American History X is a very important film in understanding the possibilities that racism has even in modern day. This film is very powerful by combining a meaningful and important message with phenomenal film editing. Jumping back between black and white to color creates a barrier between where the character has been and where he is now. Making use of slow motion at climatic points of the movie instills the message with the viewer that what they are watching, as horrific as it is, is possible. Centering the plot around the main character and his struggle with identifying himself within society, the director creates brilliant juxtapositions that allow the viewer to visually interpret the meaning. The main issue in the movie is racism and by pairing whites and blacks together in the same scene helps to show the divide felt by the characters. The black and white film use furthers on this by breaking race down to a very basic level – which the main character sees it as. When the film transforms to color the plot and the characters ideas coincide by becoming more and depth and complex.