Character Analysis Paper
Donna Easter
University of Virginia
Introduction to the Gifted and Talented
EDLF 5500
Dr. Kelly Hedrick
October 02, 2011

Character Analysis Paper In summarizing the movie Akeelah and the Bee this writer will begin with a description of the leading character Akeelah Anderson. Akeelah is an eleven-year-old seventh grade African-American female living in the inner city. Her educational background revealed she was promoted to a higher level in the second grade. This caused her to be a young middle school student. She is the youngest child of four children. Her father was murdered which caused her to be the product of a single family home. She attended a school that appeared to be aged and had a history of low academic achievement. She was invited to participate in her schools spelling bee where she became the winner for the school. This movie was a depiction of her journey to a national title. While Akeelah demonstrated many gifted characteristics. Research indicates that culturally different learner’s score on average lower than middle-class students on standardize intelligence tests. This may have been the case for Akeelah. According to Frasier & Garcia, (1995) test bias, selective referrals and reliance on deficit-based paradigms cause underrepresentation and identification of minority students in gifted programs. These children are not easily identified and remain invisible (Davis, Rimm, & Siegle, 2011, p. 328). Current research also reflects concerns over recruiting and maintaining minority students in gifted education programs (Ford, 1998, p. 4). These concerns of identification call for the use of a multidimensional approach when identifying these individuals. However, this character had a teacher who was knowledgeable of gifted traits. She exhibited the ability to recognize the strengths of a student who is gifted and diverse as noted by (Ford & Trotman, 2001) as cited by (Davis, Rimm, & Siegle, 2011, table 13.6). She noticed Akeelah’s academic abilities and the small amount of effort needed for her to excel. The teacher became the catalyst for Akeelah’s journey with the offer to participate in the schools spelling bee. It is on this journey that other traits of giftedness emerged. Not only did she exhibit superior language aptitude, the qualities of independence, risk taking, intuitiveness, curiosity, self direction, high concentration, and perseverance manifested. All of these are positive qualities according to (Davis et al., 2011, table 2.2.) Though she exhibited a love for words and learning, some negative traits were apparent. Her character revealed negative qualities of stubbornness, and under achievement especially in uninteresting areas (Davis et al., 2011, table 2.1). This is expressed in the movie when Akeelah stated “she hates her school and it is boring”. (Lions Gate Film Inc., 2006) The term imaginative lie is a characteristic of creativity in culturally different students according to (Davis et al., 2011, table 13.4). When this writer first read the term imaginative lies, it was viewed as something negative. However, when viewing this movie and witnessing the act, it is now viewed as part of the resilience that (Werner, 1989) as cited by (Davis et al., 2011, p. 326) mentioned in his study of Hawaiian children. The lives of the children in this study were similar to Akeelah’s due to support networks cited. Support networks and family relationships are two very important factors for minority and culturally different children. Family relationships strongly impacted gifted girls’ self-esteem and achievement, for they internalize their parents’ beliefs and values regarding females’ abilities to succeed (Callahan & Reis, 1996) as cited by (Herbert et al., 2001, p. 62). This research proved true in this movie, when Akeelah’s mother had to work and was unable to support her at the onset of her participation in the spelling bee. According to (Sutten-Smith, Rosenberg, & Landy, 1968) as cited by (Davis et al., 2011) the absence of the father in the home has a depressing effect on scores in math for both male and female children. In the movie, Akeelah’s father died when she was young. His death had an effect on her; however, it seemed to be somewhat positive. It appeared that his love for words was transcended to her and enabled her to grow academically. This movie definitely can be compared with the fact that family expectations have tremendous influence on the achievement of gifted females. Although Akeelah’s mother was a single parent, she had the highest of expectations for all four of her children. Peer support is a positive factor. According to (Bernal, 1979) as cited by (Davis et al., 2011, p. 337) “members of a particular ethnic group almost always identify the smartest among their peers”. This support was confirmed when the characters’ best friend encouraged her to compete in the spelling bee, while the attitude of some of her peers was a total contrast. According to Neihart, (2006) as cited by (Davis et al., 2011) attitudes of peers can make being smart a negative thing. Those classmates attempted to bully Akeelah into doing their work because of her abilities. The attitude of the later classmates added difficulties that Akeelah and many gifted young women face. They would be problems of important social and emotional issues occurring throughout adolescence and passage into adulthood, related to gender-role expectations, relationship-oriented problems, achievement and underachievement concerns, and the need for resilience in their lives according to (Herbert, Long, & Neumeister, 2001, p. 62) Significant others also played an important role in this movie. They were defined as persons who exercised a major influence on the attitudes of individuals according to (Davis et al., 2011, p. 346). Akeelah’s support system grew from school personnel to an entire neighborhood. Once her support network was in place, she believed in herself and the characteristics of concentration and perseverance helped her accomplish the goal of winning the spelling bee. Throughout this movie Akeelah demonstrated true traits of a gifted individual both negative and positive. A negative trait that was very prevalent was one of imaginative lying. This trait was portrayed when Akeelah signed her deceased fathers’ signature on the spelling bee permission slip. Others played a significant role in this movie. They were defined as persons who exercised a major influence on the attitudes of individuals according to (Davis et al., 2011, p. 346). Akeelah’s support system grew from the school personnel to an entire neighborhood. Once her support network was in place, she believed in herself and the characteristics of concentration and perseverance that helped her to accomplish the goal of winning the spelling bee. She was truly gifted and a gift to all that supported her.

References
Davis, G. A., Rimm, S. B., & Siegle, D. (2011). Education of the gifted and talented (6 ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.
Ford, D. Y. (1998, January). The underrepresentation of minority students in gifted education: problems promises in recruitment and retention. The Journal of Special Education, 32(1), 4-14. Retrieved from http://westdalemiddle.ebrschools.org/eduWEB1/1000047/laylamilton/docs/minority_ students_in_gt.pdf
Frasier, M. M., & Garcia, J. H. (1995, February). A review of assessment issues in gifted education and their implications for identifying gifted minority students (White Paper No.95204). Retrieved from The National Research Center of the Gifted and Talented: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt/reports/rm95204/rm95204.pdf
Herbert, T. P., Long, L. A., & Spiers Neumeister, K. L. (2001). Using biography to counsel gifted young women. Gifted child today, 12(2), 62-79. Retrieved from http://Using Biography to Counsel Gifted Young Women.mht
Lions Gate Film Inc. (Producer), & Fishburne, L. (Director). (2006). Akeelah and the bee [Motion picture]. United States: Lions Gate Films.