Stereotypes Galore!

Paul Haggis’ 2004 movie ‘Crash’ films the story of a car jacking and the related events to it from the multiple views of the characters involved. As the story unfolds we find ourselves in a story filled with racism and racial stereotypes. The stereotypical roles begin early in the story when the District Attorney of Los Angeles, Rick Cabot, and his wife, Jean Cabot, are carjacked. Surprise! The carjackers are both black. The event leaves Jean very uncomfortable with minorities, and when they decide to change their locks on their house she is untrusting of the a Mexican-American locksmith, Daniel Ruiz, who changes the locks and insist that they be changed again the following day. Daniel Ruiz himself is pointed out just because of his outward appearance. He looks to be a sketchy character that lives a rough life, but beyond the initial prejudice, he is actually a loving family man who puts the good of his family above all else. The head carjacker, Anthony, is aware of the negative stereotypes placed on blacks. He is very vocal about the distaste he has for the image that goes along with the black community; yet, he falls right back into the stereotypical life of crime and violence. The inverse of Anthony is Detective Graham Waters, the older brother of Anthony’s partner Peter. Graham is the product of a broken home: his brother is deeply involved in crime and his mother is addicted to drugs. Detective Waters seeks to rise above his shadowy upbringing and now works to make the world a better place. Finally, we have the image of the Persian shop owner, Farhad. Farhad is viewed as an outcast by those around him, and is mistaken by others as an Arab. This places the false label of a terrorist onto Farhad, and with his natural bitterness and short temperedness, he plays into the role very well.

David Scully