How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Crash.
Quote #1
JEAN: I just had a gun pointed in my face! […] and it was my fault because I knew it was gonna happen. But if a white person sees two Black men walking towards her and she turns and walks in the other direction, she's a racist, right? Well I got scared and I didn't say anything and ten seconds later I had a gun in my face. Now I am telling you, your amigo in there is gonna sell our key to one of his homies and this time it'd be really f***ing great if you acted like you actually gave a s***!
Jean has a certain point here, but does she understand that the real issue here is white assumptions about Black criminality? If there weren't a cultural perception of young Black men as "thugs," then no one would be crossing the street to get away from innocent Black men. But here, Jean blames the Black men themselves, and their actions will define her perception of everyone else who looks like them.
Quote #2
FARHAD: Dorri, that man could've killed your mother. You think I should let crazy people do what they want to us?
Farhad lives a life of fear. Why is that? Is his fear valid? People do harass him and attack his store, after all. What would you do in his position?
Quote #3
FARHAD: Then go and fix the f***ing lock, you cheater. […] You fix the f***ing lock, you cheater!
DANIEL: Hey, I'd appreciate if you'd stop calling me names.
FARHAD: Then fix the f***ing lock!
DANIEL: I replaced the lock! You gotta fix the f***ing door!
Farhad is scared for his safety, but his solution is to lash out and be angry at Daniel, even though it isn't Daniel's fault. His anger keeps people at bay, and it isolates him—which only puts him in more danger. Why do you think he feels the need to take it all out on the locksmith?