If you have never seen the film “Pressure Cooker” and you have Netflix, you need to check it out today.
The film is about a small group of kids in Philly who are enrolled in a culinary program in their high school. The film follows many of the trials and tribulations of these kids both in an out of school as they navigate their way to success.
Each highlighted kid in this story easily won aver my heart as my family and I watched this wonderful story. But one of them really brought it home in my view like one particular student.
Fatoumata Dembele came to Philly (where the film is based) by way of Africa. She talked about having to walk 20 miles to school when she was back in Africa. When the interviewer asked her about her experience going to an inner city school, Dembele began to cry. She wasn’t crying about all the problems, she was crying because she was so grateful for the opportunity to not have to walk 20 miles to school. She was grateful to have decent books to help her move ahead with her education (Dembele was a straight A student, btw). All of her efforts paid off at the end. And even though this film was released back in 2008, I still would have been the loudest one in the room cheering for this girl along with all the rest of these beautiful kids.
Just like every other post I have written here, folks are going to pick out what they want to pick out and create their own narrative over what I have written. The racists are going to make this story about race. The political junkie is going to make it about politics, etc., etc. But what I do ask is that for once, as you look at this film, think about the kids. This story was about the simple tale of individuals who decided ON THEIR OWN that they were going to make something of themselves. All of them were born into some challenging situations. But if it were not for parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors and teachers who took the time to show some care, these kids would be nothing more than fresh meat for the nameless statistic mill.
So when you watch this film, don’t just think of it as a Black success story. This is an American story. Black folks may not have come through Ellis Island, but like those who did, many of us are making the choice to fight for success.
Check out this kid.
