We all look at the world and see inequalities all around us, but for the most part many people say, “That’s not my problem” or “Someone else will fix that.”
While reading the ideas of Critical Theory a distinct quote comes to mind, “I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, then I realized I am someone.”
Critical theory, while idealistic, is an activist approach to understanding and attempting to change the social inequalities that exist. Critical theorists are not afraid to get their hands dirty, much like teacher Erin Gruwell in the movie Freedom Writers. Based on a true story, the movie shows the journey of a young teacher as she attempts to inspire a group of students who have been labeled “at-risk.” These students come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds but all share one thing, the educational inequality and discrimination they are subjected to in this high school. Miss Gruwell inspires and empowers this group of students proving the stereotypes and much of her fellow staff wrong by taking the need for change into her own hands. She sacrifices everything to give these students a chance they might not have otherwise had, she changes the way they view the world so that they too can change the world.
Critical theory, much like Miss Gruwell, is concerned with the human experience. It is not simply enough to understand oppression, but we must actively seek to change it. While critical theorists believe that we create our own systems of oppression, they also hold the beliefs that we each have the ability to change them (189). We must critique the institutions of oppression and set free those that are bound in its chains (184). A key element of this theory is the liberation of the people. By eliminating this inequality, stratification and oppression, we can liberate the people suffering from it to be free to pursue their happiness and reach their full potential (172). Through the lens of critical theory we see that we can be the agents of change, we are somebody.
Upon seeing the injustice that was going on at high school, Erin Gruwell knew that she had to take things into her own hands. She needed to transform the wrongs, they weren’t simply going to right themselves. Miss Gruwell’s actions mirror the two goals of critical theory, to raise awareness and to liberate these students.
Miss Gruwell attempts to shed light on this inequality by speaking with the principle of the school. After being completely dismissed, she realizes she must look higher up if she truly wishes to bring this issue to the forefront. Miss Gruwell ends up meeting with the superintendent, educating him on these inequalities and garnering his support. She also makes her classroom a safe zone, where the kids can talk about their experiences. She gives them each a journal that they can use to write whatever they wish. This is yet another way she brings awareness to the issue of inequality. She want to give these kids the power to change their circumstances but first she must give them an opportunity to tell their stories, to share their struggles and to understand that there are victims of a system of injustice—awareness is the key to progress.
Later on, Miss Gruwell puts together numerous activities that act as a liberation for these students. She instills confidence and high expectations in them, allowing them to achieve goals they may have never dreamed were possible. All of the students end up graduating high school and attending college. Their graduation is a symbolic freeing of their chains. They have been liberated by Miss Gruwell, by the powerful ways she inspired them to achieve more. They are free to unleash the beauty of their unique human nature to the rest of the world.
Miss Gruwell was not satisfied by this idea that those students that don’t make it just didn’t try hard enough, she strove to connect with the students that were having stressful home lives and the students that faced inequalities, she strove for equality, to change reality. Freedom Writers reaffirms our faith in humanity, showing that each of us can make a change; we are all agents of change. “Who’s to say we can make a difference?” “Well, who’s to say we can’t?”
While reading the ideas of Critical Theory a distinct quote comes to mind, “I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, then I realized I am someone.”
Critical theory, while idealistic, is an activist approach to understanding and attempting to change the social inequalities that exist. Critical theorists are not afraid to get their hands dirty, much like teacher Erin Gruwell in the movie Freedom Writers. Based on a true story, the movie shows the journey of a young teacher as she attempts to inspire a group of students who have been labeled “at-risk.” These students come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds but all share one thing, the educational inequality and discrimination they are subjected to in this high school. Miss Gruwell inspires and empowers this group of students proving the stereotypes and much of her fellow staff wrong by taking the need for change into her own hands. She sacrifices everything to give these students a chance they might not have otherwise had, she changes the way they view the world so that they too can change the world.
Critical theory, much like Miss Gruwell, is concerned with the human experience. It is not simply enough to understand oppression, but we must actively seek to change it. While critical theorists believe that we create our own systems of oppression, they also hold the beliefs that we each have the ability to change them (189). We must critique the institutions of oppression and set free those that are bound in its chains (184). A key element of this theory is the liberation of the people. By eliminating this inequality, stratification and oppression, we can liberate the people suffering from it to be free to pursue their happiness and reach their full potential (172). Through the lens of critical theory we see that we can be the agents of change, we are somebody.
Upon seeing the injustice that was going on at high school, Erin Gruwell knew that she had to take things into her own hands. She needed to transform the wrongs, they weren’t simply going to right themselves. Miss Gruwell’s actions mirror the two goals of critical theory, to raise awareness and to liberate these students.
Miss Gruwell attempts to shed light on this inequality by speaking with the principle of the school. After being completely dismissed, she realizes she must look higher up if she truly wishes to bring this issue to the forefront. Miss Gruwell ends up meeting with the superintendent, educating him on these inequalities and garnering his support. She also makes her classroom a safe zone, where the kids can talk about their experiences. She gives them each a journal that they can use to write whatever they wish. This is yet another way she brings awareness to the issue of inequality. She want to give these kids the power to change their circumstances but first she must give them an opportunity to tell their stories, to share their struggles and to understand that there are victims of a system of injustice—awareness is the key to progress.
Later on, Miss Gruwell puts together numerous activities that act as a liberation for these students. She instills confidence and high expectations in them, allowing them to achieve goals they may have never dreamed were possible. All of the students end up graduating high school and attending college. Their graduation is a symbolic freeing of their chains. They have been liberated by Miss Gruwell, by the powerful ways she inspired them to achieve more. They are free to unleash the beauty of their unique human nature to the rest of the world.
Miss Gruwell was not satisfied by this idea that those students that don’t make it just didn’t try hard enough, she strove to connect with the students that were having stressful home lives and the students that faced inequalities, she strove for equality, to change reality. Freedom Writers reaffirms our faith in humanity, showing that each of us can make a change; we are all agents of change. “Who’s to say we can make a difference?” “Well, who’s to say we can’t?”