews, and other groups of peoples. When the separate but equal clause was abolished, and when Rosa Parks refused to move from her seat for a white man, the black community could see that there was still hope for equality. In the movie American History X, the late 90's are portrayed as years that have yet to gain control of the deteriorating relationship between black and white Americans.
Pie chart of religions of African Americans
English: Photograph of Rosa Parks with Dr. Martin ...
English:Derek, the main character, takes a position in life to maintain this deteriorating relationship between races and eventually becomes a symbol for the flaws that occur in the judicial system. After his father is killed by a black male, Derek's apprehensions about other races increase. When Derek is in jail he is assigned a job in the laundry room with a black man named Lamont who reaches out to Derek in a way that Derek is not accustomed to.
Never before has Derek been forced to cooperate with somebody that he hates as much as a black man. At first, Derek does not even speak to Lamont, giving him the silent treatment and a harsh attitude. Finally, Derek comes to the realization that there is nothing bad about him and that his hate is unfounded. After...