Analyzing Malik's Character In Higher Learning

Analyzing Malik Character in the Higher Learning

Higher Learning, written and directed by John Singleton 1995. This movie picture Singleton’s attitude about racism in the United States’ campus in mid-90s. The movie consists of three freshman students Kristen (Kristy Swanson), Remi (Michael Rapaport), and Malik (Omar Epps) at the Columbus University. Malik is an African-American, and he seems smart and talented. His character changes a lot from the beginning until the end of the movie. Changing Malik’s character can be divided two parts how he updates himself in the university environment and his idea about the racism.

Malik was a track star at high school and because of that he gets a partial scholarship and comes to the university. He

quickly understands that the university is not as easy as high school. Whereas, his talent makes him special in high school, in the university is not enough. His coach told him “You think because you're a superstar rookie you don't have to work?I got guys on this field who'll clean your clock in five seconds.” Malik thought that he was better than others since he was in school, so he left the track. In the first day of class his find that his scholarship removed. Without scholarship he dose not able to pay the tuition. Therefore, he backs out of the track but blamed everyone except himself for his problems. In the dialog he has with professor Phipps, he said that “ I gotta run and study, man.” According to him, white people do not have anything to worry about it, they just talk about a classes, and skiing. His professor explains to him he should try harder. He told him that if you are running in a race and somebody in opposing team better than you, you left the track. Malik’s answer is, “I run faster”, so you should struggle more. His girlfriend always told him he should not regret anything because of his problems. She told him, “Many people would die to where you are.” Finally, he understand that “without struggle there is no progress” and there is not prosperous. He starts to work hard in studying, and running. It seems that he achieves to his goals in the end of the movie.

Before Malik came to university looks he had no idea about racism.

The first encounter he had with this problem is when he sees Kristen in the elevator. Kristen is in the elevator and the door near to close he put his hand between the door and open it. When he goes to the elevator Kristen hunched over herself because she did not feel safe. She is from Orange Country a wealthy place, so she feels that she is superior. Malik falls with Fudge in the university and Fudge tells him the problem you have it is just because your are black. He convinces Malik his scholarship is because of racism “Run, nigger, run.” On the other hand professor Phipps persuades him if the black people do not have high place in the community as like as white because they are lazy. They always blame society instead of working harder.. His girlfriend told him you are acting like idiot with fighting. You cannot solve any problem instead of that you make more problems. By the same token, campus’s police always has a pessimistic view of black people. For instance, when Remi put the gun on jewish guy and Malik, police catch Malik. In the last scene, Remi shoot his girlfriend. Malik finds Remi but when police come, they suspect Malik and beat him. Remi has time to run away. For understanding better his view, audience should attend to the his final paper. He believes that there is no benefit for African-American in law because the law written by white people. In his conclusion he said that the credo “liberty

and justice for all is a falsehood that has been widely ignored and needs to be addressed.” After all of these seems Malik should has racism view about the with people but in the last scene when he sees Kristen near the Columbus statue where his girl friend passed a way. He has friendly view to Kristen and told her this is not her fault. It is hard to say about his view because he has two different points in the final. It seems that director opens this part and audiences can make own conclusion.

Higher Learning is a movie about racism and how university life can affect on the students. In some of the students has negative affect and in others can say has positive affect. Singleton has special focus in Malik character, and how he changes a lot in the positive way. And playing of Omar Epps in this role mesmerize all the audience. Because of that, most of the audiences make more connection with his character.