Freedom Writers is set in the time period of 1993 to 1996 when racial tension was at an all time hgh. According to most people, integration and gang violence has completely ruined the school. This was mainly caused by the Rodney King Riots that were taking place during 1992 in Los Angeles, California because of the brutal beating of a young black man (Rodney King) by multiple Caucasian LAPD police officers. These riots lasted for a total of six days and these were some of most horrendous riots California and the world had seen. There was a great deal of tension between the different communities and races, such as Watts and Compton and the Hispanic, African American, Asian, and Caucasian communities. Cliques were forming within the races and each one hates the other. Soon after Erin Gruwell starts her career with teaching at Woodrow Wilson High as she wished, things start to change for the better and students begin to open up to her about their feelings and how they would like to see a difference.