American History

XCharacters

Derek VinyardMain ProtagonistNeo-nazi white supremacistRevered brother of Danny

Racially influenced by his father

Murders 2 African Americans & gets sent to prison for 3 years for voluntary manslaughter

Changes his attitude towards African Americans and racial hatred whilst in prison

Danny VinyardYounger brother of DerekIs recruited into the neo-nazi white supremacist group controlled

by Cameron Alexander while Derek is in prison

Is in trouble at school for submitting a paper claiming that Hitler was a hero

Confronts a young African American boy at school who later murders

Danny in a bloody shooting

Dr. Bob SweeneySweeney was once Derek’s

English teacher – now Principal of Danny’s school

He refuses to “give up” on Danny when Murray reports him to Sweeney

Derek begs Sweeney to help him after the rape in prison

Sweeney confides in Derek that he used to hate white people as a youth, and he realized that racism is pointless

Sweeney asserts that Derek has spent his life pursuing answers, and then asks: "Has anything you've done made your life better?“

This proves a turning point for Derek

LamontLamont emerges as Derek's only true friend in prison, and is part of the reason Derek stays alive as he uses what influence

he has to stop the black prisoners from hurting Derek

A positive African American character who is the stimulus for Derek’s catharsis. He, with Sweeny, balances the stereotypes of African American characters in all films. He tells Derek

that, “in here you is the nigger.”

Cameron AlexanderA manipulative father figure for

both Derek and Danny A political, white supremacist,

self-serving idealist who revels in the control he has over the young

Controls the Neo-Nazi street gang, The D.O.C. (Disciples of Christ) and entices young whites to join. The gang commits acts of intimidation, such as damaging a store owned by a Korean and challenging black players to basketball games to win the court as turf.

MurrayA teacher who represents the liberal community with his views

He is not ready to accept that people can change and is an example of

how so called liberal minded people can have closed minds

Murray (Danny's history teacher) reports Danny to the now principal Dr. Sweeney on account of Danny's history paper on Mein Kampf, Hitler's autobiography

Murray also has “romantic” ideas about Doris Vinyard, Derek & Danny’s mother

Murray is Jewish

Seth RyanDerek's neo-Nazi friendHe helps to keep Danny’s white supremacist, racial hatred inflamed during

the 3 years that Derek is in prison

StacyDerek’s equally-white supremacist girlfriend

The End

Writing TaskExplain the importance

of the character of Dr. Sweeney in the lives of both Derek & Danny. Use examples & quotes,

if possible.