The Color of Friendship facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Color of Friendship
VHS cover
Written by	Paris Qualles
Directed by	Kevin Hooks
Starring	Carl Lumbly Penny Johnson Lindsey Haun Shadia Simmons
Theme music composer	Stanley Clarke
Country of origin	United States Canada
Original language(s)	English
Production
Executive producer(s)	Alan Sacks
Producer(s)	Kevin Hooks Christopher Morgan
Cinematography	David Herrington
Editor(s)	Richard Nord
Running time	87 minutes
Production company(s)	Alan Sacks Productions
Distributor	Buena Vista Television
Release
Original network	Disney Channel
Original release	February 5, 2000 (2000-02-05)

The Color of Friendship is a 2000 TV movie. It tells a true story about two girls, Mahree and Piper. One girl is from the United States and the other is from apartheid South Africa. The film shows how they learn about being friends and understanding each other. Kevin Hooks directed the movie. Paris Qualles wrote the script. Lindsey Haun and Shadia Simmons star in it.

A Story of Friendship and Understanding

Meeting New Worlds

The movie starts in 1977. Piper Dellums (Shadia Simmons) is a Black girl living in Washington, D.C.. Her father, Congressman Ron Dellums (Carl Lumbly), is a strong voice against apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was a system that separated people by race and treated Black people unfairly. Piper's mother is Roscoe Dellums (Penny Johnson). Piper has two younger twin brothers, Brandon and Erik. Piper loves learning about different African countries. She really wants her family to host an exchange student from Africa.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, Mahree Bok (Lindsey Haun) is a white girl. She lives in a big house with her parents and little brother. Her family benefits from apartheid without questioning if it's fair. Mahree's father, Pieter Bok, is a South African policeman. He is happy when Stephen Biko, a Black South African fighting apartheid, is captured. The Bok family has a Black maid named Flora (Melanie Nicholls-King). Mahree thinks Flora is her best friend. But Flora is not happy with her life under apartheid.

Flora is kind to the Bok children. She believes that being gentle works better than fighting. Flora tells Mahree a story about a weaver bird. This bird has many different feather colors. It also builds nests together with other birds. Flora uses this story to show that people of different races can live in harmony. Mahree doesn't understand this idea at first.

Mahree asks her parents if she can study in America. Her father agrees. He thinks she will either miss home or see that America isn't perfect.

First Impressions and Culture Shock

When Mahree and Piper first meet, they both have wrong ideas about each other's countries. Mahree doesn't think there are Black politicians. She only knows her host father is "Congressman Dellums." Piper expects a Black exchange student from South Africa. She doesn't realize there are white people living there.

Mahree is shocked and scared when she sees the Dellums family. She locks herself in Piper's bedroom. Piper eventually opens the door to bring Mahree some food. Mahree is unfriendly. Piper gets upset and tells Mahree how disappointed she is. Mahree realizes she has been rude. She agrees to stay and try to make things work.

Roscoe, Piper's mother, tries to help. She says Mahree's reaction is due to misunderstanding and culture shock. She also tells Ron and Piper that they have been too quick to judge.

Growing Closer and Learning Truths

During her stay, Mahree and the Dellums family become close. Mahree sees people of different races getting along. She realizes how much she and Piper have in common. They become good friends. Mahree also starts to see her host family as individuals. She learns what it's like to live with them every day. Slowly, she begins to understand how difficult life under apartheid must be for Black South Africans.

A Turning Point

Later, Stephen Biko dies while being held by South African police. This causes huge protests around the world. There are protests even at the South African embassy in Washington, D.C.. After these protests, diplomats from the South African embassy come to the Dellums' house. They take Mahree to the embassy. They plan to send her back to South Africa.

Ron Dellums goes to the embassy. He threatens to tell the news that they kidnapped Mahree from her host family. The embassy then lets Mahree go. Mahree returns to the Dellums' home. She doesn't fully understand what happened or why. During a talk with Piper, Mahree makes a careless comment about Biko's death. Piper is very angry. She shouts at Mahree for not seeing the racial struggle in South Africa.

Mahree is hurt and runs outside. Ron follows her. He tells Mahree that the United States had a long, hard history of overcoming problems. He explains that South Africa is going through something similar now. Mahree finally understands what the people fighting for freedom in South Africa believe in. She and Piper make up.

A Changed Heart

At the end of the movie, Mahree is with the Dellums family at an African pride event in America. Ron Dellums gives a speech. He tells the weaver-bird story. He says he heard it from "a new friend from South Africa."

Mahree leaves the United States as a very different person. When she gets home, the first person she greets is Flora. Mahree secretly shows Flora an ANC flag sewn inside her coat. This shows she has decided to support the Black liberation movement. Flora is very touched and happy. Mahree then releases the weaver-bird.

Cast

• Lindsey Haun as Mahree Bok
• Shadia Simmons as Piper Dellums
• Carl Lumbly as Congressman Ron Dellums
• Penny Johnson as Roscoe Dellums
• Anthony Burnett as Brandy Dellums
• Travis Davis as Erik Dellums
• Melanie Nicholls-King as Flora
• Susan Danford as Merle Bok
• Stephen Jennings as Pieter Bok
• Michael Kanev as Rian Bok
• Ahmad Stoner as Daniel
• Ryan Cooley as Billy
• Erik Dellums as Oliver

See also

In Spanish: The Color of Friendship para niños