Jada

Life in the inner city is hard, and for the people who walk its streets every day, it could seem like a prison. JAMAL knows this all too well, and fearing that he doesn't have much of a choice, he joins the Eastern St. gang headed up by a thug named THUNDER. His mother, JADA, is trying to hold down a low-paying job while raising Jamal and his sister JASMINE after the death of her husband and their fall from middle class into the poverty barrel. Her work pays off as she is offered a better position at the law firm she works at, however she quickly realizes that if not approved by the welfare board, she could lose her benefits that she depends on for housing. The former leader of Eastern St. is out of prison, and has someone waiting for him. SIMON has been released on good behavior, but this was his second strike. He smiles as he spots TERRANCE, his pastor and reason he's out on good behavior. Terrance lends a helpful hand to Simon, who is looking to right the wrongs of his past. Terrance makes a deal with him; room and board for mentoring Jamal.Simon gets to Jamal, and they quickly become friends, and Jada gets over her apprehension of having an ex-con tutor her son. However, she also falls in love with him, with all the wrong reasons glaring at her. After trying to re-join the gang, Jamal quickly realizes that they are not willing to forgive. They chase him down the street where they also run into Simon, who distracts them to let Jamal get away. Jamal forgives Simon but despite Simon's warnings, Jamal heads back out to do one last thing. Thunder is murdered that night. Jamal is the prime suspect, but Simon turns himself in, and with two strikes on his record, this could be life in prison. Jada is left with the decision to either keep an innocent man that she loves in jail, or turn her son in. This is a position that no parent should be in, and Jada opts to keep her son from ruining his life on Simon's behalf. With her faith, Jada believes that the right thing will happen. We find out that everything works out at the end with a little faith in God. Jada and Simon get married, Jamal and Jasmine make it to college, and they decide to stay in the hood' to help make it a better place.