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Danny begins to realize that it wasn’t his father’s death that sent Derek off to join his neo-Nazi group — it was his father himself. Danny remembers a time when Derek discussed his new history teacher, Dr. Sweeney (Avery Brooks), at the dinner table. Initially, Derek looked up to him, but once their father learned that Dr. Sweeney was a Black man teaching Black literature, things took a turn at the dinner table.
The film shows him urging Derek to question Dr. Sweeney, sharing that these days, people are forced to hire under-qualified employees for a job in order to fit a racial quota. He suggests it’s not fair that qualified “hard-working Americans” are now being overlooked for people who don’t fit in his version of America. Derek quickly changes his stance to agree with his father, causing his dad to say that he’s proud of him. As Danny reflects on the conversation, he begins to cry, realizing the same indoctrination has claimed him. They’ve both became versions of their dad.
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The scene is a powerful moment, showcasing how their father’s racism has clouded his judgement. Dr. Sweeney is likely the most qualified person for his job, yet their father insists that under-qualified people are given jobs over qualified ones; according to him, Dr. Sweeney is in the wrong.
