Sarah’s Oil: A Journey of Resilience and Triumph

Alert the masses, because another hidden treasure of history has been revealed! I had the pleasure of prescreening Sarah’s Oil, and the film left me with a heavy and grateful heart. 

Sarah’s Oil is inspired by the remarkable true story of Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is Oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to her family, friends, and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming among the nation’s first female Black American millionaires—at eleven years old

As a Black American woman who often finds myself being the only one in spaces, and on the defensive of my culture and history, this movie is validating. Sarah’s Oil highlights a piece of history that the majority of us weren’t taught in a powerful way that teaches generations to trust their instincts and to remain tenacious, regardless of the hurdles and situation!

“LIFE IS ALL ABOUT TAKING RISKS”

Sarah is a remarkable young woman—a natural-born negotiator—but leads with faith and an unshakable trust in her intuition. I found myself saying “white people” a lot during the film, always a trick or a scheme below the surface. I’m sure we’ve all heard that if it seems too good to be true, it’s likely untrue, and this movie illustrates, throughout history, the plight of Black Americans. The level of fear, disrespect, and lack of humanity screamed at me while watching Sarah’s Oil. 

I have declared myself a natural-born survivor, and if you read my blog, you’d see why. But this movie reminded me that my strength is embedded in me, rooted in my ancestors. I’m also brilliant. Look at all we accomplish under the most horrendous circumstances. A scene that replays in my mind, without giving away the spoilers, is when Sarah says. “It’s not about the money, it’s about your soul.” To take it a step further, it’s never been about the money; it’s been about deserving respect! Not to be given trash and stealing it back when we find gold—well, Oil. To be seen as the capable people who built this country without the need for guardianship because of the need to limit our worth and potential.

Sarah’s Oil is phenomenal, and I highly encourage everyone to watch the movie and absorb all of the details and history! I found motivation and a spark to continue trusting my intuition and to silence any naysayers in my way. My grandfather lived by the principle that each generation should do better than the last. This movie emphasizes that message. The way the adults allowed room and insisted on Sarah’s vision, which only she could see, was in hopes of a brighter future.

“GOD GIVES YOU GIFTS, THE ONLY SIN IS NOT USING THEM”

Sarah’s Oil highlights the duality of life; there’s no escaping pain, but how we proceed is what shines through. There’s a lot in this world we cannot control, but we have the power to keep our heads high and carry ourselves with dignity. I wish there were a community of Black millionaires in Oklahoma, living large off the oil they found, but a win is a win, and my heart is full for the legacy Sarah Rector created. 

Let the countdown begin before we all travel back in time to witness greatness and a jewel of American history. Sarah’s Oil will be released in theaters on November 7, 2025. And of course, let me know what y’all think!