Crash (2004)
The two black men are discussing the stereotypical views of black people within the American society. They comment on not getting asked if they wanted coffee and they didn't want any. The audience may start to emphasis with the two characters.
"she gets cold as soon as she sees us do we look threatening, no, if anyone should be scared it should be us" this connotes that the situation is flipped all because the area that they are in is dominated by white people and they are the only two black people around this connotes that black people may be afraid of being in that particular place. America is segregated, this mirrors slavery times because black people were not allowed in certain parts of America (Hattie Mc Daniels not being allowed to go to the film premier in which she won an Oscar, and therefore segregation is a contemporary issue (Gone with the wind).
"Cause we got guns" connotes that they are not educated; and/or haven't had a proper upbringing, or this is there idiolect.
However they conform to the stereotypes which they are trying to justify: i.e. threatening a white couple with a gun in order to steal their car...... and the only reason they do this is because the white women apparently holds her husband’s hand when she sees the two black men, connoting that she may be scared of them......... and her thoughts are confirmed by the two black men's actions. Although they have stolen a car one of the males still has religious beliefs: he has a statue of St Paul: this is quite ironic and satirical because they have committed a sin however he is still acting like he is of a higher class...... being religious when he is a criminal.
The women who has been threatened insists that her husband changes the locks again after the mixed race man leaves because she beliefs that he will give the keys to his "gangbang friends", this is a stereotypical view of mixed race people in America. "Prison tattoos" connoting that coloured people are criminals (justified by the car stealing)
The white police man is on the phone to a receptionist at a doctor surgery regarding issues related to his Dad, the minute he hears the women's name "Shaniqua Johnson" he immediately relates her names to her attitude and she hangs up.
The two policemen are driving casually when they see a SUV which is the same vehicle which was stolen by the black men. One of the male officers automatically assumes that because there us a black man driving the car that they are guilty, this connotes that he is stereotyping all the black community to be criminals. Although the other male officer confirms that the registration is not the same he still insists in pulls them over. 'black people weren't allowed to own nice cars, they weren't allowed to have money....... they were only allowed the jobs that white people didn't want'. If black people had money or nice cars they would get accused of being thieves which is a stereotypical view....... hence discriminating black people.
The white police man treats the black men in a very primitive manner therefore in an aggressive and violent tone. He also plays games with the black man e.g. he knows that he hasn't been drinking and tell him to do challenge which are used to convict drink driver. This signifies that the white police officer think that he is a better male and of a higher class. This then leads the wife to get out of the vehicle and start ranting and raving, she has been drinking and this influences her actions and responses. This gives the 'racist' white police officer to tell them to put the hands on their heads and then searching them.
The officer explicitly touches the women, in a primitive and unneeded manor..... the husband doesn't make any comment apart from telling her to shut up, this connotes that he feels interior to the police men...... he doesn't feel that he has the power to stick up for his wife....... his wife gives in and stops arguing because she is shocked by the whole situation.
The husband apologises to the officers and they are realised with a warning..... This enhances and emphasises the white officers thought about being dominant and in power, because the husband has given in to the pressure.
Rap music is played; this particular genre is related back to black people, and rap music was created to oppress black people.
Ludacris and his friend aren't paying attention to the road and therefore this leads to the running over of an innocent Chinese male. "china man" the language used by Ludacris shows that he is ignorant to other cultures; moreover, back when slavery was around, black people weren't allowed an education and this is a stereotypical view of black people, it is emphasised and reinforced by Ludacris' idiolect.
"Not talking black enough"
Although the Ken- the black person is of a higher job status than the white man he still feels the need to justify himself, "is there a problem Ken" the white man is speaking down to Ken, and is questioning his decisions, undermining him and his actions. Ken again gives into the white male and does what he asks.
The names used are very stereotypical e.g. "Jamal" is a typical 'black name' and "Eddie" is a white name- Tommie is the smart one and Jamal is the not so smart one and confirm the stereotypical view of black people because Jamal is black and he is not smart because he is not educated?
The whole concept of having clear windows on buses is quite unusual....... Ludacris stated that it is because they want to reduce coloured people. 'Big brothers watching you' (1940's). Contemporary issues?
Black people are segregated from the rest of society; they are seen to be the inferior and therefore less dominant race.
The idea of the 'racist' police officer helping the black women who he had previously malestered is quite unusual because he was acting in a primitive manor towards her before but now he’s saving her life...... (Jekyll and Hyde). Also Ludacris freeing the illegal immigrants who were captured for trafficking is amazing because he is being a 'good guy', maybe he’s learnt? This could be seen as a positive representation of black people however because he had stolen the car which the people were found in it could be seen as a pessimistic view.
We also see Daniel (the 24hour locksmith) fix the back door lock of Farhad's convenience store. Daniel warns that the door itself needs replacing, which Farhad, an older Persian man, seems to misunderstand and eventually leads to a screaming match where Farhad accuses Daniel of being a cheater. he was referred to as a cheater because he wasn't light skinned...... which is quite ironic because Farhad is getting stereotyped and categorized into being an 'Arab' when he is Persian...... Daniel is being stereotyped because he is coloured.
In addition the white officer who has his own vehicle is helping out the Ludacris' friend, the black male sees the statue of God and puts his hand in his pocket, the police officer assumes that he is going to get out a weapon and in response shoots him...... quite ironic as he was helping him, but when the black male opens his hand he reveals that he took out a statue which mirrored the one the officer had...... The black male was stereotyped for having a weapon when he didn't..... Because he has a record for owning a gun.
The films main white characters are depicted to be in comfortable financial, political and economical positions while the black characters are portrayed to be financially secure however undoubtably socially deprived.
