Interesting+Facts+and+Quotes

Facts

 * The Freedom Writers Diary was made up of journals that Erin Gruwell told her students to write in about the troubles of their past, present and future.
 * The Freedom Writers name is a pun on the name of the civil rights group Freedom Riders.
 * The was written in 1999.
 * The Freedom Writers Foundation, a non-profit organization, positively impacts communities by decreasing high school drop out rates through the replication and enhancement of the Freedom Writer Method.

Quotes
> Having nightmares of murders every single time. > But this time you’ll think this fool should see the light, > but he’s jumped in a gang and they nickname him ‘Snipe,’... > > “He goes to Wilson High with a messed-up trail > and meets a guardian angel named Erin Gruwell. > He learns about the Holocaust, Anne Frank and the Jews. > Now the time comes that he should choose.... > > “But people say it’s hard to see. > This life of emotions is all about me. > All this is true, because I’m not a liar > Just a brokenhearted male with a label—Freedom Writer!” -//Diary 78
 * //“An innocent young man is now a criminal mind,
 * //"Unfortunately, I have realized that we cannot completely erase all the evil from the world, but we can change the way we deal with it, we can rise above it and stay strong and true to ourselves."// Zlata Filipovic, Forward, XVIII
 * //"I feel as though chaos is stalking me, sliding its slimy tentacles into every crevice of my life."// Anonymous Freedom Writer, Chapter 6, Page 188.
 * //"I want to write his story so others will know his death was not in vain."// Anonymous Freedom Writer, Chapter 6 page 150.

I was a little naïve to the situation before me. I was a young, fresh teacher who was incredibly excited to be in her first classroom. However, I soon became overwhelmed by the differences that my students and I seemingly had. They had no hope and thought, for the most part, that the world had given up on them. I was overwhelmed with how to change their views and to let them know that they had a chance and someone did care for them. I also knew that I wouldn’t give up on them. I was determined not to quit but instead to find a means by which to reach these kids. My reward has been seeing the Freedom Writers succeed. I have watched them accomplish so much over their years and today they are still an inspiration to me. I also get that same sense of reward when I’m teaching teachers how to deal with the same obstacles that I did. Helping teachers connect with their students on an emotional level is truly the most rewarding experience. My inspiration came from a note that was passed around my class that was making fun of an African American student. When I compared that note to the Holocaust propaganda, my students didn’t even know what the Holocaust was. It was truly a teachable moment when we connected the dots of the realities between the Holocaust and the gang violence that my students personally knew. If we don’t teach history, we are bound to repeat it and I wanted to teach my students to know about the history that they were unknowingly repeating. Paramount Pictures did a wonderful job of researching our story for accuracy. Actual Freedom Writers were involved with the script, were invited on the set, and interacted with the actors. This movie is as accurate as a movie can be about a real life story. When I watch the movie, it’s surreal. Hilary Swank was my first choice to play me because I knew she would do a wonderful job in her portrayal. Her clothes and mannerisms are a lot like me in real life. It is a little daunting though because that’s my life on the screen - all of it - but I’m extremely proud of the way it turned out
 * __INTERVIEW WITH ERIN GRUWELL__**
 * What was your first impression of the students and the obstacles they faced?**
 * What is most rewarding about your work?**
 * Where did your inspiration come from to help the students?**
 * What was the production process like in making the Freedom Writers movie?**
 * What is it like seeing your character played out on the big screen?**

interview was taken from this website. http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/site/c.kqIXL2PFJtH/b.2259977/k.AFD3/FAQ.htm