franclk@lopers.unk.edu
Last Saturday, Cynthia, a Grand Island native, watched executive producer J. Cole’s documentary Out of Omaha starring the Trotter twins. “I found myself in shock at the reactions I heard from a mostly-white audience at the World Theatre… they acted like they’ve never seen real poverty before. But maybe they haven’t,”
This past weekend, Kearney’s very own World Theatre was one of two theatres that held the premier of the J. Cole produced documentary Out of Omaha.
The gripping tale of two twins surviving and leaving North Omaha is authentic, honest, and thoughtful. The film masterfully depicts a slice of America that is entirely ignored in contemporary media. It’s a rare glimpse at the urban black experience in America’s heartland.
Coming from a background of poverty and addiction herself, Cynthia was deeply moved by the films way of grasping the reality of living as a minority member of an unjust society.
“It’s impossible to get ahead,” she said. “I am twenty-two years old with one kid. My husband and I work full-time and between daycare and other living expenses, it is impossible to save money to go to college and get better paying work.”
The documentary unpacks bigger systemic issues facing young men. Their need to provide, to prosper, and to have a purpose. Yet, man-made policies have made it almost impossible for those in poverty to move up to the next level economically.
“It feels like I’m dying while I’m livin’,” said Darcell, the focus of the film, as he panics over whether to go to the police and face possible incarceration for something he didn’t do or to continue living in North Omaha while hoping he doesn’t get shot by his neighborhood’s gang.
The beautiful film awes with clear, haunting visuals and completes with a great soundtrack. It was poetic to see my hometown Grand Island portrayed as someone else’s escape when I know that the same town is someone else’s poison.
When members of our society become vulnerable to survival, life becomes tribal for them. In Cynthia and Darcell’s world, they are forced to form close bonds with other struggling members in their neighborhood and in the name of crime, they’ll do whatever it takes to protect themselves and their family financially and physically.
Dr. Toni Hill, a professor at UNK and a BSA faculty advisor attended the Sunday movie premier in Kearney.
“As a professor, the documentary is relevant to multiple university disciplines including family studies, sociology, political science, criminal justice, and many others,” Hill said. “The film is an urban coming-of-age story highlighting the resilience of twins Darcell and Darrell Trotter to push through injustice, oppression, and poverty”
Darcell Trotter made a special appearance on Sunday after The World viewing to answer any questions the audience had. Dr. Hill had the pleasure of meeting with him and described him as a remarkable young man, believing his past and present experiences and future aspirations will resonate across multiple generations and cultural groups.
Dr. Hill plans to share information about the documentary with UNK’s BSA group for inclusion with UNK’s Black History Month, February 2020.
present experiences and future aspirations will resonate across multiple generations and cultural groups.
Dr. Hill plans to share information about the documentary with UNK’s BSA group for inclusion with UNK’s Black History Month, February 2020.
