Kemba
Film Synopsis
Kemba is a BET Original and MPI Original film based on the life story of Kemba Smith Pradia, who is an executive producer. The film follows Kemba’s journey as a college student who falls in love with a man only to find out he isn’t who he seems. When Kemba learns of her boyfriend Khalif’s true identity as a drug kingpin, he turns abusive—grooming straight-laced Kemba to overlook his illicit dealings. Though she never dealt or handled drugs, Kemba receives a sentence of over 24 years for her boyfriend’s crimes—placing her in the middle of the government’s “war on drugs.” Never losing hope, her parents along with an attorney with the Legal Defense Fund launch a campaign for appeal and later clemency, harnessing the power of Black civic organizations, sororities, celebrities, and lawmakers to help free Kemba. Learn more at KembaMovie.com.
Screenings
Jul 25, 2024
Presented by North Carolina Correctional Association and Department of Adult Correction: Annual Women Working in Criminal Justice One-Day Workshop
Raleigh, NC
Private Event
Jul 26, 2024
Presented by Pittsburgh Housing Authority
Pittsburgh, PA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Jul 28, 2024 - Aug 1, 2024
Presented by the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Conference
New Orleans, LA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Aug 3, 2024
Presented by Project Give Back to Community
Richmond, VA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Aug 7, 2024
Presented by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter
Atlanta, GA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Aug 10, 2024
Presented by HBCU Power Awards
Grand Rapids, MI
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Sep 12, 2024
Presented by Morgan State University
Baltimore, MD
Sep 19, 2024
Presented by Wiley University
Marshall, TX
Oct 17, 2024
Presented by University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Kansas City, MO
Nov 9, 2024
Presented by Elkins High School Volleyball Team
Sugarland, TX
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Jul 24, 2024
Presented by Nurturing Wāhine Fund + Women’s Community Correctional Center
Kailua, HI
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Jul 24, 2024
Presented by NC Correctional Institution for Women and the Ezra Center
Raleigh, NC
Appearances with Kemba Smith Pradia
Jul 4, 2024
Presented by: Delta Sigma Theta, Southern Region, 49th Southern Regional Conference
Nashville, TN
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Jun 27, 2024
Presented by Amazon Music Rotation, Black Music Action Coalition & Represent Justice
Los Angeles, CA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia, Kelley Kali & Miquelle West
Private Event
Jun 24, 2024
Presented by: A New Way of Life Reentry Project
Los Angeles, CA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Jun 21, 2024
Presented by The Links Inc. National Assembly Conference
Dallas, TX
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Jun 20, 2024
2:00 PM
Presented by: 400 Years of African American History Commission
Anchorage, AK
Private Event
Jun 11, 2024 - Jun 12, 2024
Presented by The Sentencing Project, Second Look Network Conference
Tulsa, OK
Jun 2, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Glen Ellyn Area Alumni Chapter
Maywood, IL
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
May 29, 2024
Presented by Legal Defense Fund, Black Women Film Network, HBCU First Look Film Festival & Cafe Mocha
Atlanta, GA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
May 22, 2024 - May 23, 2024
New Jersey Department of Corrections, Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women
Union Township, NJ
Private Event
May 10, 2024
Presented by Councilwoman Ann-Frances Lambert & the Women of Gilpin Empowerment Summit
Richmond, VA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
May 4, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Danville Alumnae Chapter, AKA Links & White Rock Baptist Church
Danville, VA
May 3, 2024
Presented by Serving All Vessels Equally
Norwalk, CT
Private Event
May 2, 2024
Presented by Serving All Vessels Equally
Norwalk, CT
Apr 30, 2024
Presented by Justice Policy Institute & Georgetown University Prisons and Justice Initiative
Washington, DC
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Apr 28, 2024
Presented by Dillard University, Boss Babes
New Orleans, LA
Private Event
Apr 28, 2024
Presented by Danville Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Danville, VA
Danville Community College: Oliver Hall
Apr 27, 2024
Presented by Danville Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Danville, VA
Danville Community College: Oliver Hall
Apr 22, 2024 - Apr 24, 2024
Presented by North Carolina Reentry Conference
Raleigh, NC
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Apr 20, 2024
Presented by Breaking the Cycles Women’s Conference
Fairfax, VA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Apr 18, 2024
Presented by FMC Carswell
Fort Worth, TX
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Apr 17, 2024
Presented by FCI Coleman
Sumterville, FL
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Apr 16, 2024
Presented by Bethune-Cookman University
Daytona Beach, FL
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Apr 13, 2024
Presented by Virginia State University, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alpha Eta Chapter
Petersburg, VA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Apr 12, 2024
Presented by the Tulsa Health Department
Tulsa, OK
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Apr 12, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Washington DC Alumnae Chapter
Washington, DC
Private Event
Apr 11, 2024
Presented by the Ohio Reformatory for Women
Marysville, OH
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Apr 10, 2024
Presented by: Scotland High
Laurinburg, NC
Private Event
Apr 6, 2024 - Apr 7, 2024
Presented by A New Way of Life, Justice On Trial Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
Apr 5, 2024
Presented by the National Returning Citizens Conference
Arlington, VA
Panel discussion with Kemba Smith Pradia
Apr 1, 2024 - Apr 30, 2024
Presented by Female Film Club
London, United Kingdom
Mar 29, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Greenwood-Itta Bena Alumnae Chapter
Greenwood, MS
Private Event
Mar 28, 2024
Presented by the National Association of Black Social Workers Annual Conference
New Orleans, LA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Mar 24, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, North Dallas Suburban Alumnae Chapter
Dallas, TX
Private Event
Mar 20, 2024
Presented by the Legal Defense Fund
Atlanta, GA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Mar 16, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Albany Alumnae Chapter
Albany, NY
Private Event
Mar 15, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Prince George’s County Alumnae Chapter
Capitol Heights, MD
Private Event
Mar 13, 2024
Presented by Howard University Journalism Class
Washington, DC
Private Event
Mar 9, 2024
Presented by Delta Days at the Nation’s Capital
Washington, DC
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Private Event
Mar 8, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, New York Alumnae Chapter
New York, NY
Feb 22, 2024
Presented by American Black Film Festival’s 2nd Annual Social Justice Now Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia and director Kelley Kali
Feb 22, 2024
Presented by Ambitious Girls
Sherwood, AR
Private Event
Feb 22, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Suffolk Alumnae Chapter
Suffolk, VA
Feb 20, 2024
Presented by University of Southern California Cinematic Arts
Los Angeles, CA
Appearance Kemba Smith Pradia and director Kelley Kali
Feb 15, 2024
Presented by MPI Original Films
New York, NY
Panel discussion with Kemba Smith Pradia, director Kelley Kali, Elaine Jones, cast, and production team
Feb 13, 2024
Presented by Pan African Film Festival
Los Angeles, CA
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia and director Kelley Kali
Feb 9, 2024
Presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter
St. Louis, MO
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Feb 5, 2024
Presented by Congressman Bobby Scott’s Office
Washington, DC
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Feb 5, 2024
Presented by the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Washington, DC
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Jan 25, 2024
Presented by Harris Stowe State University
St. Louis, MO
Appearance with Kemba Smith Pradia
Take Action
Clemency for Michelle West
Join the fight for clemency for Michelle West, who is featured in the film. Despite being a survivor of intimate partner violence, Michelle is serving life without parole for her first and only offense due to mandatory minimums. Help bring her home to her daughter.
Write to Michelle West
Send a message of support to Michelle! Complete a short form, and we’ll print and send a letter from you to Michelle. You can also mail a card or letter directly to her:
Michelle West #17809-039
FCI Waseca
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 1731
Waseca, MN 56093
Support the Legal Defense Fund
The Legal Defense Fund played a pivotal role in securing Kemba’s freedom. Read more about their involvement, watch a video with the real Elaine Jones, and see how you can support their current work.
Request a Speaker
Request a representative from the film to speak at your screening event!
Credits
CREW
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Kelley Kali, Director
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Christine Swanson, Writer
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Rob Pfaltzgraff, p.g.a, Producer
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Lana Link, p.g.a, Producer
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Stacey Parks, p.g.a, Producer
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Nick Reid, Executive Producer
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Kemba Smith, Executive Producer
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Constance Orlando, Executive Producer
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Maureen Guthman, Executive Producer
CAST
- Kemba by Nesta Cooper
- Khalif by Siddiq Saunderson
- Gus Smith by Sean Patrick Thomas
- Odessa Smith by Michelle Hurd
Impact Campaign
Kemba is a fictionalized account of the life of Kemba Smith Pradia. Though she never handled any drugs herself, in 1995 Kemba was sentenced to over 24 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute drugs, due to mandatory minimum sentencing laws. She was pardoned by President Clinton in 2000.
Kemba’s sentence is typical of so many women who are impacted by mass incarceration. Since 1980, women’s incarceration has grown by over 700%—faster than any other population in the country. Women, and in particular women of color, are disproportionately incarcerated through harsh drug law enforcement and sentencing. Like Kemba, over 85% of women entering the justice system are survivors. Whether due to substance use or partner or caregiver violence, there is a profound lack of awareness and support offered in response to the coercive dynamics facing too many women.
Represent Justice is committed to addressing the justice system’s impact on young women of color and highlighting the harms caused by extreme sentencing. The Kemba impact campaign will mobilize audiences across the country to participate in the movement advocating for sentencing reform. The time to act is now, while an increasing number of jurisdictions are either passing or considering legislation to offer shorter sentences to survivors of family violence, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking who have committed offenses closely linked to their victimization experiences.
In early 2024, Represent Justice will partner with Kemba and the film’s team to launch an impact campaign, leveraging the attention of the Kemba broadcast on BET+, BET, BET Her, and BET International. Prior to the broadcast, the film is screening at film festivals and special preview events.