Gary Langfield 
This week I got the opportunity to see BET’s original movie Kemba, a film based on the real life story of Kemba Smith Pradia. Going into the movie, I was unfamiliar with Kemba’s story but the film delivered it so clearly in a very engaging way.
For context, Kemba was a young lady who was a victim of unfair drug laws and attorney malpractice. The story starts in Hampton University during the War on Drugs, where laws like mandatory minimums and sentencing disparities were being passed.
The first thing we see is Kemba getting into a naive relationship with a man named Khalif, who’s a drug dealer unbeknownst to her. Things move fast both in the relationship and the movie, with the film having a pretty fast pace, especially after Kemba finds out that Khalif is dealing drugs.
The quick pace is a really beautiful thing for this movie on top of the emotionally driving scenes. Events move fast, which I think is really cool because it puts the audience in Kemba’s position. It feels like a cliff notes version of Kemba’s story while also being incredibly immersive with its storytelling.
Neither Kemba or the audience have time to think and then boom consequences emerge from being in this toxic and abusive relationship, leading to Kemba being pregnant and incarcerated as a co-conspirator in Khalif’s operation. When Kemba started complying and giving information, Khalif died leading to the system targeting Kemba as kingpin.
The judge gave Kemba 24.5 years, despite Kemba never handling any of the drugs and being a first time offender. This kicks off the second half of the movie leading to Kemba’s story turning into a movement as the people around her start trying to get her out using clemency.
The second half keeps up the fast-paced ending with Kemba getting released at the end. According to the actual Kemba Smith, her freedom was largely credited to her parents and the activism of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund started by Thurgood Marshall.
You guys can find this movie on BET plus. I’m urging everyone reading this to check it out, because you can gain a lot of perspective and lessons from it. I got a chance to talk to the director, Kelley Kali, who believes this movie will serve as a warning for many. “This is a cautionary tale for young people to be aware of who you associate with,” said Kali.
After a great ending to an amazing film, I got to participate in a panel with the actual Kemba Smith who called us into action. This movie was obviously about her, but the overall event was centered around getting Michelle West out of prison.
Michelle West is a woman who’s experiencing a mandatory life sentence that would not be mandatory in today’s court system. Please click this link to learn more and add your signature. Help spread the word about West and the effort to get her home. Time is of the essence.
By Gary Langfield Jr.
@ima_menace19
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