CRASH!!!

1. The cop (Matt Dillon) showed racism because at first he sides with the whites and always thinks that they are right. When he pulls over the two African Americans and goes right to assume the worst and checks the woman for any weapons and etc he goes and feels her up before he lets them go. Another example of when he uses racism is his thought process. Another person that is somewhat racist is the owner of the store. When his store got destroyed he protects himself by buying a gun. When purchasing it he experiences racism. When he hires someone to fix the lock and the person says that he needs to fix the door and then the man gets mad and assumes the worst. Then the next day he wakes up and he stores is all destroyed he assumes it was the man that was supposed to fix the lock. While being racist he was assuming that the guy did it just because he was Latino. Comparing the two the cop was always racist non stop practically no matter what. The store owner only seemed to be racist when the situation got bad like when the situation gets bad. For example he went ahead and hired an Latino to fix the lock but once things weren't going so great he started to be more racist.

2. One stereotype was that black people don't tip (in restaurants). When the two African Americans were at the restaurant and the waiters knew/assumed this. It made them feel bad because just based on the color of their skin they aren't going to tip. There could be people of any skin color that would tip and exact opposite. Another stereotype is (being a) cheater. When the Latino fixed the lock and then tells the owner that he fixed the lock but he needs a new door, the owner assumes that the Latino can fix it when he can't bc its not his occupation. This makes the Latino feel horrible and he, the store owner, gets really angry for getting called a cheater just for trying to help.

3. "You embarrass me; you embarrass yourself". By saying this quote the man got embarrassed the other man should of felt bad for him and himself, being African American, should of been embarrassed as well. When he was sitting in the car and Terrence go out and went to talk to the police, Ludacris was embarrassing himself bc he (Terrence) was getting all the blame when it should have been split between them or given to him.

4. Stereotypes are all over. The most likely come from people assuming that a group of people all with a similar trait all do/have the same/similar features. For example the stereotype from the movie is that white people cling on to something when scared. This probably started when a couple of African Americans saw ONE American grasp onto their partner when scared.

5. Personally I believe that racism is NOT natural. I think it is a personal decision and you can control it. If people can get along with different backgrounds then people wouldn't have to worry bout what others think/say. If you control yourself/bite your tongue/lip then you wouldn't have a problem/wouldn't be racist.

6. Race is learned through the people and interactions you grow up/know. When people ask the question bout skin color and they have to explain. People get messages from the people who they are most comfortable around....like family and friends. You also get different racial messages from the media based on what you watch.

7. I think its possible to control/limit the use of racism but I don't think it is possible to end it. If people are stubborn and stuck in their ways then it won't get better/change.

Class vs. Classy

There are MANY (different) factors/elements that add up to what economic class you're in. A MAJOR factor is the class you grew up in. The wealth today in America is so unevenly spread out that people remain in the same class their whole life. Life is a struggle and never is easy, but changing classes isn't (easy) like taking a walk in the park. For some, money, jobs, and luxury comes easy. But for others its something they only dream of. When being wealthy, you have many privileges. For example, where they live, goes along with is this a good community where there is a great education for my children, the amount of stress/more opportunities in their lives goes with not really having to worry about the money being there for bills, day to day necessities, and their hobbies and being able to buy their way to the top when others have to work and earn their spot etc., "who you know"/"who your involved with"/their social network, is like the country clubs, and other rich/wealthy people who only know you because of your wealth. Personally, I don't think anything should be done to it. I feel that if someone needs money to be happy with themselves and their lives, then that's a bit upsetting. If your happy with yourself and surround yourself with people who love you and care for you for you, then money and success should NOT be on your mind and should NOT even be thinking about it.

Class

"What a man is depends on his character; but what he does, and what we think of what he does, depends on his circumstances. The characteristics that ruin a man in one class made him eminent in another."

I agree with this quote. I feel that people's character's depend on the situation and their upbringing. Our actions are viewed and defined by the people we surround ourself with even if its good or bad. God conscience (character) will allow the person to choose/determine correct from incorrect. But on the other hand, society may not agree witht he person's intentitions. Depending on class, certain actions are either looked greatly upon or looked down on. I think Shaw is trying to explain the fact that good and bad have different meanings amongst the different classes. For example, some in working class are ones who can and are able to be hands on and fix things by themselves and earn respect for having talent. However, someone in a rich/higher class may be looked down upon and say that they can pay to have someone fix their problems so they dont have to do it themselves. This distinction between what is accepted and respected changes as you take a look through the range of social classes. Shaw was right in saying that it all depends on circumstances.