Who is juror 10 racist to?

Asked by: Madyson Carroll  |  Last update: June 18, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (27 votes)

In 12 Angry Men, Juror 10 (the owner of several garages) expresses virulent, bigoted racism toward the defendant—a teenager from a slum, often interpreted as Puerto Rican, Mexican, or a general minority group. He frequently refers to the boy using hateful stereotypes, calling his demographic "wild," "dishonest," and "trash".

How was Juror 10 racist?

From the beginning, the 10th Juror speaks about the defendant almost exclusively in offensive racial stereotypes. He assigns a series of derogatory traits to the boy, and because of his deeply entrenched racism, he considers it an open-and-shut case.

What was Juror 10 like in 12 Angry Men?

Several times throughout the story, he becomes angry when the other jurors are not listening to him or walk away while he is talking. He needs an audience to hear him and becomes infuriated when that does not happen. He allows his bigotry to guide his belief in the boy's guilt.

Is Juror 10 an ally or antagonist?

Antagonist Juror 10 (Lynn Barbato King) is an angry, bitter bigot, who often interrupts the discussion to spew hateful, intolerant rhetoric.

Who was Juror 10 in 12 Angry Men 1957?

12 Angry Men (1957) - Ed Begley as Juror 10 - IMDb.

12 Angry Men (8/10) Movie CLIP - These People (1957) HD

37 related questions found

Who is the racist Juror in 12 Angry Men?

In 12 Angry Men (1957), Juror #10 (played by Ed Begley) is the character who displays overt racism, bigotry, and prejudice. He is an angry, narrow-minded garage owner who repeatedly refers to the defendant using prejudiced stereotypes and rants that "they" (referring to people from slum backgrounds) are dangerous, violent, and untrustworthy.

Who is Juror 10?

Juror #10: An angry, bitter man who antagonizes almost at sight, Juror #10 is also a bigot who places no values on any human life except his own. He is a man who has been nowhere and is going nowhere, and he knows it deep within him.

Why did Juror 10 vote not guilty?

In 12 Angry Men, Juror 10 changes his vote to "not guilty" not because he is convinced of the defendant's innocence, but because he is defeated, humiliated, and socially isolated by the other jurors after his overt racist rant. He realizes he cannot sway the others and is alienated when they turn their backs on him.

What if I cry during jury duty?

Crying alone may not be juror misconduct. But there are circumstances where a juror's emotions may result in an unfair trial.

Who is juror #1?

Juror #1, Foreman (Martin Balsam)

Why did Juror 3 cry at the end?

In 12 Angry Men, Juror 3 cries at the end because he realizes his "guilty" vote was not based on evidence, but on a projection of his own rage, guilt, and grief regarding his estranged son. The murder case, which involves a son accused of killing his father, forced him to confront his own failed relationship and personal trauma.

Was the kid in 12 Angry Men black?

The kid in the 1957 film 12 Angry Men is not explicitly identified as black, but rather as a young man from a marginalized, ethnic minority background, commonly interpreted as Puerto Rican or Hispanic. The film is designed to keep his race vague to emphasize the jurors' prejudices, though he is generally understood to be non-white.

What accent does juror 11 have?

Juror 11 is a refugee from Germany who speaks with an accent and works as a watchmaker. He is polite, quiet, respects others, and listens to what people have to say.

Is juror 7 racist?

Juror 7 is also shown to be ethnocentric and xenophobic when he insults the immigrant Juror 11. When Juror 7 switches his vote to "Not guilty" because he had enough of the constant arguing, the immigrant Juror 11 gets mad and berates Juror 7, telling him that he has no right to play like that with a man's life.

What does "voir dire" literally mean?

The phrase "Voir Dire" literally means, "to speak the truth." In court, it refers to a process of determining whether a juror can serve fairly and impartially in a given case by asking the juror various questions.

Is Juror 3 racist?

In the 1957 film 12 Angry Men, Juror 3 (Lee J. Cobb) is primarily motivated by personal bias, rage, and a need for vengeance stemming from an estranged relationship with his own son, rather than explicit racial prejudice. While he is biased against the defendant, his anger is rooted in his past, whereas Juror 10 is the character who displays overt racism.

What does "oye oye oye" mean in court?

"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" (pronounced oh-yay) is a traditional call used in courtrooms, particularly the Supreme Court, to command silence and attention before a session begins. Originating from Law French, it translates to "Hear ye!" and is shouted three times by a bailiff or marshal.

Is anxiety an excuse for jury duty?

Courts in the United States may excuse or defer jury duty for a range of health conditions, including: Chronic illnesses (such as heart disease or autoimmune conditions) Limited mobility due to injury, surgery, or disability. Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

What should you never say to a judge?

Never say "you're lying," "you didn't read my papers," or make sarcastic, argumentative comments to a judge. Avoid using casual slang, interrupting, or telling the judge "whatever". Always maintain a respectful, formal tone by saying "Your Honor," rather than "sir" or "ma'am".

Is juror 10 racist?

Yes, Juror 10 in the 1957 film 12 Angry Men is explicitly portrayed as a racist bigot. Throughout the film, he uses offensive racial stereotypes, refers to the defendant as "one of them," and engages in a climactic, hate-filled rant that reveals his prejudice is the sole basis for his guilty vote, rather than evidence.

Who is the antagonist in 12 Angry Men?

Juror 3 is the primary antagonist in 12 Angry Men (1957), acting as the main force opposing the protagonist, Juror 8. A stubborn, angry, and emotional businessman, Juror 3 is driven by personal prejudices and a broken relationship with his own son to push for a conviction.

Why does juror 9 vote not guilty?

Juror 9 is the first of the remaining eleven jurors to change his vote after the initial one. He does this, not because he has changed his mind, but to give support to Juror 8.

What is juror 9's name?

Juror 9 (Mr. McCardle) (Joseph Sweeney) A wise and observant elderly man.

What are 12 angry jurors?

Twelve Angry Jurors contemplates the huge responsibility of 12 ordinary people who must decide the guilt or innocence of a teenager accused of murder. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one voice casts doubts and challenges a deeper examination of the facts.

Why is juror 8 a hero?

Described as peaceful and compassionate, Juror 8 is focused on the truth of the case and refuses to give up until the other jurors face that truth. It is through his persuasive abilities that one by one, the other jurors change their initial vote from guilty to not guilty.