The Nov. 21 film screening will be followed by a discussion with the film’s executive producer and a panel of local leaders.
Richmond, VA — Today, Virginia Humanities, Virginia Union University (VUU) and the Justice Policy Institute announced a free community screening of the BET+ Original Movie “Kemba,” which illuminates the devastating consequences of mass incarceration and the power of redemption.
Based on the life story of Kemba Smith Pradia, who also serves as an executive producer on the film, “Kemba” follows a college student who becomes caught in the harsh reality of the federal criminal justice system after she’s convicted of being a co-conspirator in her boyfriend’s drug-trafficking crimes. Sentenced to 24 and a half years in federal prison for a first-time, non-violent drug offense, Kemba’s story became a rallying cry for sentencing reform and clemency.
After serving over six years in prison, Kemba was granted clemency by President Bill Clinton in 2000. She later founded the Kemba Smith Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness on today’s most important social issues facing youth and women — including drug abuse, law enforcement and policing in black communities, voter empowerment and mass incarceration. She also went on to earn a B.S. in Social Work from VUU.
“Tragically, Kemba’s story reveals that not even a college-educated Black woman from a middle-class background was able to avoid the prison industrial complex in America,” said Yahusef Medina, director of Community Initiatives at Virginia Humanities. “Today, Black women are among the highest group of incarcerated people in the country and Kemba’s tragedy and triumph remain a relevant and inspirational theme for justice impacted communities, students, policy makers, and practitioners.”
The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Kemba and a distinguished array of community leaders: Delegate Rae Cousins, representing the 79th District in Richmond; Keith Wallington, director of advocacy at the Justice Policy Institute; Rev. Dr. Michelle McQueen-Williams, executive director of P-12 Experiences & Educational Initiatives at VUU; and Paul Taylor, founder of the RVA League for Safer Streets. The conversation will center around systemic injustice and actionable ways the community can contribute to reform efforts.
The screening will take place Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. in VUU’s Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center. A brief reception will precede the screening at 5:30 p.m. Learn more and register at VirginiaHumanities.org/kemba.
About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of 56 humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.