Oswaldo Rojas

Akeelah is a precocious 11-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite her mother's objections, Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee, her principal Mr. Welch, and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

クリスマス間近のロサンゼルス。黒人２人組に車を盗まれた地方検事のリック夫妻。白人警官のライアンはパトロール中、裕福な黒人夫婦に屈辱を味わわせた。ペルシャ人の雑貨店主ファハドは、ドアの修理に来た黒人ダニエルと口論になる。やがて、彼らの人生は思いがけない形で交錯する。