Life Stories
The best amount of flattery is when you can say that art pretty much emulates real life. So what happens when literature, an autobiography, strikes the same chord? I finished the Freedom Writers Diary by the Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell, and even after finishing the afterward, I sat sort of gaping; it’s the kind of novel, where there is no happy ending, because it’s someone’s life.
The novel is set up by different diaries that Ms. Gruwell had assigned as a writing assignment in her ELA classes. Basically, it’s the same sort of idea established by the movie Dangerous Mind- white woman comes into the lives of helpless minorites and changes them for the better by being selfless. Except the difference here is such that, Ms. Gruwell provides the panel for the Freedom Writers and in turn each student becomes the key note speaker. This is evident when during her second year, she hosts a “Toast for Change” in her room, and lets her students know that they are able to take step to share their lives, and contribute to others.
During the course of teaching, Ms. Gruwell introduces the students to the “Diary of Anne Frank” which becomes a cornerstone towards their diversity education. And in turn, while teaching them, Ms. Gruwell learned about the world as well. Whatever.
The real knit and grit of the novel is the stories of the children. Some struggled through watching their families torn apart by addictions (theirs or their parents), some witnessed shootings and beatings, while others unfortunately dealt with the unfortunate russian roulettes of disease, and overwhelming bills. Yet, each came to school and brought their stories with them.
I was first introduced to this story by the movie of the same name starring Hillary Swank. The movie was phenomal but no comparisions can be made. The movie told Ms. Gruwell’s story, and made her struggle against administration the dominant tale. Which seems wrong, when taking into account that in the course of 200 something pages, Ms. Gruwell only writes maybe 8 or 9 diaries in total. Again, this is a classic case of seperate the book and seperate the movie.
I think that I would recommend this book for anyone who just wants to look at a different anthropology of America. Several of the entries really make what’s important to you feel kind of real. A few times I actually paused to wipe a tear away because some of the entries actually hit home hard. I actually feel like I want to give Ms. G and her students a hug. It was a lot to take in. But well worth it.
[Note: I was originally going to write this as both a teaching moment, and a comparision to a tv show DeGrassi: The Next Generation. But DeGrassi deserves its own post as well.]
