The Movie Crash and Racial Tensions :: Crash Film Movies Racism Race Essays

Tension between the African Americans and Caucasians build been present in America since slavery. In the movie Crash (2004), travel and culture are major themes that can be seen in the lives of the characters in the film. One character in particular, Cameron, a prestigious color deal director, displays the friction between two cultures. He belongs to the educated, upper class of the Los Angeles area. He is also an African American, yet he seems to have no ties with that class. He has a light-skinned wife, attends award shows, and it appears that his acquaintances are predominately snowy. When he and his wife, Christine, get pulled over by a racialist cop, he experiences emotions of powerlessness and helplessness that he never knew he would experience due to his upbringing and place in society. Cameron goes through a radical transformation where he comes to grips with his background and how he fits into these two clashing cultures. In the first scene when Cameron i s introduced, two white cops get a call about a stolen simple machine. The openly racist cop, Officer Ryan, pulls over Cameron and Christines Lincoln Navigator, although it is obvious that their Navigator is not the stolen vehicle. The cop thinks he sees the couple participating in a inner act while driving. When he approaches the car to ask for registration and license, Cameron and Christine muzzle and find the whole situation humorous. Officer Ryan then asks Cameron to step out, and although Cameron obeys, he acts confused. He is obviously not drunk or wanting upset (in the movie it even states that he is a Buddhist), and he declares that he lives merely a block away. When his wife comes out of the car protesting the absurdity of the stop, the policeman tells both of them to put their hands on the car so he can check for weapons. The cop then humiliates Christine by feeling her up between her thighs while Cameron is forced to stand by and watch. In this scene, Cameron does not protest but unbelievingly stares at what is happening to his wife. He is in a vulnerable situation because if he objects, he and his wife could be arrested and his reputation ruined. When the police ask Cameron what he should do with what they did in the car he slowly says, Look, were sorry and wed appreciate it if youd let us go with a warning, please.