MovieChat Forums > Higher Learning (1995) Discussion > The film is suggesting that all races ar...

The film is suggesting that all races are racist, no?

posted 9 years ago by Seth_Rogue_One
5 replies | jump to latest

Alot of people seem to be under the impression that the black guys are 'good' and the white guys are 'bad'

But I don't think it is supposed to be that simple, it's blatantly obvious that the black guys in this movie themselves are racist; especially Ice Cube and Busta Rhymes characters

Now the 2, continuously bully and degrade the white male students; in particular Michael Rapaport... Who then, and only then resorts to racism towards black people in general (because he has limited experience with black people and the only ones he knows bullies him for being white)

One thing that's also interesting though is when Kristen gets raped, Cuba and Busta and the squad comes to the rescue BUT and a very big but; that's NOT due to the rape, that's due to the fact that while the 'rapist' was on the phone trying to talk to Kristen her roommate didn't pass the phone on and he called her a "black bitch"

And that was why they went after him, otherwise they would most likely not given a crap

Also, Omar Epps mentions another black runners white girlfriend to Tyra Banks that he thinks it's disgusting he is with that 'cave bitch'

Of course alot of white males talked about race as well, especially the skinheads of course, but not any more really than the black males did

I'd say Kristen, Jennifer Connelly's character, Tyra Banks, the longhaired white guy, Laurence Fishburne, Adam Goldberg were the only non/racist characters in it... Which actually makes it more white non racists than black

Ignorance feed ignorance, and it is better to look into every situation with fresh eyes and that is what I think the movie is trying to teach... Especially considering the UNLEARN stamp in the end

Anyways just thought I'd say that

If Newborn Babies Could Speak They Would Be The Most Intelligent Beings On Planet Earth

[–] cdjunkee-1 9 years ago

I think the point was almost every character in the movie had flaws. Even Kristen holds on to her Purse in the elevator with Malick, one of her friends whines about her Mexican roommate probably getting a scholarship because of her race,etc. Deja seemed like she had her head on straight. Taryn seemed like a decent person. Malick's roommate seemed pretty nice. Kristen's roommate had preconceived notions about Kristen right off the bat when she told her "she lived near Disneyland". After she is raped it seems like Fudge gathers his buddies to beat up Billy not because Kristen was raped. But because he called Monet a "Black bitch". Nobody is perfect or free from preconceived notions.

[–] HATheLaughingManHA 9 years ago

The main Character with the right view is the professor played by Laurence fishburne

"no one will treat you special because you are black, or white or brown or Asian or feminists"

Nearly every other character sees themselves as a victim and owed something from society instead of recognizing in life bad things happen but it's no reason to blanket hatred against a group of people

[–] pmac7902 9 years ago

So 4 of us got it. I guess everyone else is having more fun on the other threads pointing at each others race as the REAL villain. No wonder we're screwed.

~~~"Who do you think you're dealing with? Guess again."~~~

[–] manofsteel4455 9 years ago

It makes me appreciate the fact that a little more worldly than most people in my age range.

[–] scubadivingjr 9 years ago

but at that point she didn't tell anyone yet that she was raped how could they have known