In honor of Black History Month, each weekend we'll present a special "Rental of the Week" that honors African American Triumphs! This week we're recommending an Emmy Award Winning TV movie, "The Color of Friendship"! There are not many well known actors in this movie, but it's probably better that way. The true story follows an African American family from 1977. The father, Ron Dellums, played by Carl Lumbly, is a congressman who is outspoken against the South African apartheid system. His daughter, Piper, played by Shadia Simmons, wants to invite an African exchange student to their home. Though her father is against the idea, her mother, Roscoe Dellums, played by Penny Johnson, talks him into it. The family assumes that they are going to be hosting a student who will be black, but when a white student shows up instead, they try to be welcoming despite their surprise. However, the student, Mahree Bok, played by Lindsey Haun, was just as surprised to learn that she would be staying with a black family. Where she comes from in South Africa, the apartheid system is not questioned, and her father just happens to be a South African police officer who supports the system. Both Piper and Mahree are upset, and Congressman Dellums states that the situation of having a racist South African stay at their house is like "being a Jew and having Gestapo over"! Eventually though, the congressman gets used to the idea, and Mahree learns to overcome seeing strange black people as threats! The two girls become best friends, but Mahree still doesn't understand that the apartheid system in her own country is wrong. One day, Steve Bikio (a black South African fighting against apartheid) is killed by African police, and Mahree finally learns the connection between her experiences in America and the situation in South Africa. When she returns home from America, she proudly signifies her decision to side with the black liberation movement. The Disney Channel movie was met with overwhelming praise when it was released back in 2000, and was shown frequently through 2001. For some reason though, the station stopped airing the movie until 2006 when it began airing annually in February to coincide with "Black History Month"! The movie has aired on the channel a few times this month, so be sure and check your local listings for showings.
Rental of the Week: Black History Month
In honor of Black History Month, each weekend we'll present a special "Rental of the Week" that honors African American Triumphs! This week we're recommending an Emmy Award Winning TV movie, "The Color of Friendship"! There are not many well known actors in this movie, but it's probably better that way. The true story follows an African American family from 1977. The father, Ron Dellums, played by Carl Lumbly, is a congressman who is outspoken against the South African apartheid system. His daughter, Piper, played by Shadia Simmons, wants to invite an African exchange student to their home. Though her father is against the idea, her mother, Roscoe Dellums, played by Penny Johnson, talks him into it. The family assumes that they are going to be hosting a student who will be black, but when a white student shows up instead, they try to be welcoming despite their surprise. However, the student, Mahree Bok, played by Lindsey Haun, was just as surprised to learn that she would be staying with a black family. Where she comes from in South Africa, the apartheid system is not questioned, and her father just happens to be a South African police officer who supports the system. Both Piper and Mahree are upset, and Congressman Dellums states that the situation of having a racist South African stay at their house is like "being a Jew and having Gestapo over"! Eventually though, the congressman gets used to the idea, and Mahree learns to overcome seeing strange black people as threats! The two girls become best friends, but Mahree still doesn't understand that the apartheid system in her own country is wrong. One day, Steve Bikio (a black South African fighting against apartheid) is killed by African police, and Mahree finally learns the connection between her experiences in America and the situation in South Africa. When she returns home from America, she proudly signifies her decision to side with the black liberation movement. The Disney Channel movie was met with overwhelming praise when it was released back in 2000, and was shown frequently through 2001. For some reason though, the station stopped airing the movie until 2006 when it began airing annually in February to coincide with "Black History Month"! The movie has aired on the channel a few times this month, so be sure and check your local listings for showings.
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