Racism is a feeling or belief of a particular race being inferior or superior to the other. In this case, the inborn biological characteristics are used to predetermine the moral and social traits of an individual. Racism makes individuals from varying races remain segregated away from each other. Ethnicity is used to refer to groups of people sharing common, language, ideologies, heritage, culture, and religion. When a person belongs to a particular cluster, it brings the realization of ethnicity belonging. According to the lecture notes, race is a group of individuals, and they must have similar physical characteristics like facial features and skin color (Ebert). Racism is achieved when a person is discriminated because of his or her inferior race.
Types of Racism
Individual racism occurs between individuals, where a person feels superior to the other. Institutional racism is the situation in which the private and public discriminate among themselves based on the race some people come from. Overt racism occurs where the discrimination against the inferior groups is evident on the surface. Covert racism happens at places like educational and workplaces, and there are minimal hatred and discrimination. Internalized racism occurs in the case where an individual internalizes that he or she is inferior or superior and lives with the feeling.
Examples of Racism from the Movie
Shaun, an Iranian is mistaken to be of Arab origin yet he has a Persian background- Prejudice
A locksmith, Pena from Mexican-American origin is assumed to be a gang affiliate, yet he is a family man- individual discrimination
Matt, a cop mistakes a light-skinned black lady Newton to be white- prejudice
A black TV director known as Terrence is told by a white associate that black characters do not sound black enough- overt racism
Cheadle, who is black cop, haves an affair with Jennifer, his wife but does not get it clear the country she is from- prejudice
A racist cop humiliates a black husband by searching her wife’s body because he believes that the lady caused the death of his father- individual discrimination
The attorneys wife sees the locks are changed and fears the locksmith will come back to attack them- prejudice
Father to a white cop dies due to lack of medical attention and accuses a black lady of preferential racial treatment- internalized racism
When an Iranian does not have a reliable understanding with a locksmith, he gets a gun for protection- overt racism
A gun dealer is in a shouting match with the Iranian- individual racism
Work Cited
Ebert, Roger. "Crash Movie Review & Film Summary (2005) | Roger Ebert". Rogerebert.com. N.p., 2005. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
