Thursday, 10 May 2018

Themes in The Freedom Writers

The power of friendship to make a person stronger

Script from the scene where Miguel reads from his diary:
  
"This summer was the worst summer
in my short 14 years of life.

  
"It all started with a phone call.

  
"My mother was crying and begging,

  
"asking for more time as if she were
gasping for her last breath of air.

  
"She held me as tight
as she could and cried.

  
"Her tears hit my shirt like bullets
and told me we were being evicted.

  
"She kept apologizing to me.
I thought, 'I have no home.

  
"'I should have asked for something
less expensive at Christmas. '

  
"On the morning of the eviction,
a hard knock on the door woke me up.

  
"The sheriff was there to do his job.

  
"I looked up at the sky,
waiting for something to happen.

  
"My mother has no family to lean on,
no money coming in.

  
"Why bother coming to school
or getting good grades if I'm homeless?

  
"The bus stops in front of the school.
I feel like throwing up.

  
"I'm wearing clothes from last year,
some old shoes and no new haircut.

  
"I kept thinking I'd get laughed at.

  
"Instead, I'm greeted
by a couple of friends

  
"who were in my English class last year.

  
"And it hits me, Mrs. Gruwell,

  
"my crazy English teacher
from last year,

  
"is the only person
that made me think of hope.

  
"Talking with friends
about last year's English and our trips,

  
"I began to feel better.

  
"I receive my schedule and the first
teacher is Mrs. Gruwell in Room 203.

  
"I walk into the room and feel as though

  
"all the problems in life
are not so important anymore.

  
"I am home. "

  

Task: 
1. Summarise what Miguel says in your own words.
2. Explain what it shows us about the power of friendship in Ms Gruell's class



 The barriers which racism sets up in schools.

The challenge of being poor.

The difference a determined person can make in this world.

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