Essay 561

‘Akeelah’ a fine film -- but mom’s role feeds myths

April 30, 2006

BY MARY MITCHELL, SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

I’m kicking off my vacation by taking the three grands to see “Akeelah and the Bee.” It is probably the best family movie you’ll see in a long time, primarily because it addresses a critical theme for African-American youth. Smart black kids don’t have to hide their intelligence to fit in with the crowd.

That kids want to be perceived as cool hasn’t changed since I was going to grade school. But now some of us are beginning to worry that kids who’d rather read a book, play an instrument or just aren’t interested in being part of the ‘hood herd are being targeted by thugs.

Instead of being bullied or ridiculed, the smart kid today has to worry about being beat or gunned down. Too often, police are at a loss to explain a motive or find a suspect in a murder in which the victim has no criminal past and no history of gang-banging or drug involvement. In many instances, the innocent victim is described as studious, church-going and well-behaved. It seems as though the best and brightest students are among those who are routinely gunned down in cases described as “mistaken identity.”

It is no wonder that a lot of smart kids, especially those who are coming of age in violent communities, hide their intelligence under a cocky attitude.

The transformation of Akeelah (played by 12-year-old Harvey native Keke Palmer) from a smart-butt underachiever to a formidable contender in the National Spelling Bee should serve to validate every student who has been made to feel ashamed of their intellect.

It is also not often that a young black actress creates the kind of buzz Keke Palmer is creating with her positive portrayal of black youth. After years of complaining about the rogue cop, loose woman roles top black performers have been relegated to in recent films, we need to show our gratitude for this film by going to the movies to see it, instead of buying a bootleg version out of someone’s trunk.

Angry black woman stereotype

I had only one little quibble with this movie. Unfortunately, directors and writers in Hollywood are still obsessed with negative stereotypes about black culture. Sure, they did justice by Akeelah. But Angela Bassett, one of the industry’s most unappreciated actresses, plays the stereotypical impatient, nagging, unsympathetic, single black mother.

Although the movie spared us the tired image of the black woman who is left alone to raise her children when her no-good husband is murdered, or goes to prison, or abandons his family to the perils of ghetto life, it gives us a mother figure that is too cold.

Akeelah, portrayed as streetwise and independent, is nonetheless so starved for affection that she often talks to the photograph of her deceased father. The role of the strong black woman who holds her family together by being tough as nails reinforces the image of the angry black woman.

Overwhelmed by parenting

This is a mother who is so overwhelmed by parenting that she can’t see her brilliant daughter’s needs. The character feeds into the myth that black women love their sons and raise their daughters. While Bassett concentrates on saving her son from his gang-infested environment, Akeelah is left to negotiate the trials of adolescence by herself.

Obviously, some of us will see ourselves in Bassett and leave the theater determined to be better mommies.

But as social critic bell hooks points out in Salvation: Black People And Love, working and non-working single black mothers need some love. “These women are seers with wisdom to share with our communities and the nation about the nature of love,” bell writes. “Unrecognized and unappreciated, they do the work of loving every day.”

For once, I’d like to see a single black mother portrayed as nurturing as, say, speedskater Shani Davis’ mother. I’m still blown away that Cheri Davis drove two hours every day to make sure her son had access to the facilities he needed to be competitive.

I was proud that this single mother pushed her son to excellence and wasn’t afraid to stand up to those who had a different agenda.

It would have been great if that kind of sacrifice had been captured in Bassett’s role, instead of Akeelah having to find her way alone from her South L.A. neighborhood to an upscale neighborhood miles away.

Despite the negative perceptions endured by single mothers, many of them are so focused on their children they have time for little else, including hanging out. Call them up and they are on their way to take their daughter to ballet lessons, a soccer game or a play date. Yes, black children go on play dates, too.

Frankly, I’m tired of hearing about the single black mother who must be coerced into doing what everyone else seems to know is best for her daughter. African Americans are diverse in their attitudes and their values. So why does Hollywood keep showing us the same kind of black family?

Hopefully, “Akeelah and the Bee” is a first effort in dealing with this shortcoming.