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.
Andre
That's bullshit.
Erin Gruwell
What?
Andre
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
Ben, do you have anything to say?
Can I please get out of here?
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?
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?
Andre
It ain't this. I know that much.
Damn right.
Erin Gruwell
And you all think you're gonna make it to graduation like this?
Andre
I made it to high school, ain't nobody stop me.
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!
