Race Relations In The Movie Crash

The movie Crash (2004), directed by Paul Haggis, has encouraged the former Los Angeles police chief, William Bratton, to inform his deputy chiefs of the race relations within the movie. Bratton said “There’s nothing I saw depicted there that I’ve not experienced in my own years of policing;” therefore, the question that comes to mind is whether or not the film is also applicable to race relations in New York City. I sincerely believe that race relations within the New York City Police department and the minority community still exist; however, the media exaggerates the incidents that occur between different ethnic backgrounds. There are more incidences that occur between the same ethnic group, rather than attacks solely between blacks and

The police officers who approach the suspects are risking their lives to protect the citizens, that is their job. Therefore, if an officer conducts an action out of impulse, it is not out of spite or prejudice, most of the time it is out of fear. Police officers are only human and as Professor Brown said, “Cops come from citizens… you guys (the class).” We, normal citizens, conduct mistakes on a daily basis; however, we do not possess the pressure of the world on our shoulders like police officers do. A scene where police relations is displayed at its finest in Crash is when Officer Tom Hansen picked up Peter Waters in his car. As Officer Tom Hansen used his discretion, he shot Peter Waters when Peter refused to show his hands and go into his pockets. Now in that instance, he might have not told Peter Waters he was an officer, but any reasonable person who were to be in that position would recognize the authority of an officer when Officer Tom Hansen said, “Put your hands where I can see them.” Peter Waters, in my opinion, was wrong for ignoring a stranger in his car, especially since he was hitchhiking. This goes to show that behind closed curtains, the full story cannot be revealed. As white officers kill minorities, riots arise; however, one cannot rely on the media for facts. What occurred at the scene is only between the victim and the suspect, and at times, witnesses; however, not all witnesses are confidential. Race relations, in my opinion, do exist; however, the minorities do not provide a better platform for themselves to be seen in, they continue their criminal activity and expect for the misconceptions to fade away. Race relations must be