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The Race-Conflict Theory: Woodrow Wilson Classical High School

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The race-conflict theory is referred to as “the study of society that focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories.” The movie Freedom Writers depicts the race-conflict theory through displaying problematic issues that occur within the roots of race and diversity in a high school setting. This film reveals the tensions between the students of Woodrow Wilson Classical High School revolving around gang violence, unacceptance, and racism. Throughout the beginning half of the movie we are able to detect the racial dynamics and later the economic inequality. The movie shows how separated each race at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School was due to gang violence. These high school students were labeled as, “at risk” therefore, they were thought of as inferior to other students from well-budgeted schools. This act can be known as prejudice, which is a“rigid and unfair generalization about an entire category of people.” This sociology course impacted my understanding of this movie because I am able to understand the reasons as to why the students at this specific high school were not provided with quality books for learning. The students at the school dealt with a great deal of prejudicism from the department head of the school. The department head did …show more content…

This teacher saw something far beyond these social and racial issues. She was able to show these students that they are much more than what they are being labeled as. Through the dedication that Erin Gruwell had, she bought brand new books for the students, which gave the students motivation to go through school with their best efforts given. Along with the effort, the students also began to stop the segregation that was going on. Rather than only socializing with those with the same cultural backgrounds, the students eventually came together as one, aside from the diverse

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Erin places a line of red tape along the center of the classroom floor, asking students to step on the line if the question asks applies to them. Initially the questions are lighthearted, questions on music and film, the questions develop into more serious question about correctional facilities, drugs, gang violence and death. Cognate and sociocultural learning theories argue ‘that people construct new knowledge and understandings based on what they already know and believe’ (National Research Council, 2000, p.10). The students in this film are reinforcing racial stereotypes about each other that they believe to be true. In order to change these beliefs ‘preconceptions must be addressed’ (National Research Council, 2000, p.10 - 11).

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