- The movie “Sarah’s Oil,” based on the true story of America’s first young Black female millionaire, Sarah Rector, premiered in Kansas City.
- Zachary Levi stars as one of Rector’s white guardians and also serves as a producer on the film, which aims to bring this overlooked story to a wider audience.
- The film highlights Rector’s faith, her incredible fortune discovered through oil on her land, and the struggle to control her own legacy.
- Lead actress Naya Desir-Johnson and producers emphasized the importance of investing in and telling Black stories to empower a new generation.
A Forgotten Legacy Finally Gets the Spotlight
Kansas City recently rolled out the red carpet for the premiere of “Sarah’s Oil,” a film that uncovers the astonishing and long-overlooked true story of Sarah Rector. Once known as the “Richest Black Girl in America,” Rector became a millionaire in the early 1900s, and her incredible journey from an Oklahoma farm to a Kansas City residence is a story many are hearing for the first time.
The premiere at Union Station brought together the cast and crew who spent four years bringing this vital piece of American history to the screen. The event was a celebration not just of a film, but of a legacy that shined brightly after decades in the shadows.
The Stars Bringing Rector’s Story to Life
Leading the film is newcomer Naya Desir-Johnson, who powerfully portrays Sarah Rector. Reflecting on her major debut role, Desir-Johnson spoke about the film’s crucial message for today’s youth. “Black girls in America need to be told that they can do anything they set their hearts and minds to,” she said. “They are important and they need to be recognized.”
Her on-screen parents, played by Sonequa Martin-Green and Kenric Green, praised Desir-Johnson’s astonishing ability to carry the film, noting their connection was established right on screen.
Zachary Levi’s Crucial Off-Screen and On-Screen Role
Zachary Levi, widely known for his roles in “Chuck” and “Shazam,” steps into a more complex role in “Sarah’s Oil.” Serving as both a producer and the male lead, Levi is deeply invested in ensuring Rector’s story is told accurately and powerfully. He plays Bert Smith, a character who represents the real-life white guardians appointed to manage Rector’s immense fortune.
“Bert wasn’t a real individual person; he was kind of an amalgamation of a few different people but still staying true to who those people were for Sarah in that time,” Levi explained on the red carpet. His involvement highlights the complex and often predatory forces that surrounded Rector as her wealth grew.
Investing in the Stories That Matter
Producer Derrick Williams stressed the importance of properly investing in Black stories to give them the production value they deserve. “Putting in the right kind of money in the production value of it was essential to tell the story,” Williams stated. “So when people came out and saw it… they would not be disappointed.”
Adding a powerful layer of authenticity to the premiere were Rector’s real-life nieces. They remembered her not as a millionaire, but as “Aunt Sister,” a woman whose immense wealth was a fact they never fully grasped in her later years. Their presence served as a poignant reminder of the real person at the heart of this extraordinary Hollywood story.
Image Referance: https://fox4kc.com/news/movie-based-on-americas-first-black-female-millionaire-premiers-in-kansas-city/