in my english class we watched higher learning and have to write an essay about the theme or message of the film and it has to answer the question "what is Singleton trying to tell us?

I think he is trying to tell us that no matter how we try, we will never be able to totally wipe out prejudice. There will always be someone or a group of people trying to destroy one another and that in itself is so sad. They only wanted an education, but being black had to face all the negative things in life. That was a great film...but for me being white, it made me so angry to see how the blacks were treated in that film. I dont live my life that way. I treat everyone with respect and i wish everyone would. Wouldnt the world be a much better place if we did...

I think he used extreme situations to demonstrate some of the issues that people face when they get out of their original environment and go out on their own the first time. They have to deal with people from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different sexual orientations, etc. Some people have never been taught to do that, and others have been taught that people who aren't like them are bad(hence the "unlearn" at the ending). Some of these issues are festering just beneath the surface of the otherwise happy campus, so be aware of them.

Also, many people use their time in college to explore who they are, and some of them get lost among the way. That sort of thing. It becomes pretty evident when you walk around a college campus.