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
”Four Daughters” with Kaouther Ben Hania
”Stamped from the Beginning” with Roger Ross Williams
Sundance 2024 Documentary Lineup Review with Basil Tsiokos
”32 Sounds” with Sam Green
”Apolonia, Apolonia” with Lea Glob
”Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy” with Susan Margolin & Simon Kilmurry
”Art for Everybody” with Miranda Yousef
Oscar Shortlist 2024 Breakdown with Anne Thompson
Emmy Nominations Breakdown with Scott Feinberg
”Little Richard: I am Everything” with Lisa Cortés
”American Symphony” with Matthew Heineman
”Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” with Anna Hints
”Anselm” with Wim Wenders
”Between Life and Death: Terri Schiavo’s Story” with Amanda Spain & Alex Waterfield
”Beyond Utopia” with Madeleine Gavin
”High on the Hog”, Season 2 with Karis Jagger & Fabienne Toback
”A Town Called Victoria” with Li Lu
”Sly” with Thom Zimny
”The Pigeon Tunnel” with Errol Morris
”Big Vape” with R.J. Cutler
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Cinema: A to B
I Finally Watched...
Star Wars Escape Pod
Pod Meets World
Kill James Bond!