Education and Racial Inequality: Analysis of Crash

Education and Racial Inequality Analysis of Crash statement AND RACIAL (IN)-EQUALITYAlbert Einstein, a German-born theoretical physicist, formerly stated that small is the cast of people who key with their eyes and echo with their minds.1 People tend to size up the external orb with their internal prejudice, observing people under their take stipulations ab fall out race the majority of people tend to alike think with their eyes, as claimed by Einstein above, and assume that a someones insides correspond with how they look on the outdoor(a). One stops doing so when unitary has an experience that contradicts ones presumptions and classs. Prejudice leads to stereotypical attitudes and behaviors in people. However, when those stereotypes argon disproved by experiences, individuals are forced to re-evaluate their prejudicial attitudes. Therefore, prejudicial attitudes feces be overcome when people are forced to juxtapose a man that disproves their stereotypical attitudes. Many examples of such instances are exhibited in the movie Crash, tell by Paul Haggis.Prejudicial beliefs lead people to stereotype others base on their race. Vincent Parrillo defines cognitive level of prejudice as an encompassment of a persons beliefs and perceptions of a group a threating or nonthreatening, inferior or equal, seclusive or intrusive, impulse gratifying, acquisitive, or possessing other decreed or cast out characteristics (Parrillo 505). Stereotyping is a form of cognitive level of prejudice as it is acquired finished experience and impressions. Hence, stereotypes are external expressions of inward prejudices. In Crash, denim Cabot and her hubby is seen walking down a street in a crocked neighborhood at night. denim Cabot visibly holds on to her husbands arm tighter while passing Anthony and beak, who are of African descent. This perform, caused by Jeans presumption that the two macabre males were gangsters, is a clear figure of prejudice on the cognit ive level, as explained by Parrillo. Jean holds these beliefs as result of exposure to the media, and lack thereof to real people of racial minorities. Her lack of exposure to minorities comes from her predominantly white and wealthy residence and terra firma. Nevertheless, this presumption of hers against people of certain color is fueled when the two black males highjack her vehicle. Her bigotryand her expression of prejudiceis further illustrated in the subsequent scene, wherein she vehemently opposes the locksmith changing her locks referable to her perception that the locksmith, a Hispanic man, has prison tattoos. She groundlessly worries that the locksmith result sell their keys to one of his gang banger mavens the moment he is outside of their door (Crash). It can be easily inferred from the scene that although the locksmithwho is uninvolved in the couples affairshas done no wrong, Jeans false nonion of who he is dictates her attitudes and opinions towards the Hispanic man. According to Parrillo, Jean is employ the locksmith as a scapegoat, as her prejudice reaches a level of emotional, action orientated and self-justified level. She considers acting maliciously towards the Hispanic man appropriate referable to her criticism of his race as a whole an act of self-justification. In yet another scene, a clerk at a throttle valve shop refuses service towards an old American citizen of Middle Eastern descent, as the clerk malevolently mocks the customer and lets it be known that he opposes anyone connect to the Middle East, insinuating that Middle Easterners are terrorists who fly 747 (Crash) and incinerate (Crash) civilians. Parrillo would describe this as an action-orientated level of prejudice (Parrillo 505). The clerk indisputably displays strong contempt against Middle Easterners, (or who he perceives to be Middle Easterners) stereotyping them to be harmful to the American society, and refusing to sell them ammunition. Unfortunately, due to th is traumatic experience, Farhad develops a prejudice against fellow Americans of different descent, who he thinks are ought to cheat (Crash) him. Farhads newfound prejudice is depicted when he tone of voices that the locksmith is cheater him by refusing to fix his door, despite having a valid intellectual to do so. In the case of Jean Cabot, we can see how ones own prejudice can form stereotypes that direct ones antagonistic behavior against an uninvolved third party. In the case of Farhad, we can see how an act of prejudice and hatred can reversely sanction a prejudice against the prejudicial party and any deemed associates, superfluously proceed the chain of intolerance.Racial stereotypes are oftentimes disproven by their victims, forcing the oppressor to reevaluate his or her own prejudgments. In the movie Crash, when Jean suffers an injury due to her fall, and her friend Carol is nowhere to be found, her housemaid female horse takes her to the emergency room. Maria, a Hisp anic woman, shows great care and compassion towards Jean, disproving her stereotype. This leads Jean to abandon her precedent prejudices against different races. The movie further depicts the refutation stereotypes with the scene wherein Peter, a black male, is seen hitchhiking at nighttime. Officer Hanson, upon seeing Peter, offers him a ride in his individualized vehicle. They converse awkwardly until Peter sees the St. Christopher statue on the car dashboard. Upon seeing the statue, Peter motions to show his own statue of St. Christopher to Officer Hanson. However, Officer Hansons prejudice adjudges him reason that a black male hitchhiking at this time of the night is up to no good. Hence, Hanson says, Get your scripts out of your pocket (Crash). Peter does not catch his tone, and Hanson authoritatively orders Peter to put his hands where Hanson can see them (Crash). Consequently, Peter reaches for his St. Christopher statue while Officer Hanson reaches for his revolver and s hoots Peter. Peters hand unfolds, showing the St. Christopher medal inside the palm. Hanson reacts with horror as he comes to recognition that his stereotyping had been disproven and he had committed manslaughter without provocation. These scenes in the movie Crash show that the world must realize that there lies a soul, a heart and a human being under someones skin, no bet what color.When oppressors are forced to reevaluate their prejudices, as mentioned above, they are bound to make changes to their attitudes and behaviors. Jeans prejudices against Hispanic people dissipates after the incident involving Marias care. Later, in the scene in which Maria brings tea to Jean, Jean suddenly embraces Maria, and does not let go. Jean shows affection by saying, Do you want to hear something funny? Youre the best friend Ive got (Crash). Jeans glistening eyes, and the melodious soundtrack playing in the background alludes to Jeans redemption of her past wrongful ways. This sharply contrasts the anterior scene, in which Jean frowns, leers, and blatantly asks deriding and rhetorical questions such as Is this ransack or is this dirty? (Crash) On killing Peter, Officer Hanson has a dismay expression on his face, as he sees Peters of a sudden gaze. He pushes the trunk out of the car, gets out, and kneels slowly over the dead body in disbelief of what he has done. He realizes that Peter was not dismissal to hold him hostage with a gun but instead was reach for his St. Christopher statue. In both the cases, stereotypes were proven wrong and the holders of the stereotypes feel guilty once they were proven wrong. Before this incident, Hanson portrayed himself as an individual who did not commit in stereotypes but after this incident, he finds out that his prejudice is to a greater extent deeply rooted than his conscious egalitarian actions because of his socialization process. He is not alone put through this socialization process, all individuals with constant nettle to media are put through this process. Media holds a strong footings in airing of prejudice.The movie Crash, a form of media, also forces the audience to reevaluate their prejudices that they do not believe they possess, but subconsciously does. In the movie Crash, Anthony is off-key at first to be a heartless gangster who steals from the clean-handed for a quick buck. Nevertheless, in the scene wherein Anthony delivers his stolen vehicle to the owner of the eggbeaterper shop, he refuses to sell the refugees found in the van to the owner of the chop shop, even though the sale of refugees would have brought him immense earnings. With this act, Anthony breaks down the barriers of his stereotype set upon him by the audience. Furthermore, he displays a random act of munificence by giving forty dollars to the refugees who were visibly in need. In the by-line scene, he sits in the van, introspects, and cannot refrain from smiling due to his altruism, which he had not previously exhi bited in the slightest. The audience can infer from Anthonys response that breaking ones own negative stereotypes by acts of bounty can have a heartwarming effect. The audience is made to feel like an oppressor for holding a stereotype against Anthony when he disproves it, the audience is also made to reconsider their own stereotypes in reality. The movie brings the detriments of prejudice out into the open and makes one realize how it is a major societal illness. by dint of the movie Crash, the audience can learn that although prejudices exist and dominate the inner workings of society, it can also be shattered by positive interactions with the oppressors and the oppressed. Once they are broken, the once prejudiced party gets an opportunity to scavenge their minds of such presumptions, and see the world around them with a new light. operate CitedCrash. Dir. Paul Haggis. Perf. Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, Thandie Newton,Terrence Howard, Brendan Fraser, Ryan Phillippe , Jennifer Esposito, Christopher Brian Bridges, Michael Pena, Larenz Tate and Shaun Toub. Lionsgate, 2004. Film.Vincent N. Parrillo Causes of Prejudice. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical intellection and Writing. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, Bonnie Lisle.Boston Bedford/ St. Martins, 2013. 504-517. Print.11 Quotations about Prejudice, The Quote garden A Harvest of Quotations for Word Lovers. Web. 16 July. 2011