Through education and the opportunity to share our story, I discovered that I could confront prejudice and transform my circumstances,” said Becerra. Photo: Jeanette Sánchez / El Latino San Diego)

Overview:

First a book and now a documentary, Freedom Writers was screened for Southwestern College students

CHULA VISTA – The Southwestern College Performing Arts Center hosted a screening of the documentary Freedom Writers: Stories from the Heart and a presentation of The Freedom Writers Diary (20th Anniversary Edition), featuring author and educator Erin Gruwell, former student and documentary protagonist Tony Becerra, and Southwestern College ESL support specialist Angelina Barrera.

According to Erin Gruwell, the original project began in 1994 when she faced a classroom of students labeled as “difficult to teach” in Long Beach, California.

“I intercepted a note with an offensive racial caricature and angrily declared that this was exactly the kind of behavior that led to the Holocaust,” Gruwell explained. “None of my students had heard about it. I reinvented my curriculum using powerful books such as The Diary of Anne Frank to combat intolerance and misunderstanding.”

According to Erin Gruwell, the original project began in 1994 when she faced a classroom of students labeled as “difficult to teach” in Long Beach, California. Photo: Jeanette Sánchez / El Latino San Diego)

Originally published in 1999 and reissued in 2022 for its 20th anniversary, the book includes new entries from students, updates on their lives, and an introduction by Gruwell. The work has sold over one million copies and inspired the film Freedom Writers.

“The students began to record their thoughts and feelings in their own journals and eventually named themselves the ‘Freedom Writers,’” the author said. “The diaries show how hard work, courage, and determination changed the lives of the students—and their teacher.”

Tony Becerra, one of Gruwell’s former students, spoke about his personal experience: “My parents used to punish me if I spoke English at home. Speaking Spanish allowed me to keep my essence, my language, and stay connected to my roots. Through education and the opportunity to share our story, I discovered that I could confront prejudice and transform my circumstances.”

Becerra emphasized that both the documentary and the book reflect how education can foster resilience and empowerment among young people facing challenging circumstances.

Southwestern College specialist Angelina Barrera highlighted the project’s value for current students: “This book and this documentary allow students to see that their personal experiences matter and that education can open doors, even in difficult circumstances.”