Stereotypes In The Movie Crash

In the film Crash, directed by Paul Haggis and co-written by Paul Haggis and Robert Moresco, Cameron Thayer, a successful movie director, becomes the object of racial stereotyping. By focusing on the interactions between him and his wife, as well as Officer Ryan, the audience can identify how the concepts of stereotyping and power are correlated with one another. In addition to the life of Cameron Thayer, Crash identifies several different persons who are subjected to stereotyping by those with power throughout the film. As many of the character’s lives crash into one another, issues between race, gender, and ethnicity become key components to the film’s plot, which provokes the audience to question the roles of stereotyping in our daily lives.

Officer Ryan noticed that Christine was performing fellatio on Cameron while operating the vehicle and asked both of the Thayers to exit the car. As Christine drunkenly accuses Officer Ryan of racism, the charges heighten for both Christine and Cameron. Christine notices the racism that Officer Ryan has for Cameron and herself and blatantly says, “This is what it’s all about, isn’t it? You thought you saw a white woman blowing a black man and that drove your little cracker ass crazy” (Haggis). Cameron is then forced to watch Officer Ryan molest his wife in the form of a “pat-down” to demonstrate the power that he holds over the couple. Cameron became the subject of stereotyping from Officer Ryan when he noticed the color of his skin, even though the couple seemed to be harmless. Officer Ryan uses his police power to make Cameron feel weak by touching his wife in such a provocative way, yet Cameron cannot do anything to prevent it. As an object of racial stereotyping, Cameron experiences insecurity in his own skin and feels like he has been degraded to less of a person. As the night continues, stereotyping lingers as the Thayers return home after the brutal traffic

Cameron says, “You know, maybe I should have let them arrest your ass. Sooner or later you gotta find out what it’s really like to be black” (Haggis). Cameron stereotypes himself and the rest of the black community into a standard of criminals, rather than civilized individuals. In this instance, Cameron becomes the perpetrator of stereotyping, rather than the victim. Soon after, Cameron comments on Christine’s wealthy background, which contributes to the reason why Cameron dismisses her comments that suggested that Cameron was in the wrong for not standing up for his wife against Officer Ryan. As Cameron categorizes Christine into her own stereotype as a rich, black woman, Cameron creates yet another stereotype. By playing the role of a perpetrator, Cameron gains confidence and control over Christine. He gains a sense of power over her, which makes him feel in control, but in the making, Cameron also loses the foundation of trust and love that their relationship was built upon. The stereotyping that Cameron imposes on Christine and the black community further separates himself from the his racial identity and the relationship he shares with his wife by building a wall that creates generic assumptions based upon their outward