track. Positive influence by authority figures can be seen in the film just as well as the negative. Throughout the film Dr. Sweeney is the force pushing both brothers to make their lives better. Sweeney makes Danny rewrite the civil rights paper to be about how his brother has influenced his life and those around him. The paper is "written" throughout the movie, showing us his inner thoughts. This paper, along with the aforementioned talks with Derek, helps Danny to see the error of his ways. Derek too is able to see what is wrong with the situation he is in. In prison, he defies the white Nazi group, finding out the sad truth that they did not strongly uphold their beliefs. Fighting them led to his rape and torture, but also a realization that he would need help to fix his problems. Sweeney come in and saves him pushing him to question why he believed any of the propaganda in the first place. He asks, "Has anything you've done made your life better?" He then makes Derek deal with his family and keep Danny from falling into the same trap. The cycle now is back onto the adult figure Derek has become. This is why the ending is so bittersweet, Danny is convinced that the Nazi life was useless but ends up being killed. As Derek runs in and holds his dying brother he says, "What have I done?" He thinks of all the reasons why he caused his brother's death. But because he mourns, he cannot fathom what he has really done. The viewer sees that Derek followed Sweeney's advice and guidance and changed his brother for the better. Whether it is positive or negative, anyone important in a child's eyes can dramatically impact how they will act, think, or believe. The teens from American History X were all looking for something to hold on to and to be a part of? It is hard to see Derek, Danny and all the others fall for the lies and propaganda set forth by the adults. It's hard to see peers pressure their gang mates into believing something so strongl...
