American History X1998

Dennis Vinyard:
So what is this "Native Son" ?

Derek Vinyard:
It's this book about this black guy. We're doing this whole black literature unit.

Dennis Vinyard:
What, is it Black History Month?

Derek Vinyard:
No, it's just this guy Sweeney, you know? It's part of the course now.

Dennis Vinyard:
Yeah...whatever. It's everywhere I look now.

Derek Vinyard:
What?

Dennis Vinyard:
This "affirmative blaction."

Doris Vinyard:
Honey, a few new books doesn't qualify as affirmative black action.

Dennis Vinyard:
Read the book, ace the guy's test...just don't swallow everything he feeds you whole. Just because you see it on the evening news...

Derek Vinyard:
I know, but what?

Dennis Vinyard:
All this stuff about making everything "equal..." it's not that simple. Now you've got this book "Native Son." What happened to the other books in the course? They're not good anymore because Mr. Two Ph.Ds says so? Now you got to trade great books for black books? Does that make sense? You gotta question these things, Der. You gotta look at the whole picture. We're talking about books...but we're also talking about my job. I've got two black guys on my squad now who got their job over a couple of white guys who actually scored higher on the test. Does that make sense? Everything's "equal" now, but I've got two guys watching my back...responsible for my life...who aren't as good. They only got the job because they were black, not because they were the best.

Derek Vinyard:
That sucks.

Dennis Vinyard:
Yeah, is that what America's about? No, America's about the best man for the job. You do your best, you get the job. This affirmative action crap--I don't know what that's about. There's like some hidden agenda or something going on. You see what I'm saying?

Derek Vinyard:
Yeah, I do. I didn't think about it like that...This Sweeney guy though, he just comes on so strong. It's hard not to listen to him. I guess some of what he says though, it's kind of--

Dennis Vinyard:
It's bullshit.

Derek Vinyard:
Yeah...yeah, maybe.

Dennis Vinyard:
No. It's n*gger bullshit. You see that, don't you?

Derek Vinyard:
Yeah.

Dennis Vinyard:
You got to watch out for that.

Derek Vinyard:
Yeah. No, I get what you're saying. I will.

Dennis Vinyard:
(pats Derek on the back) Good boy. I'm proud of you.