In celebration of inspirational figures, particularly as we approach occasions that honor women, it’s impossible to overlook the profoundly moving film about Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, often recognized as one of the world’s most skilled brain surgeons. While Dr. Carson himself is the central figure, the movie, “Gifted Hands,” beautifully illuminates the indispensable role his mother played in his extraordinary journey to success, a testament to the power of maternal influence and faith.
This biographical drama, “Gifted Hands,” is a powerful true story set against the backdrop of Detroit. It introduces us to Sonya Carson, portrayed masterfully by Kimberly Elise, a single mother fiercely dedicated to her sons, Ben and Curtis, despite facing immense hardship. Working tirelessly as a house cleaner, Sonya strives to make ends meet after her husband leaves, offering no financial support. Despite her own illiteracy, Sonya possesses a deep understanding of the importance of education and relentlessly encourages her sons to look beyond their immediate surroundings of poverty. She opens their minds to a world of possibilities, challenging the limiting stereotypes imposed upon African Americans in the 1960s. Observing the habits of the affluent families whose homes she cleans, Sonya notices a distinct lack of television watching. Inspired, she implements a strict rule at home: limited television time – just two shows on weekends – and mandatory weekly library visits. Each boy must borrow and read two books weekly, providing her with written reports.
Despite facing numerous obstacles, including Ben being labeled as the ‘dummy’ in his class and enduring the pervasive racial prejudice of the time, he begins to excel academically thanks to his mother’s unwavering encouragement and his newfound love for reading. This academic turnaround causes quite a stir, especially when Ben outperforms his white classmates. A particularly poignant scene occurs during an 8th-grade awards assembly where Ben is recognized as the top academic student. His white teacher, while presenting the award, publicly berates the white students and their parents for being outshone by a “colored boy.” This blatant racism, though hurtful, fuels neither Ben nor Sonya’s determination. Sonya’s constant affirmations, “You CAN do this… God has given you a Brain,” become Ben’s mantra, propelling him through challenges as he pursues higher education at Yale, then medical school, and ultimately to Johns Hopkins Hospital. There, he achieves the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest head of Pediatric Neurosurgery in its history.
Cuba Gooding Jr. portrays Dr. Ben Carson in Gifted Hands movie, highlighting his neurosurgery expertise and faith.
For enthusiasts of medical dramas like ER or House, “Gifted Hands” offers a compelling and faith-filled narrative. Cuba Gooding Jr.’s portrayal of Dr. Ben Carson captures the essence of a man tackling incredibly complex surgeries, including the separation of conjoined twins, with both exceptional skill and deep faith. The movie underscores that these ‘gifted hands’ are not just a result of natural talent but are also built upon the foundation of perseverance instilled by his mother, Sonya Carson – a woman whose gifted heart guided her son to fulfill his God-given potential.
“Gifted Hands” is highly recommended, and for those seeking a deeper dive into this inspiring story, a book of the same title by Gregg Lewis and Deborah Shaw Lewis provides further details.
It’s worth noting that the real Dr. Carson and his wife, Candy, have established the Carson Scholars Fund, a program that recognizes and rewards academic excellence from elementary school through college. More information can be found at http://carsonscholars.org/.
