Akeelah and the Bee: A Movie that Inspires Kids to Do Their Best
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson in Return to Love, 1992
The above quote (also included in the movie) embodies the spirit of “Akeelah and the Bee” starring Lawrence Fishburne, Angela Bassett and Keke Palmer. I imagined the movie would be good and inspiring, but I never imagined I would so moved. Not since The Color Purple have I seen a movie that I walked away so uplifted, yet so heavy.
The movie is uplifting because it teaches the lesson that no one but ourselves can put a limit on us. It brought me down with the knowledge that far too many children grow up without ever learning that lesson. I am thankful that I brought my own young daughter to see it, and I plan to continue to drive that point into her for the rest of her life.
âÂ?¦And then there was the acting. Keke Palmer who played Akeelah couldn’t have done a better job portraying the raw emotion, confusion, and determination of an 11-year-old girl up against all odds. Angela Bassett, literally channeled the spirit of a mother who used a rough exterior with the best of intentions. She made me hate her and then fall in love with her all over again. Lawrence Fishburne convincingly portrayed the “Miyagi” of spelling with his tough love techniques that masked a wounded heart.
The depth of this move and the growth of the characters involved were awe-inspiring. The movie started with a child surrounded by the hopeless. From the brother under the wrong influences, to her teenage sister with a baby, to the mother who had given up her dreams, to even the local thug (insinuated), the influence of this child who dared to follow her dream inspired and softened each and everyone she encountered.
But before you grab the garbage can and heave from the sickenly sweetness of both the movie and my review, consider how badly a movie with a happy ending is needed in days like this when schools no longer inspire greatness, and society no longer expects it.
My only disappointment in this movie is that filmmaker Doug Atchison found it necessary to add the obligatory kisses between 11-year-old children (fortunately on the cheek). Anyone with an imagination would have already noted that Akeelah and Javier were experiencing a bit of puppy love.
In the end, I loved the movie and you will too. I recommend you grab every child you can get your hands on and take them to see this movie. When you are done, give them the Power of Words guide (http://www.akeelahandthebee.com/education_guides/guide.pdf) to allow them to bring a bit of the spelling bee magic home.
