Stand and Deliver is a 1988 American drama film based on the true story of high school math teacher Jaime Escalante. Edward James Olmos portrayed Jaime Escalante. In the early 1980’s Jaime Escalante quit his middle class job to pursue a High School teaching career. He accepted a job at Garfield High School as a computer science teacher. Upon reporting to the job site he discovers there are no computers due to budget cuts and instead is assigned to teach a basic math class.
Garfield High School is located in East Los Angeles, the majority of the students are Latinos from low level income families. The school is gang infested. Jaime’s class is initially out of control, with humor and patience he manages to earn the respect of his students and begins to teach. “Ganas” is all anyone needs to succeed. Shortly thereafter Garfield undergoes the Accreditation review process. Administration is wary due to the low test scores of the school. Many of the Administrators have given up on the teens. They cite low test scores are a result of populations socioeconomic circumstance. Jaime sees the potential of his kids and offers to introduce Calculus to his students. “Students will rise to the levels of expectations.” Grudgingly administration agrees. Jaime taught math class through summer breaks, zero periods and after school to prepare his students for the Advanced Placement Calculus test.

In 1982, 18 students took the test and passed.The students at Garfield High managed what many deemed impossible.The school in East Los Angeles had the highest passing rate in Southern California. However, the Educational Testing Services (ETS) questioned the results. An investigation was launched and the students were asked to retake the test. The dilemma, to retake or not to retake.That is the question.

Stand and Deliver is an inspirational movie. It is a movie directed and written by Latinos. I could argue that the movie depicted common stereotypes such as gangs and crime but it is a reality in the East Los Angeles neighborhood.The film stresses the importance of education to Chicano’s that are often judged by the color of their skin. As Escalante puts it”Math is the great equalizer.” According to Goldman “the representation of Chicano youths in Stand and Deliver challenges their image seen on dominant film and television. Perhaps more important, Stand and Deliver provides a more hopeful image of Chicano’s than many Chicano feature films of the eighties…” its a feel good movie for all but it touched me because I am a Chicana. Their success felt like my success. This film proves not all heroes wear capes.

“Ganas, all we need is Ganas” -Jaime Escalante

You are the true Dreamers, dreams accomplish wonderful things, you are the best”
-Jaime Escalante

Noriega, Chon A., and López, Ana M., eds. Ethnic Eye : Latino Media Arts. Minneapolis, MN, USA: University of Minnesota Press, 1996. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 12 May 2016.