The Shining condemns racism in America. As soon as the Torrances arrive at the Overlook Hotel, the manager explains that the hotel is supposedly built on a Native American burial ground and that the builders even fended off several attacks from the Native Americans. He mentions these facts as though they are merely footnotes, as though building on sacred land and killing indigenous peoples were no more troublesome or significant than leveling the ground or dealing with inclement weather. No Native Americans will stand in the way of American progress and capitalism. Native American patterns and motifs are repeated throughout the hotel in the stained glass, in the rugs, in the floor tiles, and in the carvings around the elevators, and although the beauty of these patterns is remarked upon (only by Wendy, who is herself part of a marginalized minority), no one seems to notice the irony of using Native American art to decorate a building that desecrates a burial ground.
The character of Dick Hallorann seems to represent not only African Americans in the movie, but Native Americans as well. When Dick give Wendy and Danny a tour of the kitchen, there is shot of his profile as they are standing in the storage room. Directly behind Hallorann's head is a jar or can of Calumet Baking Powder, whose label features the profile of an Indian in full headdress. The placement of Hallorann's next to the Native American on the jar highlights striking similarities and reinforces Hallorann's role as the "other" in this film. Hallorann is later connected to the Native Americans a second time when he is murdered by Jack and his bloody body sprawls across one of the striking Native American patterns in the hotel's floor. Although presenting Hallorann as a stand in for the Native Americans might seem far fetched, he is definitely used to represent African Americans and reveal the lingering racism in America. Jack meets Delbert Grady, who assures him that only the "best people" come to the Overlook Hotel and in the same conversation refers to Hallorann as not just a "n*****" but a "n***** cook"(Kubrick, The Shining). Use of this slur is clear racism, and Jack does not contradict or correct his use of the term, which indicates his tacit agreement with the description. Furthermore, in conjunction with Grady's comment about how only the best people come to the Ovelook, Grady's insistence on calling Hallorann a "n***** cook" smacks of class snobbery as well (Kubrick, The Shining). Grady is determined to make Jack aware that this uppity African American man is involving himself in Jack's family, which according to Grady's and Jack's patriarchal world view is unacceptable and intolerable. According to the white men in The Shining, the only way to solve a problem with a minority- women, African Americans, the lower class, or Native Americans- is to kill them. Jack's appearance in the photo from July 4, 1921, suggests the truth of the matter, that Jack and his beliefs belong in a different time. Jack would be happier in world that is white and homogenous, where women know their proper place.
The character of Dick Hallorann seems to represent not only African Americans in the movie, but Native Americans as well. When Dick give Wendy and Danny a tour of the kitchen, there is shot of his profile as they are standing in the storage room. Directly behind Hallorann's head is a jar or can of Calumet Baking Powder, whose label features the profile of an Indian in full headdress. The placement of Hallorann's next to the Native American on the jar highlights striking similarities and reinforces Hallorann's role as the "other" in this film. Hallorann is later connected to the Native Americans a second time when he is murdered by Jack and his bloody body sprawls across one of the striking Native American patterns in the hotel's floor. Although presenting Hallorann as a stand in for the Native Americans might seem far fetched, he is definitely used to represent African Americans and reveal the lingering racism in America. Jack meets Delbert Grady, who assures him that only the "best people" come to the Overlook Hotel and in the same conversation refers to Hallorann as not just a "n*****" but a "n***** cook"(Kubrick, The Shining). Use of this slur is clear racism, and Jack does not contradict or correct his use of the term, which indicates his tacit agreement with the description. Furthermore, in conjunction with Grady's comment about how only the best people come to the Ovelook, Grady's insistence on calling Hallorann a "n***** cook" smacks of class snobbery as well (Kubrick, The Shining). Grady is determined to make Jack aware that this uppity African American man is involving himself in Jack's family, which according to Grady's and Jack's patriarchal world view is unacceptable and intolerable. According to the white men in The Shining, the only way to solve a problem with a minority- women, African Americans, the lower class, or Native Americans- is to kill them. Jack's appearance in the photo from July 4, 1921, suggests the truth of the matter, that Jack and his beliefs belong in a different time. Jack would be happier in world that is white and homogenous, where women know their proper place.