Comment
Comment on the two presentations
Muhammad Ali
American History X
At first I would like to give my view on the way the referents presented their topics and following I will proceed with the vital importance of Muhammad Ali respectively the movie American History X.
Muhammad Ali
I am of the opinion that M. has given us a really good presentation about Muhammad Ali. I got to know an entirely new view of that man.
Previously I was just deeming that Muhammad Ali would be a famous boxer. I had never suspected his important role in the anti-war movement and in the emancipation movement for the black community.
In my opinion M. outlined the main aspects for that movements pretty well and he gave us interesting information e.g. about Ali’s change of name, which he intensified by using apt quotations from him.
There is no doubt about it that Ali achieved great things, success in sports as well as his participation in above-mentioned movements.
One of the most interesting facts was that Ali had nerve enough to refuse the conscription, although it was known that this action would be a commission of a crime.
Another significant point is that Ali was born in slavery, which most of people did not know. Here M. presented an apt quotation:
“Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn’t choose it, and I didn’t want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name – it means beloved of God – and I insist people use it when speaking to me and of me.”
This quote connects the most important reasons, why the black community should have equal conditions and rights like white people.
“I didn’t choose it, and I didn’t want it.”
The black community never did something for which they would deserve this extent of segregation. Simultaneously there is a stubborn will to not accept his life as slave recognisable.
“[…] it means beloved of God […]”
Look at “imago dei”. This godlikeness refers to all human-beings, so to black people as well. We are all made in the image of God.
Summing up it can be said that Muhammad Ali is an important person and idol for the black community.
American History X
Generally it is really absorbing that the view of a white racist is presented, who fortunately changes his attitude in the course of the movie.
My personal view is that A.’s presentation was pretty good. He showed us significant and impressive scenes. For instance the scene before the group ravages a store from Asians. In his inciting speech Derek Vinyard, the protagonist, adduces reasons for hating black people. For example he calls them “parasites”. In his opinion black people are at fault for all nuisances in the country and society. Not only black people commit crimes also the Whites, e.g. even Derek when he kills two black men.
Therefore he goes to prison. There he becomes more or less voluntarily friends with Lamont, a black man. After that period of time in prison his attitude has changed. Derek does not hate black people anymore. The reason is that Derek notices that, in that case Lamont, black people are like him and that they are treated unfair.
As far as I remember, Lamont is in prison for a quite trite reason but although for a longer time than Derek, who killed two people! Actually Derek, who after all was a convinced racist, is surprised when he hears Lamont’s story.
At the end, just as Danny, Derek’s little brother, has also changed his mind he is shot dead by a young black man, because of his previous racialist attitude.
His “voice” quotes:
“Hate is a baggage. Life is too short to be pissed off all the time.”
With regard to the question “Is your life better now?”, which Derek is asked, it is clear that their racialist attitude does not solve any problems. It is certain that there are some social wrongs, but people cannot find the black community guilty. When the hate endures there never will be a pleasant life for white as well as for black people.
In contrast to the statement of the first presentation, this one helps to “understand” why white people are racist and hate black people, BUT simultaneously it clarifies that these are wrong reasons and it shows, where it will end up.
Therefore these two presentations are complementary, because they show on the one hand the view of black people and on the other hand the view of white people.
I should like to repeat once again that the Whites have wrong reasons for hating the black community and I would like to emphasise that both presentations fortunately have shown that.
