Darrius Garrett

  • Original Freedom Writer
  • New York Times Bestselling Author, The Freedom Writers
  • Founder, Manifest Your Destiny Foundation

In a few short years, author, actor, songwriter, motivational speaker and freedom writer Darrius Garrett transitioned from the ’hood to humanitarian, reaching heights he once could only imagine. As an inner-city youth of Long Beach, Calif., Garrett could easily have become a product of his environment but rose instead to become a pillar of his community.

He became a New York Times bestselling author at a young age when he co-wrote The Freedom Writers Diary, which inspired the 2007 movie The Freedom Writers starring Hilary Swank

 


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Rave Reviews About Darrius Garrett as a Speaker
Darrius is an outstanding author and speaker. His story and message paint a realistic view of what it really takes to develop a more effective mindset regardless of circumstances. In doing so, he changed how we all see the world and defined the contributions needed to influence everyone around us.

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Talks & Conversations with Darrius Garrett
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Teach with your Heart: The Importance of Teachers Who Care in Education

Darrius shares his vivid stories of his Educational experience and the role that education, especially writing and reading, played in helping him change the direction of his life. Darrius speaking style is explained as original, charismatic, and brilliant as he feeds off the audience spiritually and ...

Darrius shares his vivid stories of his Educational experience and the role that education, especially writing and reading, played in helping him change the direction of his life. Darrius speaking style is explained as original, charismatic, and brilliant as he feeds off the audience spiritually and emotionally then delivers a powerhouse speech that touches each and every member of the audience in a different ways.

From Hustling to Hope: How being a Freedom Writer Saved My Life

 Timing was everything for Darrius Garrett as he was headed down a road of destruction that only promised him a short lived destiny to see the age of 16 if he was lucky, which many including himself didn’t think he would see. Darrius takes us on a journey in his involvement with Ms. Gruwell as a Fre ...

 Timing was everything for Darrius Garrett as he was headed down a road of destruction that only promised him a short lived destiny to see the age of 16 if he was lucky, which many including himself didn’t think he would see. Darrius takes us on a journey in his involvement with Ms. Gruwell as a Freedom Writer which couldn’t have come at a more perfect time where he was able to transition from what he knew all his life; Hustling on the streets to grow and be the man he is today mentoring youth and being a voice for the voiceless. As the heart wrenching character “Marcus” in the film Freedom Writers portrayed Darrius and his story. Darrius in this his speaking sessions takes his audience though the heart wrenching story of trial to triumph which is thoroughly written about in his book Diary of A Freedom Writer “The Experience.”

Darrius spoken word and recollect of what occurred and the process of change is described by audience members as inspiring, uplifting and nothing short of amazing.

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Books by Darrius Garrett
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Biography

In a few short years, author, actor, songwriter, motivational speaker and freedom writer Darrius Garrett transitioned from the ’hood to humanitarian, reaching heights he once could only imagine. As an inner-city youth of Long Beach, Calif., Garrett could easily have become a product of his environment but rose instead to become a pillar of his community.

He became a New York Times bestselling author at a young age when he co-wrote The Freedom Writers Diary, which inspired the 2007 movie The Freedom Writers starring Hilary Swank. In the film, Garrett was portrayed as the heart-wrenching character Marcus. He also wrote and performed the song “Change” for the movie’s soundtrack.

As a freedom writer, Garrett was co-recipient of the Spirit of Anne Frank Award, the Crystal Apple Award and other honors. He has shared his story with the likes of Miep Gies, the Dutch woman who hid Anne Frank; former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley; and singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte. The story has also been featured on segments on Primetime Live with Connie Chung, The Oprah Winfrey Show and NPR, as well as in articles in the L.A. Times, the Long Beach Press-Telegram and the Associated Press. Garrett’s recent works include a book published entitled Diary of a Freedom Writer: The Experience. He frequently speaks to at-risk youth in schools and detention centers, as well as educators, social workers, businesspeople and politicians. Motivating his audiences with his story of hope, tolerance and action, Garrett encourages them to become the fire that ignites change.