High school student Danny Vinyard receives an assignment from his history teacher Mr. Murray to write a paper on "any book which relates to the struggle for human rights." Knowing Murray is Jewish, Danny writes his paper on Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf." Murray attempts to expell Danny, but African-American Principal Dr. Bob Sweeney refuses, instead informing Danny that he will study history and current events under his own direction, and that the class will be called "American History X."