“Including Samuel”
How do we get a sense of belonging without relying on the enemy? “Including Samuel” is a documentary about the complexities of inclusion. Like so many other issues in our lives, the solutions are far from clear. The documentary focuses on a boy named Samuel, who grew up with cerebral palsy; this document was filmed by Samuel’s father, Habib. Not only does the film show an insight to his son’s life, but it includes other people’s lives who are affected by different mental illnesses. Despite the fact that it was not a perfect film, Habib's documentary does a good job at making the point that inclusion is beneficial and important.
The film began with Samuel as a small child smiling and laughing with his brother, showing the audience how he is no different from any other child; he likes to play with others and have fun. Samuel attends Beaver Meadows Elementary
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Habib makes that clear when he introduces Keith Jones, an African American character who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Unlike Samuel, Keith didn’t get the inclusive support Samuel did; he attended a public school at the age of 12 with the support of only his family. Keith claims that “the bar was so low there was not a bar” (Habib), explaining how he was underestimated by the public. Not only did Keith get discriminated about his disability but also was discriminated against his race- “black man in a wheel chairwhen did you get shot?”(Habib). Keith wanted to prove the world wrong about his abilities, he did what was unexpected for him: he became a successful rapper and a faithful husband. Habib focused more on what he is today versus how Keith developed which should’ve been discussed more to validate how inclusion is more beneficial than not. Choosing to discuss Keith’s situation really emphasizes the hope for people with