History YMMV / HigherLearning

* ToughActToFollow: Compare the high praise, reliability, and the reputation ''Film/BoyzNTheHood'' or even ''Film/PoeticJustice'' has to this film and it's stark. Compared to how both predecessors also handled the messages [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped much more subtly]] compared to ''Higher Learning'' basically [[{{Anvilicious}} being more face on about it's messages]] (especially with [[spoiler: the ending ''literally'' spelling out "UNLEARN"]]), it's hard to see why some remember the former two than ''High Learning''.

* RootingForTheEmpire: It's obvious that Singleton wants us to see the Nazi characters as evil and cruel, even to the point of [[Anvilicious having ominous music play whenever they appear]]. But he did a little ''too'' good a job of demonization, making every skinhead character [[BeingEvilSucks so stupid, delusional, cowardly, or pathetic]] that many viewers wound up [[UnintentionallySympathetic sympathizing with them anyway]]. This reached EpicFail dimensions when Michael Rapaport reported hearing ''black'' moviegoers saying they identified with his character!
* StrawmanHasAPoint: Creator/JohnSingleton wants us to see Remy's behavior later on in the film as irrational and merely acting out. But when you take into consideration how Fudge's gang, including Malik, treat him, is there any wonder he [[FaceHeelTurn went nuts]]?

* {{Anvilicious}}: During the "Take Back the Night" rally, a woman in the crowd holds a sign that reads [[CaptainObvious "Rape is A Crime"]].
** Racism is bad!
** [[{{Eagleland}} America is racist!]]
** ''Can't we all just get along?''

** Some white viewers tentatively identify with [[spoiler: Remy]], arguing that [[spoiler: his homicidal rampage in the climax]] was only [[PayEvilUntoEvil an accounting for what had been done to him]]. They forget that 1) Fudge and his goons, for all their negative traits, are ''not'' bloodthirsty zealots; and 2) [[spoiler: the two people actually shot to death by Remy are [[KickTheWrongDog innocents who never tormented him]] and barely even knew him]].

* [[DoNotDoThisCoolThing Truffaut Was Right]]: It's obvious that Singleton wants us to see the Nazi characters as evil and cruel, even to the point of [[AndThatsTerrible having ominous music play whenever they appear]]. But he did a little ''too'' good a job of demonization, making every skinhead character [[BeingEvilSucks so stupid, delusional, cowardly, or pathetic]] that many viewers wound up [[UnintentionallySympathetic sympathizing with them anyway]]. This reached EpicFail dimensions when Michael Rapaport reported hearing ''black'' moviegoers saying they identified with his character!

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: When the going gets tough, what do you do? [[spoiler: Run away and drop out of college like Malik does at the end of the film]].
** Though it's justified, because if you've suffered through constant racial oppression, had your girlfriend shot and witness the perpetrator kill himself, then you'd probably want to drop out too.

* [[DoNotDoThisCoolThing Truffaut Was Right]]: It's obvious that Singleton wants us to see the Nazi characters as evil and cruel, even to the point of [[AndThatsTerrible having ominous music play whenever they appear]]. But he did a little ''too'' good a job of demonization, making every skinhead character [[BeingEvilSucks so stupid, delusional, cowardly, or pathetic]] that many viewers wound up [[UnintentionallySympathetic sympathizing with them anyway]]. This reached EpicFail dimensions when the actor who played [[spoiler: Remy]] reported hearing ''black'' moviegoers saying they identified with his character!

* StrawmanHasAPoint: John Singleton wants us to see Remy's behavior later on in the film as irrational and merely acting out. But when you take into consideration how Fudge's gang, including Malik, treat him, is there any wonder he [[FaceHeelTurn went nuts]]?

* MisaimedFandom: Some white viewers tentatively identify with [[spoiler: Remy]], arguing that [[spoiler: his homicidal rampage in the climax]] was only [[PayEvilUntoEvil an accounting for what had been done to him]]. They forget that 1) Fudge and his goons, for all their negative traits, are ''not'' bloodthirsty zealots; and 2) [[spoiler: the two people actually shot to death by Remy are [[KickTheWrongDog innocents who never tormented him]] and barely even knew him]].

* TheDanza: Swanson's real first name is, in fact, "Kristen."
* DawsonCasting: Almost all of the actors were in their early to mid twenties playing college students. Michael Rapaport, Kristy Swanson, Ice Cube, Adam Goldberg, Regina King and Jennifer Connelly were all twenty-five and Creator/TyraBanks and Omar Epps were both twenty-two.
** It is explicitly stated that Fudge has been in school for six years, so Ice Cube isn't actually that far off.

* HilariousInHindsight: Laurence Fishburne's first line is "[[Film/TheMatrix Welcome to the real world.]]"

** "Unlearn." (The movie [[LiteralMetaphor literally spells this out]] [[ViewersAreMorons for the audience]].)

** The [[TitleDrop Higher Learning]] poem.

* {{Anvilicious}}: During the "Take Back the Night" rally, a woman in the crowd holds a sign that reads [[CaptainObvious "Rape is A Crime"]]. That said it's more nuanced than most films of its day when it comes to addressing racism and sexism.

** When Scott, Remy's nazi friend urges him to stay in school. He does it for the wrong reasons, but still there's no denying the value of education.

* StrawmanHasaPoint: John Singleton wants us to see Remy's behavior later on in the film as irrational and merely acting out. But when you take into consideration how Fudge's gang, including Malik, treat him, is there any wonder he [[FaceHeelTurn went nuts]]?

* FetishFuel: Deja in her track suit.

* HilariousInHindsight: Laurence Fishburne's first line is "[[TheMatrix Welcome to the real world.]]"
* MisaimedFandom: Some white viewers tentatively identify with [[spoiler: Remy]], arguing that [[spoiler: his homicidal rampage in the climax]] was only [[PayEvilUntoEvil an accounting for what had been done to him]]. They forget that 1) Fudge and his goons, for all their negative traits, are ''not'' bloodthirsty zealots; and 2) [[spoiler: the two people actually shot to death by Remy are [[KickTheWrongDog innocents who never tormented him]] and barely even knew him]].

* NightmareFuel: [[spoiler: Deja is shot in the stomach by Remy and suffers an agonizing death, [[BloodFromTheMouth vomiting up blood]].]]

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: [[spoiler: Deja is shot in the stomach by Remy and suffers an agonizing death, [[BloodFromTheMouth vomiting up blood]].]]

** That bizarre, [[FakeBrit pseudo-British accent]] the leader of the neo-Nazis uses.