The Freedom Writers Diary
Junior Year: Spring 1997
Journal Prompts
Choose one of the following prompts to respond to in your journal. Your journal entry needs to be a
minimum of one page, but please feel free to write more if you have something important you would like
to share with me!
Diary 67: Anne Frank’s Friends Visit
This student writes, “My mom always says, ‘Silence will get you nowhere in life.’” Think of opportunities
you’ve had in your life to speak up for yourself or someone you know. Have you spoken up or remained
silent? What inspired your choice?
Diary 68: Masking Fears
The Freedom Writer in this entry is new to Ms. Gruwell’s class and nervous about opening up. Compare
the situation to your own life. When you have a new experience or meet new people, do you open
yourself up or hide your true self? What might be possible reasons for either decision?
Diary 69: Living in the Projects
This student writes, “It’s easier to pretend I don’t live where I live or see what I see.” We all have a need
to escape our reality from time to time. Describe a time when you had to escape the reality of your life.
Diary 70: Dyslexia
The writer of this entry explains how technology made it easier to cope with a learning disability. Think of
a time when something or someone taught you something that made your schoolwork or life situation
easier to deal with. How can you pass those tools on to others with similar problems?
Diary 71: Letter from Miep
Miep Gies inspires this Freedom Writer to write the story of a friend who was shot and killed. Think of
the people who have affected your life. Write the story of a person who has had an impact on you and
deserves to live on in writing.
Diary 72: Student Editing
This student writes about dealing with a painful truth from her past. Consider your own life. What would
you do if given the chance to write your own truth and share it with others? What would inspire you to
share your truth? What reservations would you have about making it public?
Diary 73: Abortion
A dark secret returns to haunt this Freedom Writer. Think about choices you have made in the past.
Which choices would you change if given the chance? How would that affect your life today?
Diary 74: Catalysts for Change
In this entry, the writer quotes his/her mother having said, “One person can make a difference that can
change the whole world.” Think of a famous person or someone you know who has changed or is in the
process of changing the world and describe their achievement.
Diary 75: Freedom Riders
This Freedom Writer found a sense of purpose in learning about the Freedom Riders, stating, “That
purpose is to make a difference and stand up for a cause.” Reflect on the world around you. What
causes could use your help? Which do you believe in strongly? What will you do to help further those
causes?
Diary 76: An American Diary…Voices from an Undeclared War
This student writes about how Ms. Gruwell and the other Freedom Writers put in extra house and effort
to tell their stories. It was not enough for the Freedom Writers to have written their stories; they wanted
to share them with someone in power. Think about the stories you have to tell. What are you willing to
do to make sure they are heard? Who would benefit most from hearing them?
Diary 77: Fund-raiser Concert
In this entry, the writer talks about how the Freedom Writers held a fundraiser called Echoes of the Soul
to raise money for their trip to Washington, D.C. Think of your own heritage and culture. Write and
describe what you would share of your culture to contribute to an event like Echoes of the Soul.
Diary 78: Freedom Writer Poem
In this entry, the author describes himself as “an innocent boy now twelve years of age who finds himself
locked up in a human-sized cage.” When do you feel alone, confined, afraid? Whom do you turn to for
support? What do you need to feel comfortable reaching out?
Diary 79: Freedom Writers Unite
The writer of this entry describes how the Freedom Writers are going to meet with the U.S. Secretary of
Education because “we want people who are adults to take the time to listen to teenagers and respect
what we have to say.” What important information about being young would you want to explain if you
had a similar opportunity?
Diary 80: Strict Father
In this entry, the author describes the pain of feeling “left out.” Think back to a time when you felt
disconnected from a group or friendship. Describe the experience in detail. Looking back, what could
you have done to feel more empowered? What can you do in the future to ensure others do not feel
abandoned or alone?
Diary 81: Arlington Cemetery
The writer of this entry recalls his friends who have died and states: “To me, my friends are soldiers, not
soldiers of war, but soldiers of the streets.” Think about how the friends of this writer were treated in
death as compared to the soldiers buried in Arlington Cemetery. Why were these two types of soldiers
treated so differently? Should they have been honored equally?
Diary 82: Lincoln Memorial: Freedom Writers Have a Dream
In this entry, the author commemorates the power of dreams, citing Martin Luther King, Jr. and the
Freedom Writers. What are your dreams for your future? Have you told anyone? Why or why not?
What are you willing to sacrifice to make your dream a reality?
Diary 83: Covering Up the Swastika
In this entry, the author makes a trip to Washington and is astonished to see a swastika on a wall, “just
blocks away from the White House and the Holocaust Museum.” After this experience, he explains that
his “judgment about Washington being perfect was wrong.” We often stereotype people based on their
exterior appearance. Think of a time when you were either a victim or perpetrator of a stereotype.
Describe the situation and answer the question: What matters more, the outside appearance or the
inside heart?
Diary 84: Hate Crimes
In this entry, the writer describes how watching a movie makes him relive an attack that members of the
Ku Klux Klan made against him. The entry concludes with the words “I guess some things never
change…” Consider what you know about hate and intolerance throughout history. Do you believe
people’s treatment and understanding of others is improving our not? Support your thoughts with
specific examples.
Diary 85: Holocaust Museum
In this entry, the author has an epiphany when saying she used to think, “If it doesn’t affect me, why
bother?” Have you ever felt this way? What would motivate you to take action?
Diary 86: Dr. Mengele’s Experiment with Twins
Through her experiences at the Holocaust Museum, this Freedom Writer comes to realize how much she
values her twin sister and their ability to work toward the dream of their futures. Consider the people who
are close to you in your life. What can you do to show them how much they mean to you and how much
you value your relationships with them?
Diary 87: Dinner with U.S. Secretary Riley
This Freedom Writer is surprised to realize the value of education. Think of where you want to be five or
ten years from now. How can you best take advantage of your education to reach your goals?
Diary 88: “Stand”
In this entry, the writer shares a poem he/she wrote entitled “Stand.” List the things in your life of which
you are proud. Describe a time when you took a stand for your beliefs.
Diary 89: Secretary Riley Receives The Freedom Writers’ Diary
This Freedom Writer tells of being called a hero for taking action to save a brother. Think of a time when
you did something that could be considered “heroic” or witnessed a “heroic” act. What was it and how
did it happen?
Diary 90: Candlelight Vigil
The student in this entry reflects on overcoming many roadblocks to achieve success and admits there
were ample opportunities to give up. Did you ever contemplate giving up in your life? What kept you
from giving up? Describe the factors in your life that make it easier or more difficult to persevere.
Diary 91: Departing D.C.
This Freedom Writer describes finding hope in Ms Gruwell after being raised to believe none existed on
the horizon. Think of a time when someone thought you couldn’t do something but you proved them
wrong. What did you do, say, think, or accomplish that they didn’t think you could? Explain how it felt
and if it motivated you to try to do more with your life.
Diary 92: Returning a Family Hero
The writer of this entry is welcomed home by family and friends as a hero. When have you felt that your
family or friends were the most proud of you and loved you the most? What did you do and how did they
show you?
Diary 93: Jeremy Strohmeyer: Murder
This Freedom Writer explains the difficulty of speaking up in the face of evil. Consider times when others
have had the chance to speak up but didn’t. what factors make speaking up difficult to do?
Diary 94: David Cash
In this entry, a Freedom Writer argues that people should “rock the boat” when they witness injustice.
Have you observed an unjust action or behavior? What did you do? If you could go back in time and
revisit that moment, would you handle it differently?
Diary 95: Peace March for Sherrice Iverson
In this entry, the Freedom Writers and other students decided to take a stand for peace, to remember the
victim of violence. Though they stood together in peace, the media ignored them. Is it important to stand
up for what you believe even if no one else acknowledges your stand?
Diary 96: Senior Class President
The student in this entry decides to become involved in her school and make a change. Think of a time
when you ran for an office or tried out for something. How did the election or audition turn out? What did
you learn from the experience? Would you do it over again? Why or why not?
Diary 97: Separation Anxiety
This writer describes finding a family in the Freedom Writers that she lacked at home. Think about the
people you consider your family. What makes a group of people a family? What do you do to make
other people feel like they are family?
Diary 98: Staying Together
The student in this entry describes how she dealt with divorce and the arrival of her stepmother. What
are the qualities that make a good mother? A good father? What type of parent do you want to be?
Describe where you want to live with your family and the type of home you hope to have.