Freedom.writers.xvid

8/3/2019 Freedom.writers.xvid

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/freedomwritersxvid 1/77

100:00:33,400 --> 00:00:34,731There have been shots fired.

2

00:00:34,834 --> 00:00:36,825Total civil unrest is happeningthroughout the Los Angeles area.

300:00:36,936 --> 00:00:37,567Dozens of policeare running down the streets.

400:00:37,602 --> 00:00:38,199

Dozens of policeare running down the streets.

500:00:38,338 --> 00:00:39,464Smoke reigned over the entire city.

600:00:39,606 --> 00:00:42,575We're telling anybodywho's in downtown South Central...

700:00:42,709 --> 00:00:44,233There are 38 dead and more than...

800:00:44,377 --> 00:00:46,504The EMT are havinga hard time getting in...

900:00:49,349 --> 00:00:52,785...where truck driver Reginald Dennywas pulled from his vehicle...

1000:00:54,654 --> 00:00:56,417The city resembles a war zone.



1100:00:56,523 --> 00:00:58,150Crowds gatheredat Parker Center downtown.

1200:00:58,258 --> 00:01:01,250...here in Hollywood, wherelooters have struck many businesses.

1300:01:01,361 --> 00:01:03,829There have been 3,600 structural fires.

1400:01:04,564 --> 00:01:06,361

Thick, black smoke risingfrom the countless fires

1500:01:06,466 --> 00:01:11,995in Hollywood, downtown, Compton,Watts and Long Beach...

1600:01:30,890 --> 00:01:32,187In America,

1700:01:33,193 --> 00:01:35,457a girl can be crowned a princess

1800:01:36,362 --> 00:01:39,763for her beauty and her grace.

1900:01:43,436 --> 00:01:46,098But an Aztec princessis chosen for her blood...

2000:01:46,473 --> 00:01:47,565Eva?

21



00:01:51,077 --> 00:01:53,705...to fight for her people,as Papi and his father fought

22

00:01:53,813 --> 00:01:56,441against those who saywe are less than they are,

2300:01:56,549 --> 00:01:59,848who say we are not equal in beautyand in blessings.

2400:02:07,627 --> 00:02:09,527

It was the first day of school,

2500:02:09,629 --> 00:02:12,393and I was waiting for my father to take me to the bus.

2600:02:12,499 --> 00:02:13,727Roberto!

2700:02:18,304 --> 00:02:19,271Eva!

2800:02:20,073 --> 00:02:22,701And I saw the war for the first time.

2900:02:23,643 --> 00:02:25,611Eva! Eva!

3000:02:25,912 --> 00:02:27,539Police! Open up!

3100:02:29,716 --> 00:02:32,014They took my father for retaliation.



3200:02:32,418 --> 00:02:33,817He was innocent, but they took him,

3300:02:33,920 --> 00:02:36,252because he was respected by my people.

3400:02:36,356 --> 00:02:40,486They called my people a gang because we fight for our America.

35

00:02:40,793 --> 00:02:42,055On your feet!

3600:02:43,963 --> 00:02:46,329When I got my initiationinto the gang life,

3700:02:46,432 --> 00:02:48,559I became third generation.

3800:02:49,569 --> 00:02:51,969They beat you so you won't break.

3900:02:53,540 --> 00:02:55,303They are my family.

4000:03:01,181 --> 00:03:04,480In Long Beach, it all comes downto what you look like.

4100:03:04,584 --> 00:03:07,417If you're Latino or Asian or black,

42



00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:36,316you could get blasted any timeyou walk out your door.

43

00:03:36,351 --> 00:03:38,181We fight each other for territory.

4400:03:38,284 --> 00:03:41,776We kill each other over race, pride and respect.

4500:03:43,056 --> 00:03:45,115We fight for what is ours.

4600:03:49,429 --> 00:03:51,795They think they're winning by jumping me now,

4700:03:51,898 --> 00:03:54,196but soon they're all going down.

4800:03:54,934 --> 00:03:56,834War has been declared.

4900:03:58,304 --> 00:04:00,329- Here's your coffee.- Thank you.

5000:04:04,077 --> 00:04:06,637I brought my lesson plans.I'd love it if you'd look them over.

5100:04:06,746 --> 00:04:10,307Yes, and these are the classesyou'll start with.

52



00:04:10,416 --> 00:04:14,876Freshman English, four classes,about 150 students in all.

53

00:04:19,592 --> 00:04:21,355Some of themare just out of juvenile hall.

5400:04:21,461 --> 00:04:25,295One or two might be wearing ankle cuffsto monitor their whereabouts.

5500:04:25,398 --> 00:04:28,367

And you see here,we'll have to revise your lesson plans.

5600:04:28,501 --> 00:04:32,335And if you look at their scores,these vocabulary lists

5700:04:32,438 --> 00:04:36,340and some of these, the books,Homer's The Odyssey,

5800:04:36,442 --> 00:04:38,034they're gonna be too difficult for them.

5900:04:38,177 --> 00:04:39,144All right.

6000:04:39,612 --> 00:04:41,170Also, for most of them to get here

6100:04:41,281 --> 00:04:43,545it takes three buses,almost 90 minutes each way.



6200:04:43,650 --> 00:04:44,639My God.

63

00:04:44,751 --> 00:04:46,480So I wouldn't give them too muchof a homework load.

6400:04:46,586 --> 00:04:49,350You'll just be wasting a lot of timefollowing up on overdue work.

6500:04:49,455 --> 00:04:51,252

All right. Thank you.

6600:04:52,792 --> 00:04:55,659- You're from Newport Beach?- Yes.

6700:04:57,697 --> 00:05:00,530It's too bad you weren't hereeven two years ago, you know.

6800:05:01,034 --> 00:05:03,935We used to have one of the highestscholastic records in the district,

6900:05:04,037 --> 00:05:07,598 but since voluntary integrationwas suggested,

7000:05:07,740 --> 00:05:14,009we've lost over 75º/ºof our strongest students.

7100:05:14,113 --> 00:05:17,571Well, actually, I chose Wilson





Erin,

8200:05:49,449 --> 00:05:53,579I think you're a lovely, intelligent woman.

8300:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,681But you're a first-time teacher.

8400:05:56,789 --> 00:05:58,984As head of this department,I have to be confident

85

00:05:59,092 --> 00:06:01,560you're capable of dealingwith what we have to face here.

8600:06:01,661 --> 00:06:02,855I am.

8700:06:03,429 --> 00:06:06,694I know I have a lot to learn as a teacher, but I'm a really good student.

8800:06:06,799 --> 00:06:10,963I am, and I really want to be here.

8900:06:15,808 --> 00:06:20,336- Those are lovely pearls.- Thank you. From my father.

9000:06:21,814 --> 00:06:23,509I wouldn't wear them to class.

9100:06:39,098 --> 00:06:40,395Honey?



9200:06:43,669 --> 00:06:44,761What?

93

00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:48,134Do I look like a teacher?(Smile)

9400:07:05,458 --> 00:07:06,516Hey!

9500:08:31,043 --> 00:08:33,273Hey, Chris, yo, what up?

9600:08:49,495 --> 00:08:51,520- Hello.- Hello.

9700:08:52,765 --> 00:08:54,630Hey, yo, let's sit right here, man.

9800:09:00,973 --> 00:09:01,997Hi.

9900:09:32,038 --> 00:09:34,973Hey, girl, you wanna give mesome fries with that shake?

10000:09:42,848 --> 00:09:46,750My name is Erin Gruwell.Welcome to Freshman English.

10100:09:47,553 --> 00:09:49,248I give this bitch a week.

10200:09:49,355 --> 00:09:50,379



Hi.

10300:09:52,858 --> 00:09:55,725Okay. Brandy Ross?

10400:09:55,828 --> 00:09:57,557Gloria Munez.

10500:09:59,899 --> 00:10:02,026Alejandro Santiago.

10600:10:04,203 --> 00:10:06,000

Andre Bryant.

10700:10:08,040 --> 00:10:09,701Eva Benitez.

10800:10:09,809 --> 00:10:13,472Eva, not Eva.

10900:10:15,881 --> 00:10:17,109Eva.

11000:10:18,985 --> 00:10:20,418I have to go to the bathroom.

11100:10:20,519 --> 00:10:22,749- Okay, make sure that you take a...- Yeah, I know.

11200:10:26,225 --> 00:10:28,022Ben Samuels?

11300:10:28,761 --> 00:10:31,127That white boy hoping



he's in the wrong room.

11400:10:31,230 --> 00:10:32,492I gotta get out of here.

11500:10:32,598 --> 00:10:35,658- Sindy Ngor.- Right here.

11600:10:35,801 --> 00:10:37,063Is that correct?(Nodding)

11700:10:37,570 --> 00:10:40,266- Jamal Hill?- Man, what am I doing in here?

11800:10:40,706 --> 00:10:42,503This whole ghetto-ass classhas got people in here

11900:10:42,608 --> 00:10:44,576looking like a bad rerun of Copsand shit.

12000:10:44,710 --> 00:10:46,541You know what I'm saying? It's true.

12100:10:46,646 --> 00:10:49,206- Are you Jamal?- Yeah.

12200:10:49,315 --> 00:10:52,079Well, for some reasonthey have you registered in this class.

123



00:10:52,184 --> 00:10:55,210- Yeah, and that's some bullshit.- It's the dumb class, coz.

124

00:10:55,888 --> 00:10:57,446It means you're too dumb.

12500:10:57,757 --> 00:11:00,692- Man, say it to my face, coz.- I just did.

12600:11:00,726 --> 00:11:02,489See what I mean? Dumb.

12700:11:02,595 --> 00:11:04,927- Man, I know you ain't talking to me!- Okay...

12800:11:05,031 --> 00:11:06,589Look, homey,I'll beat that ass, homeboy.

12900:11:06,699 --> 00:11:07,757Can you please sit back down?

13000:11:07,867 --> 00:11:08,834Look, I got your spot on the team.

13100:11:08,968 --> 00:11:10,265That's why you're over therewagging your tongue.

13200:11:10,403 --> 00:11:11,631Please sit back in your seats.

13300:11:11,771 --> 00:11:14,365



Look, your spot is good as gone. I don'tknow why you keep wasting your time

13400:11:14,507 --> 00:11:17,305

coming to practice with themtwo-year-old Nikes on your feet!

13500:11:17,410 --> 00:11:19,401You know nothing about me, coz!

13600:11:20,579 --> 00:11:21,705Broke down my whole situation.

13700:11:21,814 --> 00:11:22,872Jamal?

13800:11:22,982 --> 00:11:23,949So, now you're in my face now, right?

13900:11:24,350 --> 00:11:25,874Sit your punk ass down!Sit your punk ass down, homeboy!

14000:11:25,985 --> 00:11:26,974I will run that ass off the field.

14100:11:27,086 --> 00:11:28,610Shut your ass up. What's up, homey?

14200:11:28,721 --> 00:11:30,279I mean, what's up?Sit your ass down, homey!

14300:11:30,456 --> 00:11:32,356Excuse me,may I please get some help in here?



14400:11:34,894 --> 00:11:36,589So do something! Back up!

14500:11:36,696 --> 00:11:37,685You touching me now?

14600:11:37,797 --> 00:11:40,231Sit down, homeboy. Back up,I'm not gonna tell you again.

14700:11:40,332 --> 00:11:41,526

You gonna look at my face now, right?

14800:11:41,667 --> 00:11:42,929You ain't taking nothingfrom me, homeboy!

14900:11:43,302 --> 00:11:44,929I will run your ass off the field!

15000:11:45,071 --> 00:11:46,163Boy, sit your ass back down.

15100:11:46,305 --> 00:11:47,966Don't even worry about it,I'm gonna see you.

15200:11:48,107 --> 00:11:49,369Tell him. Sit his ass down.

15300:11:49,475 --> 00:11:50,567Sit your ass down.

15400:11:50,676 --> 00:11:52,644



Thank you. Let him out of here, man.That's some bullshit.

15500:11:59,318 --> 00:12:00,376

Erin?

15600:12:05,725 --> 00:12:08,193Erin, this is Brian Gelford.

15700:12:08,294 --> 00:12:11,092He teaches Junior Englishand the Distinguished Honors Classes.

15800:12:11,197 --> 00:12:13,995- Hi. Erin Gruwell. Nice to meet you.- Hi. Nice to meet you.

15900:12:14,100 --> 00:12:18,867- You saw a little action today, I hear.- Yeah. It happened so fast.

16000:12:19,405 --> 00:12:20,895Well, don't be discouraged.

16100:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,203You put your time in, in a few years,you'll be able to teach juniors.

16200:12:24,310 --> 00:12:25,504They're a pleasure.

16300:12:25,611 --> 00:12:28,273By then, most of your kidswill be gone anyway.

16400:12:28,380 --> 00:12:33,113



- What do you mean?- Well, eventually, they just stop coming.

16500:12:34,920 --> 00:12:39,084

Well, if I do my job,they might be lining up at the door.

16600:12:39,692 --> 00:12:40,989- Right?- Yeah.

16700:12:43,496 --> 00:12:46,795- Nice pearls.

- Thank you.

16800:12:59,812 --> 00:13:02,212If it was up to me,I wouldn't even be in school.

16900:13:02,314 --> 00:13:04,214My probation officer threatened me,

17000:13:04,316 --> 00:13:06,841telling me it was either schoolor boot camp.

17100:13:07,186 --> 00:13:08,312Dumbass.

17200:13:08,420 --> 00:13:10,320He thinks that the problemsgoing on in Long Beach

17300:13:10,422 --> 00:13:12,549aren't going to touch me at Wilson.

174



00:13:13,526 --> 00:13:16,552My PO doesn't understandthat schools are like the city,

175

00:13:16,662 --> 00:13:18,721and the city is just like a prison,

17600:13:18,831 --> 00:13:23,131all of them divided intoseparate sections, depending on tribes.

17700:13:23,536 --> 00:13:25,299There's Little Cambodia.

17800:13:26,305 --> 00:13:27,738The Ghetto.

17900:13:28,007 --> 00:13:29,634Wonder Bread Land.

18000:13:30,042 --> 00:13:34,103And us,South of the Border or Little Tijuana.

18100:13:34,413 --> 00:13:37,246That's just the way it is,and everyone knows it.

18200:13:37,950 --> 00:13:41,442But soon enough, you have littlewannabes trying to hit you up at school,

18300:13:41,554 --> 00:13:43,852demanding respect they haven't earned.

18400:13:44,490 --> 00:13:48,688



It looks like this, one tribe driftingquietly to another's territory

18500:13:48,794 --> 00:13:52,423

without respect,as if to claim what isn't theirs.

18600:13:53,265 --> 00:13:57,668An outsider looking inwould never see it, but we could feel it.

18700:14:01,073 --> 00:14:02,802Something was coming.

18800:14:18,591 --> 00:14:19,751Settle down.

18900:14:19,859 --> 00:14:23,727Let's go over the first nameon the list, Homer.

19000:14:24,029 --> 00:14:26,725Homer's The Odyssey.

19100:14:26,832 --> 00:14:28,527I know Homer the Simpson.

19200:14:29,835 --> 00:14:32,497 No, this Homer was an ancient Greek,

19300:14:32,638 --> 00:14:35,903 but maybe he was bald just like Homer Simpson.

19400:14:40,246 --> 00:14:41,372Okay.



19500:14:51,657 --> 00:14:53,022What's up?

19600:15:01,367 --> 00:15:03,358Quietly, please.

19700:15:05,337 --> 00:15:07,567Mrs. Gruwell,he just took my damn bag!

19800:15:07,673 --> 00:15:09,004

Shut up!Ain't nobody touched your damn bag.

19900:15:09,108 --> 00:15:10,097Yeah, I saw you.

20000:15:10,242 --> 00:15:12,301Jamal. Jamal. Get her backpack.

20100:15:12,411 --> 00:15:13,742I didn't do nothing anyway!

20200:15:13,846 --> 00:15:15,006- Jamal. Jamal.- Okay.

20300:15:31,563 --> 00:15:35,932Wait! Wait! Please, stay in your seats!Wait! Stay in your seats! Please!

20400:15:51,383 --> 00:15:53,044Slanty-eyed bitch!

205



00:15:57,957 --> 00:16:00,118Return to your classrooms.

20600:16:01,427 --> 00:16:04,021

Return to the classrooms immediately.

20700:16:08,300 --> 00:16:09,892That's all you got?

20800:16:11,203 --> 00:16:15,037Clear the school lawnand the recreation field now!

20900:16:19,411 --> 00:16:22,972...classrooms, or you will be subjectto disciplinary action.

21000:16:24,316 --> 00:16:27,479You can best help yourself and your fellow students

21100:16:27,586 --> 00:16:31,215and your school by returningto your classrooms now.

21200:16:31,457 --> 00:16:33,755Please return to your classrooms.

21300:16:33,993 --> 00:16:35,620Get up, bitch!

21400:16:36,628 --> 00:16:40,155All students must returnto their classrooms immediately.

21500:16:43,135 --> 00:16:44,193



Erin?

21600:16:46,805 --> 00:16:47,863Erin.

21700:16:49,241 --> 00:16:50,538Hey, baby.

21800:16:52,544 --> 00:16:53,841You okay?

21900:16:54,113 --> 00:16:55,080

Come here.

22000:16:58,183 --> 00:17:00,083Are you sure about this?

22100:17:00,252 --> 00:17:03,483Well, it's not exactly how I pictured it.

22200:17:05,791 --> 00:17:07,520Don't tell my dad.

22300:17:08,227 --> 00:17:10,354Hopefully, he hasn't seen the news.

22400:17:13,899 --> 00:17:16,493- So, how's work?- Dad.

22500:17:17,102 --> 00:17:20,265- I was asking your husband.- It's good. I mean, for now.

22600:17:20,406 --> 00:17:21,532



It's a good company.

22700:17:21,673 --> 00:17:23,607I pretty much run

the computer data department.

22800:17:23,709 --> 00:17:27,008- I thought you were an architect.- He is. He's just taking a break.

22900:17:27,112 --> 00:17:28,807And the money's good for now.

23000:17:28,914 --> 00:17:32,518How much are you making,$27,000 before taxes?

23100:17:32,553 --> 00:17:34,213If you know, why are you asking?

23200:17:34,319 --> 00:17:36,150So, what's everybody gonna eat?

23300:17:36,255 --> 00:17:39,281With your brains,you could run a major corporation.

23400:17:39,391 --> 00:17:42,087Instead, I worry all night because you're a teacher at Attica.

23500:17:42,194 --> 00:17:44,162Can you hear what you're saying?

23600:17:44,263 --> 00:17:47,824How many times have I listened to you



about walking civil rights marches?

23700:17:47,933 --> 00:17:50,731These gangs are criminals,

not activists. You read the papers?

23800:17:50,869 --> 00:17:52,700They said the same thingabout the Black Panthers.

23900:17:52,838 --> 00:17:54,772I'll lay odds your kids don't even know

24000:17:54,873 --> 00:17:56,932who Rap Brownor Eldridge Cleaver were.

24100:17:57,076 --> 00:17:58,737You're gonna waste your talentson people

24200:17:58,844 --> 00:18:01,312who don't give a damn about education.

24300:18:02,781 --> 00:18:04,510It breaks my heart.

24400:18:04,883 --> 00:18:07,010I tell you the truth.

24500:18:07,419 --> 00:18:08,511Well...

24600:18:10,622 --> 00:18:13,557I'm sorry. I can't help that.



24700:18:17,830 --> 00:18:21,129- You think this is good enough for her?- Yeah, I do.

24800:18:22,167 --> 00:18:23,634Look, Steve,

24900:18:24,236 --> 00:18:27,205if Erin thinks she can teach these kids,she can.

25000:18:27,806 --> 00:18:30,741

You telling her she can'tis just gonna make her mad.

25100:18:37,116 --> 00:18:40,711So he doesn't like your job. So what?Why do you let it get to you?

25200:18:40,819 --> 00:18:43,922I don't know, it just does.I'm not used to disappointing him. I...

25300:18:43,957 --> 00:18:45,150Just let me knowwhen I can brush my teeth.

25400:18:45,257 --> 00:18:47,316- I hate that we don't have our own sinks.- Come in. There's room.

25500:18:47,426 --> 00:18:48,654All right. Thank you.

25600:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,888I can't believe he brought up my salary.





26700:19:16,722 --> 00:19:19,589That's what fathers do.I'm sure I'll be that way someday.

26800:19:19,691 --> 00:19:24,151Look, just, you know, stop worryingabout being his perfect daughter.

26900:19:24,263 --> 00:19:26,823You don't live in his house,you live in ours.

270

00:19:26,932 --> 00:19:28,559Or until we find one.

27100:19:29,568 --> 00:19:31,729- Or until you build us one.- Yeah.

27200:19:32,104 --> 00:19:34,197With extra sinks.

27300:19:41,013 --> 00:19:43,481You're a teacher because you say you are.

27400:20:01,233 --> 00:20:02,894I have this idea.

27500:20:03,101 --> 00:20:06,901We're gonna be covering poetry.Who here likes Tupac Shakur?

27600:20:07,005 --> 00:20:07,994It's 2Pac.



27700:20:08,140 --> 00:20:11,3712Pac Shakur. Excuse me.Raise your hand.

27800:20:12,878 --> 00:20:15,574Really? I thought there'd be more fans.

27900:20:15,914 --> 00:20:18,314I have the lyrics to this song printed out.

28000:20:18,417 --> 00:20:21,147I want you to listen to this phrase

I have up on the board.

28100:20:21,253 --> 00:20:23,847It's an example of an internal rhyme.

28200:20:23,956 --> 00:20:28,450What he does isvery sophisticated and cool, actually.

28300:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,495"Man-child in the promised landcouldn't afford many heroes

28400:20:31,597 --> 00:20:33,963"Moms was the only one therePops was a no-show

28500:20:34,066 --> 00:20:37,365"And, no, I guess you didn't knowthat I would grow to be so strong

28600:20:37,502 --> 00:20:39,936"You looking kinda pale, was it the ale?Oh, pops was wrong



28700:20:40,038 --> 00:20:42,404"Where was the money that you saidyou would send me?

28800:20:42,507 --> 00:20:44,805"Talked on the phoneand you sounded so friendly"

28900:20:44,910 --> 00:20:47,879- Think we don't know 2Pac?- White girl gonna teach us about rap.

29000:20:47,980 --> 00:20:50,005 No, it's not that.See, what I was trying to do...

29100:20:50,115 --> 00:20:52,982You have no ideawhat you're doing up there, do you?

29200:20:53,919 --> 00:20:55,978You ever been a teacher before?

29300:20:56,722 --> 00:20:58,451And teacher gets nailed, y'all!

29400:20:58,557 --> 00:21:01,958All right, Jamal, enough.Jamal! That's enough!

29500:21:02,494 --> 00:21:05,759You know what? I want you to moveto this front seat right here now.

29600:21:05,864 --> 00:21:08,162



- What?- Come on.

29700:21:09,368 --> 00:21:12,235

I am sick of these anticsin my classroom.

29800:21:13,272 --> 00:21:15,240Well, there you are.

29900:21:15,340 --> 00:21:18,002I was wondering whenyou were gonna lose that damn smile.

30000:21:18,110 --> 00:21:19,407Switch with Ben.

30100:21:19,511 --> 00:21:22,036- Come on.- I can't go back there alone.

30200:21:22,147 --> 00:21:24,138- It'll be fine.- No, it won't.

30300:21:24,249 --> 00:21:25,341I'm not sitting near him.

30400:21:25,450 --> 00:21:26,678I ain't going up there without my homey.

30500:21:26,785 --> 00:21:28,116I'm not sitting back there alone!

30600:21:28,220 --> 00:21:29,517- All right.



- Shut up.

30700:21:29,621 --> 00:21:30,713All right, you know what?

30800:21:30,822 --> 00:21:33,290I want you all to moveto this side of the room.

30900:21:33,392 --> 00:21:36,520You in the back, up here.Sindy and all of you, move to the back.

31000:21:37,162 --> 00:21:39,790Come on. Let's go. Now!

31100:21:43,235 --> 00:21:44,998Get your ass back to China, all of y'all.

31200:21:47,706 --> 00:21:51,039- You're all little midget-ass punks.- Move before I stomp your peanuts.

31300:21:57,983 --> 00:21:59,109Boo!

31400:21:59,851 --> 00:22:01,819Get your ass to the back, boy.

31500:22:23,809 --> 00:22:25,208Get off my desk.

31600:22:35,153 --> 00:22:36,916So, everybody happywith the new borders?



31700:22:44,863 --> 00:22:46,160Eva?

318

00:22:47,332 --> 00:22:48,959Where are you going?

31900:22:49,101 --> 00:22:50,432Hey! Hey!

32000:25:05,403 --> 00:25:07,462This is bull! Come on, man! What the...

32100:25:09,808 --> 00:25:11,776What the hell? Damn!

32200:25:13,578 --> 00:25:15,170I want my money back!

32300:25:17,582 --> 00:25:21,143This shit took my damn money!I want my damn money back!

32400:25:22,053 --> 00:25:23,748Look what you putting me through. Shit!

32500:25:23,922 --> 00:25:26,652Learn to speak the damn language!You're from this country, aren't you?






329

00:25:53,652 --> 00:25:55,119Come on! Let's go!

33000:25:58,823 --> 00:26:00,518Come on, come on, girl! Let's go!

33100:26:23,748 --> 00:26:25,375Paco was scared.

33200:26:25,617 --> 00:26:27,107In the car, he said,

33300:26:27,218 --> 00:26:30,187"You can't go against your own people,your own blood. "

33400:26:30,288 --> 00:26:33,825The same wordsmy father used so many times.

33500:26:33,860 --> 00:26:35,452Only I saw Paco.

33600:26:35,760 --> 00:26:37,352The others were turned away.

33700:26:37,462 --> 00:26:41,660So when the police questioned me,I knew I had to protect him.

33800:26:45,637 --> 00:26:49,073All right, everyone, we need to get



started so classes won't be too delayed.

33900:26:49,174 --> 00:26:51,108Principal Banning

would like to say something

34000:26:51,209 --> 00:26:53,177in the light of last night's events.

34100:26:53,311 --> 00:26:55,074I've spoken to the police.

342

00:26:55,180 --> 00:26:57,808As you might already know,there were persons involved

34300:26:57,916 --> 00:27:01,317in last night's shootingwho are Wilson students.

34400:27:01,486 --> 00:27:05,388Grant Rice has been arrestedas a prime suspect.

34500:27:05,423 --> 00:27:06,856Ms. Gruwell,

34600:27:06,958 --> 00:27:10,689apparently one of your students,Eva Benitez...

34700:27:10,795 --> 00:27:13,889- Eva.... has identified him as the shooter.

34800:27:13,999 --> 00:27:16,399



She's the prime witness in the case.

34900:27:16,534 --> 00:27:20,664It is our policy not to discuss

the subject inside the classroom.

35000:27:20,805 --> 00:27:22,773- Thank you very much.- Thank you.

35100:27:40,659 --> 00:27:42,286Hey, Tiny, check this out.

35200:27:49,267 --> 00:27:52,168Hey. Hey!

35300:28:08,119 --> 00:28:09,245Yes?

35400:28:11,156 --> 00:28:12,521All right.

35500:28:14,192 --> 00:28:15,250Gloria?

35600:28:15,860 --> 00:28:17,487Please read the first sentenceon the board.

35700:28:17,595 --> 00:28:18,584Why me?

35800:28:18,697 --> 00:28:20,562Because I knowhow much you love to read.



35900:28:20,665 --> 00:28:22,394Close the magazine.

360

00:28:25,370 --> 00:28:28,066"Odysseus had no sense of direction. "

36100:28:28,206 --> 00:28:30,174 Now, none of these sentencesare correct.

36200:28:30,308 --> 00:28:33,766I'd like you to rewrite these sentences

using the proper tenses

36300:28:33,912 --> 00:28:36,380and spelling on page four of your workbooks.

36400:28:42,353 --> 00:28:45,422I don't have a page four. It got torn out.

36500:28:45,457 --> 00:28:48,949Okay, why don't you just usethe next blank page?

36600:28:54,099 --> 00:28:55,726What's going on?

36700:28:58,670 --> 00:29:00,900What is that? Give it to me.

36800:29:17,789 --> 00:29:20,223- What is this?- Just leave it alone.

369



00:29:26,464 --> 00:29:28,432You think this is funny?

37000:29:29,300 --> 00:29:30,426

Tito?

37100:29:31,436 --> 00:29:34,098Would this be funnyif it were a picture of you?

37200:29:34,472 --> 00:29:35,769It ain't.

37300:29:45,817 --> 00:29:47,580Close the workbooks.

37400:29:55,059 --> 00:29:58,586Maybe we should talk about art.Tito's got real talent, don't you think?

37500:29:58,696 --> 00:30:01,597- Yeah, yeah.- Go, Tito.

37600:30:02,534 --> 00:30:04,126You know something?

37700:30:04,269 --> 00:30:08,000I saw a picture just like this oncein a museum.

37800:30:08,973 --> 00:30:12,374Only it wasn't a black man,it was a Jewish man.

37900:30:12,477 --> 00:30:15,241



And instead of the big lips,he had a really big nose,

38000:30:15,346 --> 00:30:16,938

like a rat's nose.

38100:30:17,048 --> 00:30:19,073But he wasn't just one particular Jewish man,

38200:30:19,184 --> 00:30:21,379this was a drawing of all Jews.

38300:30:21,786 --> 00:30:24,016And these drawingswere put in the newspapers

38400:30:24,122 --> 00:30:26,613 by the most famous gang in history.

38500:30:27,959 --> 00:30:29,551That's us, dawg.

38600:30:32,230 --> 00:30:34,528You think you know all about gangs?

38700:30:35,900 --> 00:30:37,492You're amateurs.

38800:30:38,002 --> 00:30:40,129This gang would put you all to shame.

38900:30:40,271 --> 00:30:44,537And they started out poor and angry,and everybody looked down on them.



39000:30:44,642 --> 00:30:47,577Until one man decidedto give them some pride,

39100:30:47,679 --> 00:30:51,137an identity and somebody to blame.

39200:30:51,883 --> 00:30:53,851You take over neighborhoods?

39300:30:54,853 --> 00:30:59,153That's nothing compared to them.

They took over countries.

39400:30:59,257 --> 00:31:00,656And you wanna know how?

39500:31:01,125 --> 00:31:03,616They just wiped out everybody else.

39600:31:03,795 --> 00:31:05,592- Yeah.- Yeah.

39700:31:05,697 --> 00:31:08,097Yeah, they wiped outeverybody they didn't like,

39800:31:08,199 --> 00:31:11,327and everybody they blamedfor their life being hard.

39900:31:11,469 --> 00:31:14,097And one of the ways they did itwas by doing this.





41000:31:46,237 --> 00:31:47,261You don't know nothing, homegirl.

41100:31:47,405 --> 00:31:49,873 No, I don't, Marcus!So why don't you explain it to me?

41200:31:50,008 --> 00:31:51,976I ain't explaining shit to you!

41300:31:53,611 --> 00:31:55,636

Do you even know how we live?

41400:31:57,715 --> 00:31:59,273We was here first, man.

41500:31:59,884 --> 00:32:01,511Just shut that shit up, homeboy.

41600:32:01,920 --> 00:32:03,410All right! All right! All right!

41700:32:03,521 --> 00:32:05,819So what you're saying is,if the Latinos weren't here,

41800:32:05,924 --> 00:32:08,950or the Cambodians or the blacksor the whites or whoever they are,

41900:32:09,060 --> 00:32:11,688if they weren't here, everythingwould be better for you, isn't that right?

420



00:32:11,796 --> 00:32:13,263Of course it'd be better!

42100:32:14,165 --> 00:32:16,292

Lt'd be better if you weren't here.

42200:32:17,368 --> 00:32:19,029Right. Right.

42300:32:20,405 --> 00:32:22,805It starts with a drawing like this,

424

00:32:23,441 --> 00:32:26,569and then some kid dies in a drive-by,never even knowing what hit him.

42500:32:26,678 --> 00:32:28,578You don't know nothing!

42600:32:30,248 --> 00:32:32,216You don't know the pain we feel.

42700:32:32,717 --> 00:32:34,412You don't know what we got to do.

42800:32:34,519 --> 00:32:36,646You got no respect for how we living.

42900:32:36,754 --> 00:32:39,279You got us in here,teaching us this grammar shit,

43000:32:39,390 --> 00:32:40,516and then we got to go out there again.

431



00:32:40,625 --> 00:32:43,116And what are you telling meabout that, huh?

432

00:32:43,227 --> 00:32:46,924What are you doing in here that makesa goddamn difference to my life?

43300:32:47,031 --> 00:32:50,262You don't feel respected.Is that what you're saying, Eva?

43400:32:50,568 --> 00:32:54,004

Well, maybe you're not.But to get respect, you have to give it.

43500:32:54,138 --> 00:32:55,696That's bullshit.

43600:32:56,874 --> 00:32:57,841What?

43700:32:57,942 --> 00:33:00,035Why should I give my respect to you?

43800:33:00,178 --> 00:33:01,770'Cause you're a teacher?

43900:33:01,879 --> 00:33:03,210I don't know you.

44000:33:03,247 --> 00:33:05,715How do I knowyou're not a liar standing up there?

44100:33:05,817 --> 00:33:08,911



How do I know you're nota bad person standing up there?

44200:33:09,520 --> 00:33:12,580

I'm not just gonna give you my respect because you're called a teacher.

44300:33:12,690 --> 00:33:16,786White people always wanting their respect like they deserve it for free.

44400:33:17,829 --> 00:33:20,855I'm a teacher.

It doesn't matter what color I am.

44500:33:20,965 --> 00:33:22,796It's all about color.

44600:33:23,601 --> 00:33:25,899It's about people decidingwhat you deserve,

44700:33:26,037 --> 00:33:28,301about people wantingwhat they don't deserve,

44800:33:28,406 --> 00:33:30,738about whites thinkingthey run this world no matter what.

44900:33:30,842 --> 00:33:32,742You see, I hate white people.

45000:33:34,379 --> 00:33:35,778- You hate me?- Yeah.



45100:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,974- You don't know me.- I know what you can do.

45200:33:39,083 --> 00:33:42,883I saw white cops shoot my friendin the back for reaching into his pocket!

45300:33:42,987 --> 00:33:44,215His pocket.

45400:33:44,722 --> 00:33:47,122

I saw white cops break into my house

45500:33:47,225 --> 00:33:50,854and take my father for no reasonexcept because they feel like it!

45600:33:50,962 --> 00:33:53,055Except because they can.

45700:33:54,565 --> 00:33:57,762And they can because they're white.

45800:33:59,303 --> 00:34:01,737So I hate white people on sight!

45900:34:06,377 --> 00:34:08,777Ben, do you have anything to say?

46000:34:08,880 --> 00:34:10,643Can I please get out of here?

46100:34:10,748 --> 00:34:13,717Lady, stop acting like you're trying



to understand our situation

46200:34:13,818 --> 00:34:15,251and just do your little babysitting

up there.

46300:34:15,353 --> 00:34:17,651- That's all you think this is?- It ain't nothing else.

46400:34:17,755 --> 00:34:18,915When I look out in the world,

46500:34:19,023 --> 00:34:21,491I don't see nobody that looks like mewith their pockets full,

46600:34:21,592 --> 00:34:24,083unless they're rapping a lyricor dribbling a ball.

46700:34:24,195 --> 00:34:25,526So what else you got in here for me?

46800:34:25,630 --> 00:34:28,064And what if you can't rap a lyricor dribble a ball?

46900:34:28,166 --> 00:34:31,761- It ain't this. I know that much.- Damn right.

47000:34:31,903 --> 00:34:34,997And you all think you're gonna make itto graduation like this?

471



00:34:35,139 --> 00:34:36,902I made it to high school.Ain't nobody stopped me.

472

00:34:37,008 --> 00:34:39,977Lady, I'm lucky if I make it to 18.We’re in a war.

47300:34:40,078 --> 00:34:41,705We're graduating every day we live,

47400:34:41,813 --> 00:34:44,111 because we ain't afraid to die

protecting our own.

47500:34:44,215 --> 00:34:48,549At least when you die for your own,you die with respect, you die a warrior.

47600:34:48,653 --> 00:34:49,677That's right.

47700:34:49,787 --> 00:34:52,483So when you're dead, you'll get respect?Is that what you think?

47800:34:52,590 --> 00:34:53,648- That's right.- That's right.

47900:34:53,758 --> 00:34:55,282- Yeah.- Yeah.

48000:34:57,962 --> 00:35:00,430You know what's gonna happenwhen you die?



48100:35:01,399 --> 00:35:03,560You're gonna rot in the ground.

48200:35:03,634 --> 00:35:08,003And people are gonna go on living,and they're gonna forget all about you.

48300:35:08,873 --> 00:35:11,341And when you rot,

48400:35:11,476 --> 00:35:16,436

do you think it's gonna matter whether you were an original gangster?

48500:35:17,748 --> 00:35:19,181You're dead.

48600:35:20,585 --> 00:35:24,954And nobody,nobody is gonna wanna remember you,

48700:35:25,056 --> 00:35:29,186 because all you left behindin this world is this.

48800:35:47,311 --> 00:35:49,006You're raising your hand?

48900:35:51,082 --> 00:35:54,483That thing that you said before,the Holocause?

49000:35:54,585 --> 00:35:57,145- Holocaust, yes.- What is that?



49100:36:01,459 --> 00:36:04,690Raise your hand if you knowwhat the Holocaust is.

49200:36:17,408 --> 00:36:19,239Raise your hand

49300:36:19,911 --> 00:36:23,540if anyone in this classroomhas ever been shot at.

494

00:37:28,312 --> 00:37:31,110What about this?We were discussing the Holocaust.

49500:37:31,215 --> 00:37:32,682 No, they won't be able to read that.

49600:37:33,818 --> 00:37:36,286We can try.The books are just sitting here.

49700:37:36,387 --> 00:37:38,116Look at their reading scores.

49800:37:38,222 --> 00:37:40,486And if I give your kids these books,I'll never see them again.

49900:37:40,591 --> 00:37:42,525If I do, they'll be damaged.

50000:37:42,893 --> 00:37:46,385What about these? Romeo and Juliet.That's a great gang story.



50100:37:46,497 --> 00:37:50,126 No, not the books.This is what we give them.

50200:37:50,635 --> 00:37:52,865It is Romeo and Juliet, but it's a condensed version.

50300:37:53,004 --> 00:37:55,029But even these,look how they treat them.

50400:37:55,172 --> 00:37:58,232See how torn up they are?They draw on them.

50500:37:59,577 --> 00:38:01,306Ms. Campbell?

50600:38:01,479 --> 00:38:02,571They know they get these

50700:38:02,613 --> 00:38:04,376 because no one thinksthey're smart enough for real books.

50800:38:04,482 --> 00:38:06,450Well, I don't have the budgetto buy new books every semester

50900:38:06,550 --> 00:38:07,744when these kids don't return them.

51000:38:07,852 --> 00:38:09,581So, what do I do?



Buy their books myself?

51100:38:09,687 --> 00:38:12,815Well, that's up to you,

but you'd be wasting your money.

51200:38:13,190 --> 00:38:16,057Is there someone elseI can speak to about this?

51300:38:16,594 --> 00:38:19,154- Excuse me?- I'm sorry, but

51400:38:20,164 --> 00:38:21,222I don't understand.

51500:38:21,332 --> 00:38:23,129Does the Long Beach Board of Ed agree

51600:38:23,267 --> 00:38:25,827that these books should just sit hereand not be used at all?

51700:38:25,970 --> 00:38:27,562Let me explain.

51800:38:28,639 --> 00:38:31,403It's called site-based instruction.

51900:38:31,509 --> 00:38:34,376It means that I and the principaleach have the authority

52000:38:34,478 --> 00:38:37,345to make these kinds of decisions



without having to go to the Board,

52100:38:37,448 --> 00:38:41,908who have bigger problems to solve.

Do you understand how it works now?

52200:38:42,553 --> 00:38:45,021I'm sorry.I didn't mean to overstep your authority.

52300:38:45,122 --> 00:38:47,283I would never do that. I just...

52400:38:48,893 --> 00:38:51,521I don't know how to make theminterested in reading with these.

52500:38:51,629 --> 00:38:55,190You can't make someonewant an education.

52600:38:55,466 --> 00:38:59,527The best you can do is try to get themto obey, to learn discipline.

52700:38:59,670 --> 00:39:02,400That would be a tremendousaccomplishment for them.

52800:39:06,277 --> 00:39:08,871Since you know Margaret better than I do,

52900:39:08,979 --> 00:39:11,539if I could just getsome backup from you.







00:40:11,342 --> 00:40:13,310 by the geniusesrunning the school district?

551

00:40:15,012 --> 00:40:16,775Integration's a lie.

55200:40:16,881 --> 00:40:20,578Yeah, we teachers, we can't say thator we lose our jobs for being racist.

55300:40:20,684 --> 00:40:23,778So, please, stop your cheerleading,

Erin. You're ridiculous.

55400:40:23,888 --> 00:40:26,448You don't know the first thingabout these kids.

55500:40:26,557 --> 00:40:28,582And you're not qualifiedto make judgments about the teachers

55600:40:28,692 --> 00:40:30,785who have to survive this place.

55700:41:11,001 --> 00:41:14,732We're gonna play a game, all right?It's a lot of fun. I promise.

55800:41:16,373 --> 00:41:18,807Look, you can either sit in your seatsreading those workbooks,

55900:41:18,909 --> 00:41:19,898or you can play a game.



56000:41:20,044 --> 00:41:21,636Either way,you're in here till the bell rings.

56100:41:21,745 --> 00:41:25,647Okay. This is called the Line Game.

56200:41:25,749 --> 00:41:27,307I'm gonna ask you a question.

56300:41:27,418 --> 00:41:30,615If that question applies to you,

you step onto the line,

56400:41:30,721 --> 00:41:33,349and then step back awayfor the next question.

56500:41:33,457 --> 00:41:35,152- Easy, right?- Yeah, whatever.

56600:41:35,593 --> 00:41:36,924The first question,

56700:41:37,161 --> 00:41:40,426how many of you havethe new Snoop Dogg album?

56800:41:48,472 --> 00:41:49,564Did you steal it?

56900:41:50,374 --> 00:41:51,841Okay, back away.

570



00:41:55,045 --> 00:41:56,137 Next question,

57100:41:56,247 --> 00:41:59,739

how many of you have seenBoyz n the Hood?

57200:42:08,425 --> 00:42:10,393Okay. Next question.

57300:42:10,494 --> 00:42:13,395How many of you live in the projects?

57400:42:18,202 --> 00:42:23,162How many of you know someone,a friend or relative,

57500:42:23,307 --> 00:42:26,276who was or is in juvenile hall or jail?

57600:42:30,214 --> 00:42:32,375How many of you have beenin juvenile hall

57700:42:32,483 --> 00:42:34,747or jail for any length of time?

57800:42:35,185 --> 00:42:36,152Detention don't count.

57900:42:40,024 --> 00:42:41,719Does a refugee camp count?

58000:42:42,860 --> 00:42:44,225You decide.



58100:42:59,276 --> 00:43:02,006How many of you knowwhere to get drugs right now?

58200:43:07,284 --> 00:43:10,151How many of youknow someone in a gang?

58300:43:18,462 --> 00:43:21,158How many of you are gang members?

58400:43:22,366 --> 00:43:24,061

- Nice try.- Nice try.

58500:43:25,436 --> 00:43:28,234Okay, that was a stupid question,wasn't it?

58600:43:28,339 --> 00:43:29,306Yeah.

58700:43:29,440 --> 00:43:31,408You're not allowedgang affiliations in school.

58800:43:31,508 --> 00:43:33,908I apologize for asking. My badness.

58900:43:38,682 --> 00:43:42,448Okay, now I'm gonna ask youa more serious question.

59000:43:43,354 --> 00:43:48,155Stand on the line if you've losta friend to gang violence.



59100:44:13,684 --> 00:44:16,619Stay on the line if you've lostmore than one friend.

59200:44:23,460 --> 00:44:24,654Three.

59300:44:38,475 --> 00:44:40,272Four or more.

59400:44:50,988 --> 00:44:53,115

Okay, I'd like us to pay respectto those people now.

59500:44:53,223 --> 00:44:55,748Wherever you are, just speak their name.

59600:45:04,802 --> 00:45:05,769James.

59700:45:10,574 --> 00:45:11,541Beatriz.

59800:45:22,619 --> 00:45:24,416Thank you all very much.

59900:45:25,756 --> 00:45:28,384 Now, I have something for each of you.

60000:45:31,195 --> 00:45:33,356Everyone has their own story,

60100:45:33,464 --> 00:45:37,992



and it's important for youto tell your own story, even to yourself.

60200:45:38,135 --> 00:45:40,695

So, what we're going to do is

60300:45:40,838 --> 00:45:43,807we're gonna write every dayin these journals.

60400:45:44,141 --> 00:45:48,703You can write about whatever you want,the past, the present, the future.

60500:45:48,812 --> 00:45:52,714You can write it like a diary,or you can write

60600:45:52,816 --> 00:45:58,220songs, poems, any good thing, bad thing, anything.

60700:45:58,322 --> 00:46:01,018But you have to write every day.

60800:46:01,191 --> 00:46:04,683Keep a pen nearby.Whenever you feel the inspiration.

60900:46:04,728 --> 00:46:06,787And they won't be graded.

61000:46:06,897 --> 00:46:10,560How can I give an A or a Bfor writing the truth, right?

611



00:46:10,667 --> 00:46:13,431And I will not read themunless you give me permission.

612

00:46:13,570 --> 00:46:17,301I will need to see that you've madean entry, but I'll just do this,

61300:46:17,407 --> 00:46:18,931skim to see that you wrote that day.

61400:46:19,076 --> 00:46:24,343 Now, if you want me to read it, I have...

Excuse me. A cabinet over here.

61500:46:24,448 --> 00:46:28,111It has a lock on it.I will keep it open during class,

61600:46:28,218 --> 00:46:31,051and you can leave your diary thereif you want me to read it.

61700:46:31,155 --> 00:46:34,784I will lock this cabinetat the end of every class.

61800:46:36,026 --> 00:46:37,118Okay?

61900:46:39,129 --> 00:46:44,999So, you can each come up,one by one, and take your own journal.

62000:46:52,442 --> 00:46:54,307Whenever you're ready.



62100:47:18,969 --> 00:47:21,437Eva holds back, but I know she wants to be involved.

62200:47:21,538 --> 00:47:23,005She's so stubborn.

62300:47:23,140 --> 00:47:25,472Who really surprised me was Brandy,who never says a word,

62400:47:25,576 --> 00:47:28,306

but she was the first to step upand take a journal. I...

62500:47:28,412 --> 00:47:30,243Honey, here. Here, sit down.

62600:47:30,347 --> 00:47:31,871- It's all right. No, it's all right.- I'll move this.

62700:47:31,982 --> 00:47:34,212I don't mind standing.Food goes straight down.

62800:47:34,318 --> 00:47:37,253- How much longer are you gonna be?- I don't know.

62900:47:37,354 --> 00:47:39,822- Want to help?- Not really, I'm a terrible drawer.

63000:47:39,923 --> 00:47:43,791- You're an architect.



- All right, I just don't want to.

63100:47:45,229 --> 00:47:46,753What's the matter?

Is something wrong?

63200:47:46,864 --> 00:47:48,491 No, it's nothing.

63300:47:49,566 --> 00:47:53,093Well, it's just, you know,I want to hear all this, I do.

63400:47:53,604 --> 00:47:54,662It just...

63500:47:54,805 --> 00:47:56,534I feel likewe haven't talked about anything,

63600:47:56,640 --> 00:47:59,700other than your job, in like forever.

63700:47:59,843 --> 00:48:01,071I'm sorry.

63800:48:01,912 --> 00:48:03,607- Well, what's going on at work?- Nothing.

63900:48:03,647 --> 00:48:05,274I don't want to talk about that, either.

64000:48:05,382 --> 00:48:08,180I just want to hang out.I want to be home.



64100:48:10,621 --> 00:48:13,112And I want to be with my schoolteacher.

64200:48:19,730 --> 00:48:22,893I've always had this fantasyabout being kept late after school.

64300:48:23,000 --> 00:48:27,664Well, I'm sorry I leftmy dirty erasers at work.

644

00:48:27,804 --> 00:48:30,170Do all the other teachers put in this much extra effort?

64500:48:30,274 --> 00:48:33,072I don't know.I'm kind of making it up as I go along.

64600:48:33,176 --> 00:48:35,838And the other teachers don't reallytalk to me. I mean, Brian and Margaret...

64700:48:35,946 --> 00:48:37,880- Honey, I don't want to think.- I'm sorry. Okay, don't think.

64800:48:37,981 --> 00:48:40,108- I just wanna...- I'm almost done, okay?

64900:48:42,085 --> 00:48:43,882So, how much longer?

65000:48:45,155 --> 00:48:47,453



Not long. Promise.

65100:48:51,528 --> 00:48:54,656Thank you so much for coming.

Susan's a terrific student. Thank you.

65200:48:54,765 --> 00:48:56,392- Great to see you.- Good night. Take care.

65300:48:56,500 --> 00:48:58,434- Jim, thank you so much.- Thanks, Brian.

65400:48:58,568 --> 00:49:00,661I appreciate you guys comingto Parents' Night.

65500:49:00,871 --> 00:49:02,236Drive safe.

65600:49:43,113 --> 00:49:45,604In every war, there is an enemy.

65700:49:52,756 --> 00:49:55,725I watched my mother being half beaten to death

65800:49:56,093 --> 00:49:59,290and watched as blood and tearsstreamed down her face.

65900:50:00,464 --> 00:50:02,365I felt useless and scaredand furious at the same time.

660



00:50:02,400 --> 00:50:04,267I felt useless and scaredand furious at the same time.

661

00:50:05,235 --> 00:50:06,964Stay there, Brandy. Watch the kids!

66200:50:07,104 --> 00:50:08,469- Get my money!- Watch the kids!

66300:50:09,940 --> 00:50:13,671I can still feel the sting of the belt

on my back and my legs.

66400:50:14,277 --> 00:50:17,007One time, he couldn't pay the rent.

66500:50:17,114 --> 00:50:20,550And that night he stopped us onthe street and pointed to the concrete.

66600:50:20,650 --> 00:50:22,777He said, "Pick a spot. "

66700:50:34,564 --> 00:50:38,227Clive was my boy.He had my back plenty of times.

66800:50:38,368 --> 00:50:42,065We was like one fist, me and him,one army.

66900:50:42,873 --> 00:50:44,670- That's heavy.- Yeah.



67000:50:46,410 --> 00:50:50,369That's the real shit right here. Nobody'll jump us now.

67100:50:50,814 --> 00:50:53,544But we got to practice'cause this, this got power.

67200:50:53,650 --> 00:50:55,379You shoot it, it...

67300:51:01,725 --> 00:51:04,091

I sat there till the police came.

67400:51:05,262 --> 00:51:10,131But when they come, all they seeis a dead body, a gun and a nigga.

67500:51:10,634 --> 00:51:14,570They took me to juvenile hall.First night was the scariest.

67600:51:17,274 --> 00:51:19,071Inmates banging on the walls,

67700:51:19,176 --> 00:51:23,306throwing up their gang signs, yelling outwho they were, where they're from.

67800:51:23,713 --> 00:51:27,740I cried my first night.Can't never let nobody know that.

67900:51:28,652 --> 00:51:31,177I spent the next few yearsin and out of cells.



68000:51:31,288 --> 00:51:34,086Every day I'd worry,"When will I be free?"

68100:51:37,694 --> 00:51:40,561My brother taught mewhat the life is for a young black man.

68200:51:40,664 --> 00:51:44,100Do what you have to, pimp, deal, whatever.

68300:51:44,234 --> 00:51:46,634Learn what colors to learn,gang boundaries.

68400:51:46,736 --> 00:51:48,931You can stay on one corner,you can't stay on another.

68500:51:49,072 --> 00:51:51,768Learn to be quiet.A wrong word can get you popped.

68600:51:51,875 --> 00:51:54,969If you look in my eyes,you'll see a loving girl.

68700:51:55,078 --> 00:51:57,945If you look at my smile,you'll see nothing wrong.

68800:51:58,582 --> 00:52:01,813If you pull up my shirt,you'll see the bruises.



68900:52:01,985 --> 00:52:04,112What did I do to make him so mad?

690

00:52:04,154 --> 00:52:08,056At 16, I've seen more dead bodiesthan a mortician.

69100:52:08,725 --> 00:52:12,422Every time I step out my door,I'm faced with the risk of being shot.

69200:52:13,096 --> 00:52:17,226

To the outside world, it's just another dead body on the street corner.

69300:52:17,801 --> 00:52:19,769They don't know that he was my friend.

69400:52:19,870 --> 00:52:21,201During the war in Cambodia,

69500:52:21,304 --> 00:52:23,295the camp stripped awaymy father's dignity.

69600:52:23,440 --> 00:52:25,908He sometimes triesto hurt my mom and me.

69700:52:26,042 --> 00:52:28,203I feel like I have to protect my family.

69800:52:28,311 --> 00:52:33,305I was having trouble deciding whatcandy I wanted, then I heard gunshots.



69900:52:33,416 --> 00:52:35,247I looked down to seethat one of my friends

70000:52:35,352 --> 00:52:38,378had blood coming out of his back and his mouth.

70100:52:39,122 --> 00:52:42,285The next day, I pulled up my shirtand got strapped with a gun

702

00:52:42,392 --> 00:52:44,656I found in an alley by my house.

70300:52:44,761 --> 00:52:47,059I don't even know how this war started.

70400:52:47,164 --> 00:52:50,190It's just two sideswho tripped each other way back.

70500:52:50,300 --> 00:52:52,791Who cares about the history behind it?

70600:52:53,603 --> 00:52:55,036I am my father's daughter.

70700:52:55,138 --> 00:52:59,507And when they call me to testify,I will protect my own no matter what.

70800:52:59,809 --> 00:53:03,370Nobody cares what I do.Why should I bother coming to school?



70900:53:03,847 --> 00:53:07,476My friends are soldiers, not of war, but of the streets.

71000:53:07,584 --> 00:53:09,415They fight for their lives.

71100:53:09,519 --> 00:53:11,953I hate the cold feeling of a gunagainst my skin.

71200:53:12,055 --> 00:53:13,352

It makes me shiver.

71300:53:13,456 --> 00:53:17,187It's a crazy-ass life.Once you're in, there's no getting out.

71400:53:17,294 --> 00:53:18,886Every time I jump somebody in

71500:53:18,995 --> 00:53:22,192and make someone a part of our gang,it's another baptism.

71600:53:22,299 --> 00:53:24,733They give us their life,we give them a new one.

71700:53:24,868 --> 00:53:28,167I've lost many friendswho have died in an undeclared war.

71800:53:29,439 --> 00:53:31,907To the soldiers and me, it's all worth it.



71900:53:32,442 --> 00:53:36,105Risk your life dodging bullets, pulling triggers.

72000:53:37,514 --> 00:53:39,141It's all worth it.

72100:53:56,466 --> 00:53:57,455Rum and Coke.

72200:53:57,567 --> 00:53:58,829Oh, man.

72300:54:00,103 --> 00:54:01,195This is...

72400:54:01,338 --> 00:54:04,705Mr. Gruwell? Your table is ready.Follow me.

72500:54:05,475 --> 00:54:07,033- Dad, I got them.- Okay.

72600:54:08,645 --> 00:54:11,079Dad, I don't know what to do with this.

72700:54:11,181 --> 00:54:13,615I'm not a social worker.I'm barely a teacher.

72800:54:13,717 --> 00:54:14,684Thank you.

72900:54:14,784 --> 00:54:17,981



These kids, they're 14, 15 years old,

73000:54:18,088 --> 00:54:20,784and if they make it through the day

alive, that's good enough.

73100:54:20,890 --> 00:54:22,858And I'm supposed to teach them?

73200:54:25,762 --> 00:54:27,252Listen to me.

733

00:54:27,364 --> 00:54:31,357You're not responsiblefor their lives outside that classroom.

73400:54:32,636 --> 00:54:35,605- Just do your job the best you can.- How?

73500:54:35,705 --> 00:54:37,969The administrationdoesn't give me any resources,

73600:54:38,074 --> 00:54:39,905no books, no support.

73700:54:41,711 --> 00:54:43,338So, what should I do?

73800:54:46,683 --> 00:54:49,277Fulfill your obligationtill the end of the school year,

73900:54:49,386 --> 00:54:51,752 but line up another position.



74000:54:52,155 --> 00:54:55,556Success follows experience.

74100:54:55,659 --> 00:54:57,957So, get some more experience.

74200:54:59,796 --> 00:55:03,926But no matter what,you gotta remember, it's just a job.

74300:55:04,768 --> 00:55:08,704

If you're not right for this one,get another job.

74400:55:11,007 --> 00:55:13,032You're gonna sell brasat a department store?

74500:55:13,176 --> 00:55:14,370Just part-time.

74600:55:14,477 --> 00:55:17,002I'm having a little troublegetting books and things for the kids.

74700:55:17,113 --> 00:55:19,240So, a little extra moneywill give me a little more freedom

74800:55:19,349 --> 00:55:20,577to do what I want.

74900:55:20,684 --> 00:55:23,084And this way you can play tenniswith Evan after work.



75000:55:23,186 --> 00:55:25,211Okay, let me get my head around this.

75100:55:25,322 --> 00:55:28,553You're going to get an extra jobto pay for your job.

75200:55:28,958 --> 00:55:31,392It's just temporary. I promise.

75300:55:31,494 --> 00:55:33,985

Once the kids' grades go up,I'll get a little more help from the school.

75400:55:34,097 --> 00:55:37,294And I get an employee's discount.Isn't that great?

75500:55:37,434 --> 00:55:40,528- Want a new TV?- Yeah.

75600:55:54,484 --> 00:55:56,975Excuse me, if I wanted to order any books in bulk,

75700:55:57,087 --> 00:55:59,248could I get some sort of a discount?

75800:56:03,460 --> 00:56:05,485- These books are brand new.- I know.

75900:56:06,796 --> 00:56:09,560Okay, guys, gals. Listen up.



76000:56:09,966 --> 00:56:12,059The only problem with this book is

76100:56:12,202 --> 00:56:13,897it's about a gang member and there's violence in it,

76200:56:14,037 --> 00:56:16,198so you may not be able to read itas part of the curriculum.

763

00:56:16,339 --> 00:56:20,139So, I'm going to try my bestto get permission, all right?

76400:56:22,579 --> 00:56:24,740It's been a little difficultgetting their attention.

76500:56:24,848 --> 00:56:28,579Up until recently, the only thing theyhated more than each other was me.

76600:56:28,852 --> 00:56:32,117Well, you united them and that's a step.

76700:56:33,757 --> 00:56:35,315What can I do for you?

76800:56:36,025 --> 00:56:40,928I want to do more with them, and I needthe support of someone in power.

76900:56:41,030 --> 00:56:43,863You have to take this up with your



department head and your principal.

Date post:	06-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	nani-hidayati
View:	217 times
Download:	0 times

Freedom.writers.xvid

Documents