African American roles in American History X
             American History X displays many controversial issues such as racism and prejudice. The story revolves around Derek, who is a white supremacist that changes his ways when someone points out to him that all his campaigning only served to make his life even worse than it had been before. A major influence on Derek in this movie was his high school English teacher Mr. Sweeney. Derek had always placed Sweeney on a Pedestal and had a great deal of respect for him. Despite Derek's hatred for blacks throughout the movie, Derek still continued to admire and respect Sweeney.
             Sweeney was Derek's English teacher while Derek's father was still alive. Derek learned a great deal from Sweeney and was intrigued by the material Sweeney taught. Sweeney had Derek reading books such asNative Son?, that were thought provoking in the areas of racism, pride, and various forms of prejudice. Sweeney dared Derek to thinkoutside the box? and realize that the human race isn't only predominately male whites. Derek was very much impressed with Sweeney's teaching style and his views, it was clear to Derek that Sweeney was an incredibly smart man, and as a result Derek viewed him to be a genius.
             Derek once told his family how great of a teacher Sweeney was and the sort's of things he had learned from him. When Derek's father learned of the African American influence Sweeney had on Derek he was outraged. He came down on Derek and forced him to not believe what he was being taught and to realize that Whites are superior to blacks. This influence from his father was the start of Derek's destructive behavior. From that point on Derek began to hate blacks. Any propaganda that was branded into Derek's mind was planted there by his father.
             Derek's neo-nazi lifestyle lead him to kill two African American men which resulted in a two year prison term. His life was slowly bu
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