Holy crud!
It's funny about American Skin. On the one hand, it is about getting shot for living in your American Skin, but it also brings out the perspective of the LEO, the uncertainty that leads to firing (is it a gun, is it a knife is it wallet, this is your life). The other hand, the voice of the mother advising her son, "when an officer stops you, promise me you'll always be polite, never run away, and always keep your hands in sight" makes so much sense. Try not to drop the match in the kindling, while acknowledging there's kindling.