Fruitvale Station: A Crash into reality!

Fruitvale Station is just another train stop on the road of racism. Fruitvale Station is the story of the last day of the life of a black man named Oscar Grant, which happens to occur on the last day of the year! For most of us New Year Eve is a time when we say goodbye to the things of past and look forward to what the New Year will bring.


The film shows Oscar’s struggles with trying to keep/find a job and still be legit (not selling weed on the side). The film also shows Oscar being a victim of racial profiling. We see Oscar trying to stay out of trouble, provide for his family and make his mom proud!

As I watched the film I could not help but to think about the film Crash. Crash was a powerful

Film dealing with the racial and social tensions of our time. Oscar Grant constantly crashed into people and I found it very ironic that it was all white people. Let me explain. During his mother’s visit to prison, Oscar gets into an argument with a white inmate/gangbanger. They are beefing about something and this beef/ argument resumes on the Bart on New Year Eve.

Oscar Grant meets Katie a white woman in the grocery store where he previously worked. Katie is trying to figure out which fish to purchase for a fish fry she is having for her boyfriend. Katie does not know where to begin so Oscar jumps in. He calls Grandma Bonnie to the rescue and she provides all the knowledge that Katie needs for a successful fish fry! Katie is all smiles and thanks Oscar for helping her out! Katie is on the Bart that New Years Eve as well. Coincidence I think not.

Lastly Oscar meets a white man who is a web developer. This man shares his rags to riches story with Oscar. He tells Oscar that he too was broke and stole a ring to propose to his now pregnant wife.



Oscar Grant was definitely between a rock and a hard place, Oscar could have sold that big bag of weed and that could have taken care of the money problems for a while but he chose not to. Oscar dumped the weed in the bay! Oscar wanted to make a different and do what was right and legal for his family.



Now this is where the reality of racism crashes into Fruitvale station!

The encounters: The inmate and his beef was the past. Katie is the present. The web developer is the future.

Oscar and Sophina made resolutions and were hopeful for what the New Year would bring for their family. But the train ride home turned evil, a fight occurs and the police arrive. The police assume and pull the black and brown men off the train. While the inmate and Katie rides on home!

Emotions are high and everyone wants to talk and no one wants to go to jail. But a white officer who is assuming reaches for his gun and in that emotional moment all hope is gone for Oscar Grant!

On the last day of Oscar Grant’s life he crashes into some white people who would probably not given him the time of day but they saw Oscar’s as human, not a thug and non treating. They let their guard down and shared positive exchanges with him. (Except the inmate/gangbanger).

There are always some who judge skin color and appearance, they will panic and shoot first and no questions later. Oscar Grant was just trying to get home, as he took his last breath he repeated, “I have a daughter.”



Oscar Grant’s story for me is that of redemption interrupted by racism! Oscar is the prodigal son trying to maintain a life without a job! Racism looms its evil head and loves to disgust itself as fear! Racism makes us panic and all hell breaks loose!

Trayvon Martin was a young black boy with the world waiting for him. Oscar Grant was a young black man who was in the world just trying to survive!

Trayvon was just starting out! Oscar was just starting over!



One thing I know for sure racism will always kill a happy ending!!!