The Freedom Writers Diary - Erin Gruwell [70]
We have the same passion and hope as the Freedom Riders had when they traveled from city to city across the South. Freedom Riders stood out among the crowd, trying to bring an end to segregation between whites and blacks by traveling from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans. Without the collaboration of both the Caucasians and the African Americans they would not have won the battle. They worked together as one to win the war against ignorance. Our camaraderie has more than just two sides, and I feel really fortunate to be a part of this new movement that’s not just black and white. We are following in their footsteps by traveling from California to Washington D.C., announcing to everyone that we are strong and we will be heard. Our trip to Washington is to prove the passion behind our cause. Just like the Freedom Riders, we are going to fight for what we believe in.
Being able to look into another person’s life is one thing, but doing something about it is another. I feel that we have the potential to help those who fear to speak for themselves. But speaking out is not always easy. We may face a lot of close-minded people along the way. So, just like the Freedom Riders, who didn’t give up when their bus got bombed or when they were beat up by the Klan, I hope we’ll stand strong like the Dylan Thomas poem and “Not Go Gently Into That Good Night.”
We want people who are adults to take the time to listen to teenagers and respect what we have to say. So we came up with the idea that the best way to tell our side of the story is to give our diaries to Secretary of Education Richard Riley. If we could hand-deliver our stories to Secretary Riley, then one more person will know the problems teenagers face day by day. Unfortunately, a lot of adults are too blind or cold-hearted to see our pain. But blinding yourself to the realities that our teenagers go through is like seeing a murder and turning the other way. I am not going to let that happen. I will fight along with the other Freedom Writers to stand up, speak out, and “rage against the dying of the light.” Hopefully when we’re in Washington, Secretary Riley won’t turn us away or stay blind to our cause.
Diary 80
Dear Diary,
I can’t believe I’m here in our nation’s capital! I’m so excited. I have never felt so free. But at the same time, I’m scared about my dad coming back and finding out that I’m gone! He’s in Mexico and I don’t know when he’s going to come back. If he was home, I wouldn’t have been able to come. He’s very strict and old-fashioned. I’m not allowed to do anything after school. I’ve had to miss every trip that involved the Freedom Writers. I didn’t get to go to the Marriott to meet Zlata, I didn’t get to go to the Museum of Tolerance and see Schindler’s List, I didn’t even get to go to Medieval Times. Every time my friends came home from a field trip, I felt so left out. Everyone had something to share, and I didn’t. I would listen, look at their pictures, and hide my tears. Every time Ms. G tried to get me to go, I always said “No!” I already knew what my dad’s answer would be: “No!” During my sophomore year I used to beg to go, but my dad would always say, “You already know the answer, so don’t ask!” From that point on, I just stopped asking. It hurt too much to hear him say “No!”
When the Washington trip first came up, I just assumed I wasn’t going. The thought of getting away ran through my mind many, many times. I never realized that my wish would actually come true. Every time Ms. G asked for a final headcount to reserve our plane tickets, I never responded. Deep down inside, it was killing me. I’d never been on a plane