White Nationalist Movements + American History X

I first saw American History X when I was 12. My brothers and I were flipping through the channels when we came across this movie. We had no idea what we had gotten ourselves into. After watching the first five minutes (we all know what happens), we immediately changed the channel. At that age, I knew that the movie was about white supremacy, but until this class, I never understood the meaning behind the movement.

Before the class, I had no idea that the hate the white supremacists were spreading encompassed more than just people of color. Films like American History X provide the example of how white nationalists hate any race they deem to be inferior. It is evident in the film that all the factors that affect a person to resort to white nationalism are based on hate for another group, whether the hate is valid or not. For instance, Derek comes from a home where racism is discussed among the dinner table. And when his father is killed by a minority, Derek feels the only place he can turn to to feel accepted is within a white nationalist circle. As disgusted in class and in the other books we have read, the story of Derek perfectly fits into the stereotype that white nationalists are looking to feel accepted by a group of people. Instead of searching for acceptance in other places, they lean towards the power and intimidation they see within the white nationalist society.

Frank Meeink, the inspiration behind the film American History X, tells his story in his biography. His story tells of his troubled childhood and how he found himself a place to feel like home within the Skinhead organization. What I found interesting about the story of Frank is that it seems to fit into the stereotypes of a youth getting dragged into gang violence because they live in a large city. But when compared to the Aryan Nations, an organization started in Hayden Lake, Idaho, a small, rural community when compared to Philadelphia, it changed my ideas of how gang violence is usually associated with large, urban cities. I realized it is not about the location of where a person is, but factors affecting their life that leads them to become attached to the violence and hate of the white nationalist organization.

All in all, what I learned is racism can stem from anything. Growing up in Eastern Washington, I would say I was pretty secluded from a lot of forms of racism. This class, with the help of the four books we have read over the semester, the discussions in class and the research for this blog, have opened my eyes to realize what is going on around me and how this affects people. Similarly, I have learned how easy it is for the message of hate and violence to be spread thanks to the internet and media. This class was a way for me to say I learned something new every (tues and thurs)day.