A character in Freedom Writers (2007)

Erin Gruwell quotes from Freedom Writers (2007)

Hilary Swank

Most-quoted character in Freedom Writers (2007): in 14 of its 36 quotes
Most scenes with: Andre (4), Marcus (3), Eva (3)

A line from Erin Gruwell

So when you're dead, you'll get respect, that what you think? [murmurs of "yeah" from the class] You know what's gonna happen when you die? You're gonna rot in the ground, and people are going to go on living, and they're going to forget all about you. And when you rot, do you think it's gonna matter whether you were an "original gangster"? You're dead. And nobody, nobody is gonna want to remember you, because all you left in the world is this. [holds up Tito's drawing]

More lines from Erin Gruwell

4 quotes
Erin Gruwell

Maybe we should talk about art. Tito's got real talent, don't you think? You know something? I saw a picture just like this once, in a museum. Only it wasn't a black man, it was a Jewish man. And instead of the big lips he had a really big nose, like a rat's nose. But he wasn't just one particular Jewish man. This was a drawing of all Jews. And these drawings were put in the newspapers by the most famous gang in history. You think you know all about gangs? You're amateurs. This gang will put you all to shame. And they started out poor and angry, and everybody looked down on them, until one man decided to give them some pride, an identity... and somebody to blame. You take over neighborhoods? That's nothing compared to them. They took over countries. You want to know how? They just wiped out everybody else. Yeah, they wiped out everybody they didn't like, and everybody they blamed for their life being hard. And one of the ways they did it was by doing this: see, they print pictures like this in the newspapers. Jewish people with big, long noses, blacks with big, fat lips. They'd also published scientific evidence that proved that Jews and blacks were the lowest form of human species. Jews and blacks were more like animals. And because they were just like animals, it didn't really matter whether they lived or died. In fact, life would be a whole lot better if they were all dead. That's how a holocaust happens. And that's what you all think of each other.

Erin Gruwell

Your bags are packed and you think the wine will give me a headache?

Erin Gruwell
[repeated line]

All right, guys and gals, listen up!

Scenes with Erin Gruwell

9 scenes
Erin Gruwell

The evaluation assignment was to grade yourself on the work you're doing. You gave yourself an "F". What's that about?

It's what I feel I deserve, that's all.

Erin Gruwell

Oh really? [pause] You know what this is? This is a "**** You" to me and everyone in this class. I don't want excuses. I know what you're up against. We're all of us up against something. So you better make up your mind, because until you have the balls to look me straight in the eye and tell me this is all you deserve, I am not letting you fail. Even if that means coming to your house every night until you finish the work. I see who you are. Do you understand me? I can see you. And you are not failing.

Marcus

That Miep Gies lady, the one that help hide her, I like her. I got all these other books about her from the library.

Erin Gruwell

Wow, you used your library card?

Marcus

Nah...

[Following Erin's impassioned speech about the Nazi Holocaust] [Raises hand]

What's a holocaust?

Erin Gruwell

Who here knows what the Holocaust is? [All keep their hands down except Ben, the only white kid, who sheepishly raises his] Who here has ever been shot at? [All raise their hands except Ben, who lowers his]

Erin Gruwell

You don't feel respected, Eva, is that what you're saying? Well, maybe you're not. But to get respect, you have to give it.

That's bullshit.

Erin Gruwell

What?

Why should I give you my respect to you, lady? Because you're a teacher? I don't know you. How do I know you're not a liar standing up there? How do I know you're not a bad person standing up there? I'm not just gonna give you my respect because you're called a teacher.

Eva

White people wanting their respect like they deserve it for free.

Erin Gruwell

I'm a teacher, it doesn't matter what color I am.

Eva

It's all about color. It's about people deciding what you deserve, about people wanting what they don't deserve! About whites thinking they own this world, no matter what. You see, I hate white people.

Erin Gruwell

You hate me?

Eva

Yeah.

Erin Gruwell

You don't even know me.

Eva

I know what you can do. I saw white cops shoot my friend in the back for reaching into his pocket, his pocket! I saw white cops break into my house and take my father away for no reason except because they feel like it! Except because they can! And they can, because they're white. So I hate white people on sight!

Erin Gruwell
[after a short silence, turns to Ben, the only white student present]

Ben, do you have anything to say?

Ben
[quietly, awkwardly]

Can I please get out of here?

Marcus

Lady, stop actin' like you tryin' to understand our situation, and just do your little babysittin' up there.

Erin Gruwell

That's all you think this is?

Marcus

It ain't nothing else. When I look out in the world I don't see nobody that looks like me with their pockets full unless they're rapping a lyric or dribbling a ball, so what else you got in here for me?

Erin Gruwell

And what if you can't rap a lyric or dribble a ball?

It ain't this. I know that much.

Marcus

Damn right.

Erin Gruwell

And you all think you're gonna make it to graduation like this?

I made it to high school, ain't nobody stop me.

Marcus

Lady, I'm lucky if I make it to eighteen. We in a war! We graduatin' every day we live because we ain't afraid to die protecting our own. At least when you die for your own, you die with respect, you die a warrior!

Marcus

No, that don't fly Ma.

Erin Gruwell

First of all I'm not anybody's mother.

No, that's not what it means.

Eva

It's a sign of respect... for you.

Erin Gruwell
[While playing the Line Game, in which Erin makes the class reveal that they have more in common than they care to admit]

Who has been to jail or a juvenile hall?

Does a refugee camp count?

Erin Gruwell

You decide. [Sindy stands on the line]

Erin Gruwell

Does anyone know Homer's the Odyssey?

I know Homer the Simpson.

Eva

So when's Anne Frank gonna smoke Hitler?

Erin Gruwell

Keep reading.

Erin Gruwell

I love you.

Steve Gruwell

You love the idea of me.

Other characters in Freedom Writers

More Hilary Swank characters

All Hilary Swank quotes →