uGospel recently sat down with the cast of the forthcoming biographical drama Sarah’s Oil for a compelling conversation about one of America’s most extraordinary yet lesser-known historical figures. Hosted by uGospel’s own Khalif M. Townes, the interview features Naya Desir-Johnson, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Kenric Green, who shared emotional reflections on the film’s purpose, historical significance, and message of faith.
Set for theater release November 7, 2025, Sarah’s Oil recounts the remarkable true story of Sarah Rector, a young African-American girl from Oklahoma Indian Territory who, at just eleven years old, became one of the nation’s first Black female millionaires.
A History Hidden in Plain Sight
The film is inspired by Tonya Bolden’s 2014 book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America. Born into the early 1900s, Sarah was allotted land commonly believed to be barren. But guided by conviction and a sense of destiny, she believed oil lay beneath the surface. Her faith proved right, setting into motion a battle over wealth, protection, and identity during one of the most racially hostile eras in American history.
As oil prospectors and opportunistic officials closed in, Sarah found strength through her family, her community, and a handful of trustworthy allies. Her journey became not only a fight for her rightful inheritance but a testament to the unwavering resolve of Black families facing systemic attempts to deny them freedom and opportunity.
The film’s writer, Betsy Nowrasteh, explains that presenting the story from a child’s perspective preserves its heart and innocence.
“She brings that child’s energy, that child’s hope, and that uncorrupted child’s vision of things. She isn’t cynical, she isn’t skeptical. She just has a clarity of vision that adults lose,” Nowrasteh notes.
This hopeful, faith-driven lens distinguishes Sarah’s Oil from many historical dramas, offering viewers a poignant reminder of how youthful belief can reshape the world.
Sarah’s Oil is directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M., The Young Messiah) and co-written with Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh. The film features a high-caliber cast, including Zachary Levi, Sonequa Martin-Green, Garret Dillahunt, Bridget Regan, and introduces Naya Desir-Johnson in her debut role as Sarah Rector.
Production took place in Oklahoma during Summer 2024, with scenes filmed in historic locations such as Okmulgee and Bristow, bringing authenticity to Sarah’s story and the land her family fought to protect.
In a meaningful collaboration, Sarah Rector’s living descendants contributed insight to the film’s development. Their involvement helped ensure historical accuracy and safeguarded the spiritual essence of Sarah’s legacy.
Family historian Diane Euston, who has extensively researched Rector’s history, praised the film for capturing Sarah’s perseverance:
“This movie does such a great job of showing how the story really is about not giving up – and when somebody says no, you go find someone that’s going to say yes. Sarah did not accept ‘no’ in her life. She found a way… she always found a way.”
While Sarah’s wealth drew national attention, Sarah’s Oil explores far more than prosperity. At its core, the film is about conviction, courage, and identity. It is a story of a young girl who recognized her worth when society tried to dismiss it. Despite being surrounded by people who sought to exploit her, Sarah stood firm, propelled by faith and a deep understanding of her God-given value.
The film highlights how Sarah’s bold belief preserved not only her family’s inheritance but also their dignity. For many viewers, this narrative presents a necessary re-examination of African-American history, wealth, and agency.
In the interview with uGospel, young newcomer Naya Desir-Johnson, who portrays Sarah, expressed her hope that the film will resonate especially with young Black girls:
“The people who I want to see it the most are little Black girls all over the world. When they see this, they might be like, ‘Wow… maybe I can do this too.’”
Her reflection underscores the continued relevance of Sarah Rector’s story — not only as historical remembrance but as an invitation for future generations to imagine beyond limitations.
SARAH’S OIL
In Theaters November 7, 2025
Presented by Amazon MGM Studios, Kingdom Story Company, and Wonder Project
Sarah’s Oil is more than a cinematic experience — it is a restoration of a vital piece of American history and a celebration of the enduring faith that can change the course of a life.
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