As I enjoy my daily Starbucks coffee, I notice that the cup sleeve is strangely green and has signs for Akeelah and the Bee prominently on it. I also notice the word 'Cambist' written in huge letters and a note that it was the "winning word for the 1977 national spelling bee." Now that my coffee break was interrupted by strange words and something named Akeelah and the Bee, I ask myself what is this? The coffee sleeve goes on:

Akeelah and the Bee:
1 : changing the world one word at a time
2 : to spell it like it is
3. an inspirational film in theaters everywhere april 28

... Ah! This is Starbucks' strange marketing ploy to get people to enjoy coffee and vocabulary. Its worked with music and with CDs... will it now work with movies? Considering the number of coffees that Starbucks sells - Akeelah and the Bee will certainly generate buzz and Starbucks will generate awareness... Obviously it captured me and caused me to do my research. Here is the official synopsis of Akeelah and the Bee from the production company:

Akeelah And the Bee Synopsis:

A Girl With A Gift for Words
An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precociouls eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurenece Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitidue earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripss National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

Akeelah and the Bee Cast
Angela Bassett   ....  Tanya Anderson
Keke Palmer   ....  Akeelah Anderson
Laurence Fishburne....  Dr. Joshua Larabee
Curtis Armstrong  ....  Mr. Welch

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