answer - because derek kills one man on purpose even after he surrendering on basis of religion

He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, though the movie implies he got off easy, and that they could have charged him with murder. I have a sense that if an incident like this happened today, he might also be charged with a hate crime.

@Kylopod said:

He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, though the movie implies he got off easy, and that they could have charged him with murder. I have a sense that if an incident like this happened today, he might also be charged with a hate crime.

the swastika on his chest would be a dead give away

I thought he got off extremely light. I don't know if the filmmaker were trying to imply that it was because he was white but I think his lawyer could have pulled off a stand your ground sorta deal. Still though, the guy was already shot. How you can say you still feared for your life that you needed to curb stomp the guy is beyond me.

American History X (1998) - 9 outta 10 stars

I thought he got off extremely light. I don't know if the filmmaker were trying to imply that it was because he was white but I think his lawyer could have pulled off a stand your ground sorta deal.

I think one possible criticism of the movie is that it didn't do enough to highlight the concept of systemic racism in the justice system--but the concept is there. It comes up in the scene where Lamont explains how he ended up with a 6-year sentence for stealing a TV and accidentally dropping it on a cop's foot. So yes, I do think the movie was intending to imply that Derek got off easy because he was white. Not all viewers get that implication, but I believe it's what was intended.

@Kylopod said:

I thought he got off extremely light. I don't know if the filmmaker were trying to imply that it was because he was white but I think his lawyer could have pulled off a stand your ground sorta deal.

I think one possible criticism of the movie is that it didn't do enough to highlight the concept of systemic racism in the justice system--but the concept is there. It comes up in the scene where Lamont explains how he ended up with a 6-year sentence for stealing a TV and accidentally dropping it on a cop's foot. So yes, I do think the movie was intending to imply that Derek got off easy because he was white. Not all viewers get that implication, but I believe it's what was intended.

Yeah, it totally makes sense to me especially when you reminded me of the Lamont scene. I'm actually glad that Kaye didn't spoon feed the point too extremely. It's annoying when film makers bop you over the head with the message. It's one of the greatest criticisms with a lot of modern films that people feel the movies are too preachy or too "SJW". The truth is films have always had a social engineering message, its just film makers were more subtle with it. Anyways, great film and probably more relevant today than ever before.