LITTLE ROCK, Ark — "The Barber of Little Rock," a short film documentary that addresses the racial wealth gap, has received an Oscar nomination for 2024.
The film, which was directed by John Hoffman and Christine Turner, follows Arlo Washington — a man who founded a nonprofit loan fund based in the same parking lot as his barber college.
The nonprofit, People Trust, was founded by Washington in 2014 with the purpose of aiding those who struggled to receive loans from more traditional banking options.
People Trust has loans available for several different things, including rental assistance, medical emergencies, those trying to begin their own small business, and many other options.
In his own words as heard in the film, economic justice is something that Washington is passionate about. This economic justice comes in the form of providing "a real opportunity" towards economic growth in underserved communities.
In "The Barber of Little Rock," Washington can be seen teaching financial lessons at the Washington Barber College, an institution that he started in 2008.
"The Barber of Little Rock" follows the journey of People Trust workers and loan recipients, along with students and staff of the Washington Barber College.
Through a series of interviews. each person speaks about various topics including the racial wealth gap, the "American Dream," equity, and ownership.
People Trust is the first Black-owned bank inside of Arkansas, with one of the core focuses of "The Barber of Little Rock" centering around the perseverance of Black citizens in Little Rock and how they've succeeded despite hardships and injustices that have acted as hurdles.
You can watch the 2024 Oscars on Sunday, March 10, at 6:00 p.m. central time.