Crash Film Analysis

Jaytron Charles

Race in America

Mar. 10th, 2011

Crash Film Analysis

The film crash embraces and illustrates Tatum distinction between prejudice and racism because it is directly correlated to Tatum's definition of racism. Tatum's definition of racism ensues that racism conflates prejudice and power and is a system of advantage based on race i.e. "white privilege". The film also embraces her notion by showcasing that we are all affected by racism and that the source of prejudice is preconceived judgments and notions that are based on limited information i.e. "stereotypes". So if you accept Tatum's definition of racism people of color or minorities can be prejudice and can stereotype the majority but they can't be racist. The entire film touches on these stereotypes which Tatum believes are the primary source of prejudice.

Tatum believed that the primary source of prejudice were stereotypes which are preconceived judgments or notions based on little information. The entire film is about stereotypes but there are a couple that I found interesting. When the white cop officer Ryan calls the clinic regarding his father's urinary tract he gets a response he didn't like so he asked the supervisor her name and she said Shaniqua Johnson and the officer replied "Shaniqua. Big fucking surprise that is! Here the officer is operating off of the stereotype that Shaniqua Johnson is black women who is lazy and can't get what he asked done. Later in the film officer Ryan goes in to see Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Johnson refuse to help him he accuses her of getting the job only because she is black. He says that there are dozens of more qualified white people who could have got the job but didn't due to minority programs like affirmative action. Here he is operating