Freedom Writers
By.S.A.
The Freedom Writers Diary is a touching nonfiction book written by idealistic teacher Erin Gruwell and her students.
Their inspirational book was made into a movie "Freedom Writers" in 2007 starring Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey.
The title is a play on the term "Freedom Riders", the black and white civil rights activists who fought the United States Supreme Court ruling ordering the desegregation of interstate buses in 1961.
Erin Gruwell transformed the lives students who were considered "Unreachable" by the Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. Many of these students rebelled against Gruwell at first but grew to understand and respect her teachings.
She encouraged them to rethink negative beliefs about themselves and others and to focus on paving their way to a successful future. With Gruwell's support, her students eliminated stereotypes and even called themselves the "Freedom Writers", in regards to the Civil Rights activists the "Freedom Riders" and published a book.
Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers created a foundation to positively inspire change to depressed communities and decrease drop out rates.
The Freedom Writers Foundation uses unconventional teaching methods to train teachers, in addition to providing scholarships for students.
Fast Fact
On March 24, 2008, Connie Heerman, an English teacher at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, was suspended for nearly 2 whole years without pay for introducing the Freedom Writer's Diary to her students. Administrators objected to the book, claiming that it had racial slurs and sexual content in parts of the book.
CNN on Connie Heerman suspension
Quote
Erin Gruwell: "You know what this is? This is a F@#k You to me and everyone in this class. I don't want excuses. I know what you're up against. We're all of us up against something. So you better make up your mind, because until you have the balls to look me straight in the eye and tell me this is all you deserve, I am not letting you fail. Even if that means coming to your house every night until you finish the work. I see who you are. Do you understand me? I can see you. And you are not failing."
