The Freedom Writers Diary - Erin Gruwell [120]
Afterward, we’ll return to America on the brink of a new school year and share our new diaries, forge new paths, and continue doing whatever we can to create a peaceful and tolerant world.
Maybe the end of our journey is really just the beginning…
The Freedom Writers see this book as the third leg of a relay race. Anne’s story inspired Zlata, who has been hailed as the modern-day Anne Frank. Zlata then reciprocated by passing the baton to the Freedom Writers. We hope this book will inspire you to be the fourth leg of the race by encouraging you to pick up a pen and be a catalyst for change.
Acknowledgments
A young man walking down the beach observed an old man picking up starfish that had washed up on the shore. As he got closer, he saw the old man throwing them back into the ocean. He approached the man and asked, “What are you doing?” The old man replied, “If I don’t throw the starfish back in the water, they’re going to die.” “But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish. You can’t save them all. Don’t you know you’ll never make a difference!” The old man reached down and picked up a starfish and simply replied, “I’ll make a difference to this one.”
As John Tu told us this story, the Freedom Writers felt like the starfish who washed up on the beach. But luckily, people recognized that they needed help. So Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers would like to thank all the unsung heroes who were willing to make a difference…
STEVE and KAREN GRUWELL—who inspired us to have the courage to follow our convictions and fight the good fight!
CHRIS GRUWELL—who gave so much of himself, so we could give to others
JOHN TU—who is our guardian angel and the epitome of The Giving Tree
DON PARRIS—who is our friend, confidant, and a true miracle maker
CAROL SCHILD—who believed our voice should be shared with the world
MARVIN LEVY—who recognized the magnitude of our message
SHARAUD MOORE—who is the original catalyst for change
The Dream Team Moms—who provided us with unconditional love and support (Debbie Mayfield, Mary Rozier, Fran Sandei, Marilyn Tyo, and all the other precious parents and guardians)
ANTHONY SANZIO—who honed our voices into a harmonious choir
GERDA SEIFER, RENEE FIRESTONE, MEL MERMELSTEIN, and the many Holocaust survivors who shared their story with us—we promise we’ll never forget!
Dr. COHN and KARIN POLACHECK—who gave us the freedom to dream
Wilson High supporters—who were an integral part of our “village” (the names are too numerous to list here, but you know who you are and we’ll never forget you)
NANCY WRIDE—who was the first to tell our story to the world
PETER MAASS—who inspired us to fight intolerance through writing
U.S. Secretary of Education RICHARD RILEY—who believes that everyone deserves the right to an education
The Marriott Hotel, International (especially Ms. G’s concierge family)—who allowed us to be a classroom without walls at home and abroad!
United Airlines—who gave many of the Freedom Writers “wings” for the first time
Barnes & Noble (especially AMY TERRELL and CARRIE FISHER)—who helped bring literature to life and shared the love of books with our community
GUESS?—who shared the Big Apple and big dreams with us
Southwest Airlines—who gave us the “freedom to fly”
University of California, Irvine—for celebrating diversity
National University—who originated “Freedom Writer Magic”
California State University, Long Beach—who expanded our horizons
Long Beach City College—who replaced Room 203 as our second home (especially Robert Hill, Rick Perez, Frank Gaspar, and Betty Martin)
Scholastic, Inc.—who helped make reading fun
The Museum of Tolerance—who opened our hearts and minds
The Anne Frank Center, U.S.A.—who keep Anne’s spirit alive
LINDA LAVIN—who made us “proud to be part of the human