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The Color of Friendship
The Color of Friendship is a 2000 biographical drama television film based on actual events about the friendship between two girls (Piper and Mahree), one from the United States and the other from apartheid South Africa, who learn about tolerance and racism. The film was directed by Kevin Hooks, based on a script by Paris Qualles, and stars Lindsey Haun and Shadia Simmons.
In 1977, Piper Dellums is a Black girl who lives in Washington, D.C. with her father, Congressman Ron Dellums, an outspoken opponent of the South African apartheid system, her mother Roscoe Dellums, and two younger twin brothers, Brandon and Erik. Piper, who has been taking an interest in the different nations of Africa, begs her parents to host an African exchange student.
Meanwhile, in Dundee, South Africa, Mahree Bok is a White South African who lives in a manor house with her parents and little brother Rian. They comfortably benefit from the system of apartheid without questioning its morality; Mahree's father, Pieter Bok, is a South African policeman who cannot hide his joy when Stephen Biko (a Black South African man fighting against apartheid) has just been captured. They also have a Black maid, Flora, whom Mahree considers her best friend, not realizing that Flora is not satisfied with her life under apartheid. Flora is a kindly woman who is friendly with the Bok children. Flora tells Mahree that when she was a little girl she would observe the weaver bird, which has many different styles of plumage, and its communal nest-building, which is used as a metaphor for the possibility of racial harmony that Mahree does not understand at the time. Mahree also asks her parents for permission to study in America, which is granted by her father, who believes she will either get homesick or realize that America is not a paradise.
Upon meeting each other, both Mahree and Piper have ill-informed ideas about each other's countries: Mahree does not believe that there are Black politicians, only knowing that the patriarch of her host family is "Congressman Dellums." While Piper is expecting a South African exchange student, she has not considered the possibility that the student would be a White African. Mahree reacts with horror bordering on panic when confronted with this new situation, and locks herself in Piper's bedroom when she is brought to the Dellums' home. Eventually, Piper picks the lock on the door to bring Mahree some fries and a chocolate shake. Mahree is standoffish, and Piper, upset by her attitude, tells Mahree how disappointed she is in her. Stunned by this, Mahree sees how rude she's been, and agrees to stay. Roscoe, who decides to play peacemaker, chalks up Mahree's reaction as a misunderstanding and culture shock, while telling Ron and Piper that they have been judgmental as well.
During Mahree's stay, she and the Dellums family grow close. Mahree sees people of different races getting along and realizes how much she and Piper have in common. The two become good friends; Mahree begins to see her host family as individuals and learns to live among them day to day. Gradually, she develops a better understanding of what life under apartheid must be like for Black South Africans.
When Stephen Biko dies under suspicious circumstances in the custody of the South African police, there are mass protests around the world, including at the South African embassy. In the wake of these protests, South African diplomats arrive at the Dellumses' house and take Mahree to the embassy, intending to send her back to South Africa. In response, Ron goes to the South African embassy and threatens to tell the press that the diplomats kidnapped Mahree from her host family. The embassy releases Mahree and she returns to the Dellumses' house without fully understanding what happened to her and why. During a discussion with Piper, she makes a cold offhand comment about Biko's death. Outraged, Piper tells her off for being blind to the injustice of apartheid in South Africa. Hurt, Mahree runs outside, but Ron follows her. He tells Mahree that the United States had a long, hard history of trying to overcome problems, which is what South Africa is doing now, and she finally fully grasps what the liberation fighters in South Africa stand for. She reconciles with Piper.
An epilogue-like scene at the end of the movie shows Mahree with the Dellumses at an African pride event in America. Ron delivers a speech that includes the weaverbird story, as told to him by "a new friend from South Africa."
Mahree leaves the United States, now a very different person. When she returns home, the first person she greets is Flora. Secretly, Mahree shows her an ANC flag sewn inside her coat, signifying her decision to side with the Black liberation movement. Flora is touched and pleased. Mahree then releases the weaver bird.
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The Color of Friendship
The Color of Friendship is a 2000 biographical drama television film based on actual events about the friendship between two girls (Piper and Mahree), one from the United States and the other from apartheid South Africa, who learn about tolerance and racism. The film was directed by Kevin Hooks, based on a script by Paris Qualles, and stars Lindsey Haun and Shadia Simmons.
In 1977, Piper Dellums is a Black girl who lives in Washington, D.C. with her father, Congressman Ron Dellums, an outspoken opponent of the South African apartheid system, her mother Roscoe Dellums, and two younger twin brothers, Brandon and Erik. Piper, who has been taking an interest in the different nations of Africa, begs her parents to host an African exchange student.
Meanwhile, in Dundee, South Africa, Mahree Bok is a White South African who lives in a manor house with her parents and little brother Rian. They comfortably benefit from the system of apartheid without questioning its morality; Mahree's father, Pieter Bok, is a South African policeman who cannot hide his joy when Stephen Biko (a Black South African man fighting against apartheid) has just been captured. They also have a Black maid, Flora, whom Mahree considers her best friend, not realizing that Flora is not satisfied with her life under apartheid. Flora is a kindly woman who is friendly with the Bok children. Flora tells Mahree that when she was a little girl she would observe the weaver bird, which has many different styles of plumage, and its communal nest-building, which is used as a metaphor for the possibility of racial harmony that Mahree does not understand at the time. Mahree also asks her parents for permission to study in America, which is granted by her father, who believes she will either get homesick or realize that America is not a paradise.
Upon meeting each other, both Mahree and Piper have ill-informed ideas about each other's countries: Mahree does not believe that there are Black politicians, only knowing that the patriarch of her host family is "Congressman Dellums." While Piper is expecting a South African exchange student, she has not considered the possibility that the student would be a White African. Mahree reacts with horror bordering on panic when confronted with this new situation, and locks herself in Piper's bedroom when she is brought to the Dellums' home. Eventually, Piper picks the lock on the door to bring Mahree some fries and a chocolate shake. Mahree is standoffish, and Piper, upset by her attitude, tells Mahree how disappointed she is in her. Stunned by this, Mahree sees how rude she's been, and agrees to stay. Roscoe, who decides to play peacemaker, chalks up Mahree's reaction as a misunderstanding and culture shock, while telling Ron and Piper that they have been judgmental as well.
During Mahree's stay, she and the Dellums family grow close. Mahree sees people of different races getting along and realizes how much she and Piper have in common. The two become good friends; Mahree begins to see her host family as individuals and learns to live among them day to day. Gradually, she develops a better understanding of what life under apartheid must be like for Black South Africans.
When Stephen Biko dies under suspicious circumstances in the custody of the South African police, there are mass protests around the world, including at the South African embassy. In the wake of these protests, South African diplomats arrive at the Dellumses' house and take Mahree to the embassy, intending to send her back to South Africa. In response, Ron goes to the South African embassy and threatens to tell the press that the diplomats kidnapped Mahree from her host family. The embassy releases Mahree and she returns to the Dellumses' house without fully understanding what happened to her and why. During a discussion with Piper, she makes a cold offhand comment about Biko's death. Outraged, Piper tells her off for being blind to the injustice of apartheid in South Africa. Hurt, Mahree runs outside, but Ron follows her. He tells Mahree that the United States had a long, hard history of trying to overcome problems, which is what South Africa is doing now, and she finally fully grasps what the liberation fighters in South Africa stand for. She reconciles with Piper.
An epilogue-like scene at the end of the movie shows Mahree with the Dellumses at an African pride event in America. Ron delivers a speech that includes the weaverbird story, as told to him by "a new friend from South Africa."
Mahree leaves the United States, now a very different person. When she returns home, the first person she greets is Flora. Secretly, Mahree shows her an ANC flag sewn inside her coat, signifying her decision to side with the Black liberation movement. Flora is touched and pleased. Mahree then releases the weaver bird.