The fact that Arlo Washington, featured as the main protagonist in John Hoffman and Christine Turner’s inspiring documentary “The Barber of Little Rock”, is, indeed, a barber is almost beside the point. From owning one and then multiple barber shops, to founding the Washington Barber College and starting People Trust Credit Union, the first minority-owned financial institution in Arkansas, Arlo is a force of nature. He’s always thinking of new ways to address issues of equity in the Black community and create generational wealth.
Joining Ken on the podcast, John Hoffman describes not only Arlo’s big picture ideas but also his deep compassion for those in need and his unique ability to truly listen to others. Once Arlo mastered the arcane details of Community Development Financial Institutions, he was off-and-running, creating the only bank in a Black neighborhood that previously had none. A single bank won’t reverse decades of discrimination, but one barber has made a remarkable head start.
“The Barber of Little Rock” has been nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. It can be streamed on newyorker.com.
Hidden Gem: “Audible”
The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.
Follow:
@story_syndicate on Instagram and @storysyndicate_ on twitter
@topdocspod on Instagram and twitter
”The Queen of Basketball” with Ben Proudfoot
”When We Were Bullies” with Jay Rosenblatt
”Best Documentary Oscar Nominees” with Clayton Davis
”The Automat” with Lisa Hurwitz
”We Need to Talk About Cosby” with W. Kamau Bell
”Bring Your Own Brigade” with Lucy Walker
”Ailey” with Jamila Wignot
”Ascension” with Jessica Kingdon
”In the Same Breath” with Nanfu Wang
”Lead Me Home” with Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk
”Audible” with Matt Ogens
”Camp Confidential” with Mor Loushy
”Summer of Soul” with Ahmir Questlove Thompson
”Julia” with Betsy West and Julie Cohen
”Sophie & the Baron” with Alexandria Jackson
”Three Songs for Benazir” with Gulistan and Elizabeth Mirzaei & Omar Mullick
”Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” with R.J. Cutler
”Writing with Fire” with Rintu Thomas & Sushmit Ghosh
Sundance Lineup Preview with Basil Tsiokos
”Messwood” with Brad Lichtenstein & Emily Kuester
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Multiverse Fancast
Cinema: A to B
I Finally Watched...
Kill James Bond!
Pod Meets World