Freedom Writers

Teacher: a person or thing that teaches something. That word “something”, as vague and oversimplified as it may seem, is nearly the only word to properly express the type of affect one may have on a students life — without deemphasizing their teaching ability. Contrary to popular beliefs, teaching in my eyes is one of the most difficult occupations. Aside from the (dubious) job description; to be an instructor you must also be a nurse, a parent, a friend, a tyrant and a teacher all in one — or at least that’s the kind of educator Erin Gruwell was. This young teacher is portrayed by Academy Award winner, Hillary Swank in the MTV film “Freedom Writers” (2007). This movie was by far the most influential of its time, with thanks due to the director’s remarkable ability to portray the struggles of those ethnically discriminated in the early 1990’s.

“Freedom Writers” is based on a true story about former Woodrow Wilson High School teacher, Erin Gruwell. After accepting a job as an english teacher at a recently declared at-risk school, due to gang violence and racial tension, Mrs. Gruwell quickly became inspiration for her troubled and horrifically suppressed students. At the time of Mrs. Gruwell’s employment the Los Angeles riots were in full effect, causing her students to separate themselves by race in the classroom. How Mrs. Gruwell worked with her students after being faced with all of these oppositions is what made this story so remarkable. She took something as small as a racist drawing, to “school” them about gang violence — something nearly all of her students are familiar with. The challenging aspect of this essay is to glorify the production of this movie. However, I always find myself glorifying the wit of Erin Gruwell herself, after all there would be no “Freedom Writers” if it was not for her.

This movie portrays the ethnical challenges faced during this decade by emphasizing the racism and one dimensional views expressed by Mrs. Gruwell’s colleagues and administrators. Everything down to a desk or writing board was different for the (not explicitly listed) “white’s only” classrooms. If it was not for the insisted integration, the teachers would see to it that the Caucasian supremacy would reign on. Because of the personal obstacles inflicted on her students,