This film has a real chance to be used as recruitment material for skinheads, since it completely missed the mark with the point it was attempting to make. The problem is they were so focused on delivering their message that they neglected how they presented the story. The plot revolves around a group of skinheads who win a basketball game against rival gangs in an effort to curb violence near the courts. Afterward, one of the Black players tries to steal a car from a skinhead, which leads to the skinhead going to jail for killing him. The film then includes a flashback where the incarcerated skinhead argues that Affirmative Action policies are discriminatory because they prioritize race over qualifications—apparently intended to portray his villainy. His brother is assigned to read "Mein Kampf" as part of a school project and must write a paper called American History X, meant to discourage him from reading books that were once banned by actual Nazis. This seems hypocritical, restricting what people can read. Before he submits the assignment, he’s killed by a Black student involved in gang activity who brought a gun to school. Frequently throughout the film, you find yourself wondering why the Neo-Nazis seem sympathetic compared to everyone else. That wasn't likely the goal, but it’s what ended up happening. The movie is clearly meant to depict the skinheads as antagonists; that was presumably the intended message. However, it doesn’t quite achieve this, and instead often portrays them in a positive light—with the exception of scenes set in prison. Despite this, people seem to enjoy it. And they do enjoy it, which brings up an important question: Are audiences drawn to the film because of the failed message that inadvertently makes Neo-Nazis appear less objectionable than their opponents, or because they appreciate the filmmakers’ unsuccessful attempt to portray them as evil? It's reminiscent of "The Thin Red Line," where pushing a particular political viewpoint so aggressively resulted in Americans being depicted negatively during World War II—while they were fighting actual Nazis and Japanese war criminals. The narrative in “American History X” was forced, and as a result the intended message got lost.

Source on TMDB