In American education, being in a gang and stereotypes plays a major role in the way people view education. Through loyalty to their gang, poverty, and corrupt legal systems, educational systems don 't know how to handle these types of people going through these problems.
In many instances, people from rival gangs are in the same class or school. There will be no learning for them because it is engraved in their head that “I need to ‘pop’ this guy because his gang killed someone in my gang.” They are never to betray their gang because it shows disrespect. Eva referenced this in Freedom Writers, after watching her father being dragged away by police officers her father, “... An Aztec princess is chosen for her blood. To fight for her people
…show more content…
However, there is only so much the government can provide because of this some people resort to robbery and selling drugs to get by. In Bell Hooks’ article, “Seeing and Making Culture: Representing the Poor,” describes why poor people resort to crime when she states, “Willing to commit all manner of dehumanizing and brutal acts in the name of material gain, the poor are portrayed as seeing themselves as always and only worthless. Worth is gained only by means of material success” (Hooks 485). Resorting to these types of crime can be very dangerous because they could accidentally step into their rival gang territory and potentially be killed, which will lead to more cycles of revenge and hatred. This was also simply said by Andre in Freedom Writers, “My brother taught me what the life is for a young black man. Pimp, deal, whatever. Learn what colors to wear. Gang banners. You can sell to one corner, but you can 't sell another. Learn to be quiet. The wrong word can get you popped” (LaGravenese). When these poverty stricken kids are living in such a hostile environment like the one Andre lives in, one cannot blame them for caring less about education when every day mean a struggle to