Quotes

Dialogue

Erin Gruwell: The evaluation assignment was to grade yourself on the work you're doing. You gave yourself an "F". What's that about? Andre: It's what I feel I deserve, that's all. Erin Gruwell: Oh really? [pause] You know what this is? This is a "Fuck 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.

Dialogue

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...

Dialogue

Marcus: I've never had a hero before. But you are my hero. Miep Gies: Oh, no. No, no, no, young man, no. I am not a hero. No. I did what I had to do, because it was the right thing to do. That is all.

Dialogue

Tito: [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]

Dialogue

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

Dialogue

Marcus: No, that don't fly Ma. Erin Gruwell: First of all I'm not anybody's mother. Andre: No, that's not what it means. Eva: It's a sign of respect... for you.

Dialogue

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? Sindy: Does a refugee camp count? Erin Gruwell: You decide. [Sindy stands on the line]

Dialogue

Erin Gruwell: Does anyone know Homer's the Odyssey? Andre: I know Homer the Simpson.

Dialogue

Eva: So when's Anne Frank gonna smoke Hitler? Erin Gruwell: Keep reading.

Dialogue

Margaret Campbell: You're an honor student. If you transfer to Mrs. Gruwell's class, think how that'll reflect on your records. Victoria: It doesn't matter to me, my grades will still be the same. Look, Ms. Campbell, when I first transferred to this school, I had a 4.0 average. But when I applied for advanced placement in English and Math, I was told it'd be better for me to be in a class of my own kind. Now, when I did get in, my teacher said "Victoria! It's not everyday one finds an African American student in AP and Honors courses!"... As if I didn't notice. And when I asked another Honors teacher why we don't read more black literature, she said, "We don't read black literature because of all the sex, drugs, cussing, and fornication". I thought a simple... "It's inappropriate"... would have sufficed.

Dialogue

Ben: Ms. G, we can fight this y'know, like the Freedom Riders. Marcus: Yeh yeh, we all drive around on a bus, only this time they try and bust us up we bust a few of them board member's heads. Brandy: Or we can go to the newspapers. Media...? Tito: Or we can paint the administration building with the word assholes, in various colours.

Dialogue

Erin Gruwell: I love you. Steve Gruwell: You love the idea of me.

Dialogue

Andre: It's the dumb class cuz. It means you too dumb. Jamal: Man, say it to my face cuz. Andre: I just did. See what I mean? Dumb?