The film 8 Mile, directed by Curtis Hanson, is the typical American story of struggle and the final overcoming of obstacles and evil. Upon closer inspection, the film is undoubtedly a socioeconomic and racial discourse. It focuses on Marshall Mathers' rise in the rap industry, previously dominated by African-American males. Rabbit's race, gender, and class all contribute to his identity and the meaning of the film, as well as contributing to Eminem's image. Several themes are defined through the film's underlying discourse of race and class: the commodification of black culture, racial opposition, "passing," cross-cultural connection, white heroism and white masculinity, the reversal of privilege white at a disadvantage and, essentially, set in 1995, 8 Mile is the semi-autobiographical film about the rise to fame of Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, and the hip-hop scene, previously dominated by African-Americans. Jimmy is a high school graduate who lives in Warren, Michigan and works in a factory. He is a white male with aspirations of becoming a rapper. She lives with her mother, Stephanie, who has a younger, abusive boyfriend, and her little sister, Lily, in a trailer. Throughout the film, he has an unstable but sexual relationship with a girl named Alex, who he catches having sex with his friend, Wink (8 Mile). The Free World, the all-black opposing gang that rules the rap scene and the other side of 8 Mile Road, then recruits Wink and he joins them. Jimmy is waylaid by The Free World and nearly killed, and is harassed by them for the entire film. In the final scenes, Jimmy defeats the dark Free World by winning his rap battles and proving his worth to the Africans-...... middle of paper ...... n, the film 8 Mile can be seen as a entertaining film about the beginning of Eminem's career and the difficulties he faced, featuring some of his best songs. However, upon critical analysis, it is a film that may perpetuate hegemonic values, racial bias, and white privilege. Through Rabbit's passage into both white hero, but also black culture, many discussions about race and class can be examined. Racial opposition exists in this film not only through the juxtaposition of whiteness against dark forces, but also through the discourse of socioeconomic class. While the film might address social mobility, class oppression, and acceptance of diversity, it still aligns with its racial and hegemonic bias. The white hero conquers his own blackness and the darkness around him, and is accepted and dominates an industry from which he is an outsider..