I have found a part to the script of American History X that deals with the Topic of Affirmative Action. The Parts you see in this script are spoken by Dennis (The Dad-Firefighter), Derek (The Son-Edward Norton-High Schooler), Danny (The Younger Son-Middle Schooler), and Doris (The Wife-Mom). When "Sweeney" is refered to, he is Derek's High School History teacher.
In this scene, Dennis is telling his family about the job quotas within his fire department. This is NOT the script as it appeared in the movie, but it's pretty damn close. Here it is:
DENNIS
I'll tell you one more thing. This
"affirmative black action" shit is driving
me up the fucking wall. Firefighters
gettin' 99's on their tests while
rappers who score a goddamn 62 walk
away with the job.
DANNY
Don't we have to have "affirmative
action?"
DENNIS
Not when a job requires ability. No.
DORIS
A lot of people say otherwise, Danny.
Including me.
DENNIS
A lot of people don't know shit,
either.
Doris just stares at the back of her husband's head like
she wants to smack it. He turns back and disarms her
with a look.
DENNIS
If I'm fightin' a brush fire...
surrounded by thousand degree
flames...who would I want watchin' my
back? A guy who scores a 99 or a guy
who scores a sixty?
(then)
You don't see half the NBA with
whites, gooks and spics.
DORIS
Nooo...what you don't see are
minorities on the boards of Fortune
500 companies cause whites won't stand
for it.
DENNIS
Doris! I'm tired of your damn
argument! You sound like an idiot!
DEREK
Sweeney actually had a pretty good
take on affirmative action the other
day.
DENNIS
(smiling)
Really? I didn't know you spoke
"African", Derek? Where'd you learn
that shit? Johannesberg?
Dennis laughs and Derek eventually smiles. Danny looks
at them, not really understanding. Doris stares down
Dennis.
DORIS
Honey? Please don't speak that way.
They don't--
DENNIS
How am I speaking, Doris!? Hunh?!
I'm speakin' fineP
(quickly to Derek)
Hey. Don't let that him confuse you
over there, Derek. Look at me. This
shit he's pulling is a load of crap.
Hey. Look at me, Derek. I mean it.
If we keep givin' niggers everything,
there'll be nothing left for us.
Derek and Danny stare at their father, not knowing how to
react.
DORIS
You can be a stupid son of a bitch
sometimes.
DENNIS
And then we have naive fools like her.
DORIS
I really hate you with a passion some
times.
An upset Doris exits the room past YOUNG DAVINA. Dennis
looks to Derek.
DENNIS
You know what I mean though, right?
DEREK
(nodding)
Yeah.
This scene was put in this movie to show how Derek eventually grew up to be a Neo-Nazi. This particular scene was a flashback to about five years before the present day in the movie. They were trying to emphasis how Derek's father eventually made him a racist by constantly pushing all this stuff down his throat and making him believe it.
Personally, I have no opinion on Affirmative Action. But I do really like this movie. And this is a really powerful scene. So if you haven't already, check this movie out sometime.
-Ugly Bastard
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