Kelley Kali’s new movie KEMBA is based on the true story that affects a plethora of black women across the nation. This award winning film about Kemba Smith who was a middle class teenager that fell deeply in love with a drug dealer while she was in college. Kemba’s boyfriend was known as a drug kingpin who did anything he had to do to uphold his power of fleeing jail as well his power over Kemba.
Kemba’s boyfriend Peter Hall met Kemba while she was in college, and he went from her prince to her worst nightmare. Peter took her on the road with him as he transported drugs from one state to the next. While on that journey, Kemba became pregnant. Peter, coming to his senses in his notion of being abusive and cruel to Kemba before and during her pregnancy, came to the conclusion that it would be smarter for Kemba to return home.
Shortly after Kemba returned, she was incarcerated while pregant with the charges that were tied to Peter Hall. Shortly after Kemba was arrested, Peter Hall died, and now her new reality faced up 24 years after the prison system falsely accused Kemba of carrying an outlandish amount of drugs that totaled the number of all drugs Peter was ever given.
The movie KEMBA highlighted the long process of what Kemba Smith faced in prison, including the study of law enforcement and how hard it was to be a mother to a child she could not fully experience due to her wrongful sentence. Bet + also dived into the ways in which many other women have faced similar situations that resulted in longterm sentences that did not match their lack of involvement in the crime they’re accused of.
The screening of BET+ new movie KEMBA took place at the Chicago Cultural Center, co-hosted by the DCASE development and media outlets like Creative Cypher, Birdland Media, Morally Cinful Productions. Kemba Smith, who the movie’s based off of, also attended this screening. After the movie, Kemba SMith sat for a discussion with NK Gutierrez. She gave clear insight to the many life lessons she encountered in this dark time of her life.
Furthermore, Kemba has raised awareness to the many women who face the same reality she faced, including Michelle West who went through the same case as Kemba. Kemba is very passionate about the #FREEMICHELLEWEST movement that is dedicated to raising awareness to cases such as Kemba and Michelle with hopes to free women who struggle with the prison system. Stream the movie on BET+ and learn more about how our community can join this movement.
