Whites not of Hispanic origin made up 13.6% of the populace. I didnt want to just go in there and start filming. Glades Central, Belle Glade's school, has 1,140 students and is tied for the state record with six titles.. But if you dont play football, what else are you going to do? Ira: Others want to try to play football. Enrollment: 71 (2016). Enrollment: 375 (2015). In Belle Glade and Pahokee, football is not just a game. Bhawin Suchak: I think the process of making a documentary feature is a long one that includes a lot of development and research work before you actually start producing. When I came back, he was grown [with] kids. Pahokee, Florida (Other Florida schools)14 total players, 1 active player, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 6:17AM. TWEET. Watch the India vs Australia live stream on ESPN+. The people were like, Oh, how are they doing it? After the game, they thought they were going to win and have this big celebration. All rights reserved. Pahokee edge rusher DeeJay Holmes made an official visit to UCF this past weekend. Along with his co-director/producer Bhawin Suchak, Mckinley returns to Pahokee to reconnect with his niece and nephew as he explores his familys history and chronicles the lives of the citys residents. Click Manage settings for more information and to manage your choices. But more importantly, taught him about being a man, being accountable, and doing it with love. Thats South Florida, bro. These are the barriers weve got to break down. They have a lot. Seeking to offer a unique narrative of Black achievement in a community rife with poverty and too often spotlighted for violence, filmmakers Ira McKinley and Bhawin Suchak instead focus their lens on the fiercely self-determined Dean family. Burt Reynolds did movies called Gator and White Lightning, and he mentions the Muck Boys. There is a scene when he was talking, I think to Jerry Reed, in the movie. There are other kids, you know, people I havent met. Why trust us? Muck City [Winning and Losing in Footballs Forgotten Town]. I left Florida in 79 and 80 and went back in 2015. Polyethylene Film / PE Sheet At an early age, future Pro Football Hall of Famer RICKEY JACKSON recognized he needed to chart a path away from the predominant occupations in Pahokee, Florida: chopping cane, picking corn in the fields or working in the produce packing plant. [14], On November 15, 1996, the old Pahokee High School building, built in 1928, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. NFL . They won a state championship. The Blue Devils got close in 1976, with a team that included New Orleans Saints All-Pro Rickey Jackson and current Pahokee assistant Ronnie Osbourne, who played for the U.S. Football League champion Michigan Panthers. I was feeling really overwhelmed and tired. Hes just committed to it. We thought it was going to be more of an ESPN. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com. "Outta the Muck" premiered for public viewing on Feb. 6 as part of PBS' Black History Month programming. Help bring programs like Independent Lens to your PBS station. . But in the end, teams fate wound up on "Outta the Muck" 's cutting room floor. They were talking all this mess of how theyre going to beat Pahokee [Laughs]. Ira McKinley: The book Muck City. They come together and celebrate each others lives and look out for each other in a way that is hard to find in a bigger city and a bigger community. When we talk about these small rural towns, its almost always in a deficit, a context of what they dont have. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.79. They played football, and the people they used were people out of the muck. Now you see three documentaries released this year that have woven Zora Neale Hurstons history, which is amazing because its so overdue. "The streets are noisy and crowded; bars, restaurants and gambling places are never closed. Bhawin: Ira gave me the book Muck City [Winning and Losing in Footballs Forgotten Town]. Even if some of them are the protagonists, these characters are so insufferable that they made audiences want to see them bite the dust. Allowing them to grow into who they are and not judge them, and not demonize them. Having learned from that collaboration, theyve followed up with a doc that also has deeply personal meaning to Ira. "So, I feel like I'm ready.". One of the most influential figures in Pahokee football history, Donald Thompson died on Monday. Youll see people sharing their catch, or sharing the rabbits and the fruits and vegetables. Alphonso Smith has been removed from his position as head coach of the Pahokee High School football team following allegations of inappropriate conduct, according to the Palm . There was a book called Muck City that came out. When I first came down there before Bhawin did, I had a chance to tour it and reconnect because I hadnt been there for 35 years. Still hoping to find entertainment from across the pond? PAHOKEE -- As he began his first day back at school Monday morning as coach of a state-championship football team, Don Thompson quickly exited an administration-building door at Pahokee Junior-Senior High School and tried desperately to get to his third-period gym class. Stretch Film Division. You know, people are poor, they dont care, [and] theyre just surviving and struggling. If you're interested in British television programming, you'll find plenty of it on Hulu. The film loosely follows what appears to be a magical season for the Blue Devils, but also spends considerable time off the field and in peoples homes. I used to go there two times a year but never lived in that type of setting. That became the core element, even in playing the title, Outta the Muck, as a double meaning. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Ex-Pahokee athlete identified as victim of fatal Muck Bowl party shooting, Former FSU recruit was a top athlete in football, track and field, Gunfire erupts at large gathering after Pahokee football Muck Bowl victory, Three people shot, wounded during 'huge' block party in Pahokee after Muck Bowl, Man shot in Pahokee after annual Muck Bowl football game dies, sheriff's office says, Ex-Pahokee athlete identified as victim of fatal Muck Bowl party shooting. ". It's the talk of the town and will be for a long time to come. The median income for a household in the city was $26,731, and the median income for a family was $26,265. People have to really support each other, and everyone looks out for each other and cares about each other. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Rather than see it as this relic of the past or something hokey, its really critical and important, especially in todays world. I had to take myself back to that time. Today is National Signing Day. To us, that was funny. McKinley and Suchak came to town in 2016 to watch a New Jersey football team and square off against Pahokee. Snake River 0-0 11 5. I didnt want to just go in there and start filming. And we just had to figure it out. Pahokee, together with nearby rival Belle Glade, with whom it competes each year in the "Muck Bowl", has "sent at least 60 players to the National Football League ". Zach Berry 01/28/23. Its no secret ESPN provides some of the best sports coverage on the planet, and its ESPN+ streaming service is an extension of that. More: Three people shot, wounded during 'huge' block party in Pahokee after Muck Bowl, More: Man shot in Pahokee after annual Muck Bowl football game dies, sheriff's office says. Pahokee, one of Palm Beach County's most storied football programs, will be forced to vacate its Class 1A state championship due to the use of an ineligible player . Join our linker program. They fish like Bhawin was saying. My niece, whom we featured in there, her son was just a baby when I left. Duration: 01:20 2/1/2023. My mother and father met in that town and used to date up there. In fourth grade, he decided to try football. Both men have pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder are awaiting trial. Also credited with 45 QBH, 3 FF, 3 FR and and INT. He is a film nerd, cartoonist, classic film poster collector, wannabe screenwriter, and owner of/owned by cats. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. It was a chance to tell that story. Filmmakers have once again ventured to The Glades. The full 30 for 30 sports documentary library is also part of an ESPN+ subscription, as is all sorts of ESPN original content. [15], Everglades Regional Medical Center, at 200 S. Barfield Highway was founded in 1936 as Everglades General Hospital; the current building opened in 1950. They take anybody in. With its tradition of athletes as rich as that of its famous native soil, Pahokee has always been a contender. View pregame, in-game and post-game details from the Okeechobee (FL) @ Pahokee (FL) non-conference girls flag football game on Thu, 3/2/2023. The district said this is the first time a Pahokee high school football player has had Ivy League offers. Ira: Stories have been told [about Pahokee] throughout [its] 100 years of history, with Hurston, and Harvest of Shame. . Boulud Effect: How a star chef helped transform Palm Beach County restaurants, How Muck City Sports Hall of Fame can serve as inspiration for youth growing up in the Glades, NFL greats return to Palm Beach County, open new waterfront restaurant on Lake Okeechobee, Dave George: State ruling doesnt erase Pahokees memorable season, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Ira: When I first came down there before Bhawin did, I had a chance to tour it and reconnect because I hadnt been there for 35 years. Hes a, Theres also documentaries coming out that in some form weave in the story of Zora Neal Hurston, which has really not been told in a broad scope. There have been a lot of films, TV shows, and spots done about Pahokee that just hyperfocuses on poverty and the violence and all these aspects of the community. [10] Local residents refer to Pahokee as "The Muck", which signifies the mineral-rich dark soil in which sugar cane, citrus fruits, and corn are grown by agribusinesses. The biggest one to me is that togetherness. McKinley and Suchak hoped to give back in others ways as well. They were selling drugs. Having learned from that collaboration, theyve followed up with a doc that also has deeply personal meaning to Ira. Zora Neale Hurston talked about it in a different aspect of history and perseverance. Pahokee, with 904 students, has won four of the last five state titles in its class. Thats Bridget. As more students yelled from all directions, the coach slowed down, hooked his left arm around the shoulder of the youngster who scurried alongside, and made sure he would play football again next year. Theres this idea in the film about perception versus reality in Pahokee. The stories of Black communities and the historical context they have come up through and how history has impacted the present times, I think, are really woven into this in a beautiful way. Suchak: Its interesting because I think at the beginning of the project, that was really important for us to build that relationship and make sure that people knew what our intentions were coming down there. Governor Rick Scott also pledged $1.3 million towards the restoration of Pahokee's infrastructure in late 2014. But theyre still trying to survive. But despite the lower economic profile, Muck City's schools routinely win state championships in the intensely competitive state of Florida and produce professional athletes. -type football story, but then realized that narrative has been done before. That's a place I grew up and I never took pride in my community, but now I have that pride,' " Suchak said of the response to the film, which won the Soul of Southern Film Award at the Indie Memphis Film Festival. 2022 PAHOKEE BLUE DEVILS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Pahokee Blue Devils are classified in 1R- for the 2022 Season . 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Take class of 2019 Pahokee (Fla.) High running back Ja'Tarie Washington. The first year we really filmed we had to do a GoFundMe. Top Players in the NFL; Anquan Boldin Pahokee (FL) Pahokee 6-2 / 205 / PRO . Pahokee, with a population around 6,000, has sent more than a dozen players to the NFL, including Rickey Jackson, Janoris Jenkins, and Fred Taylor. Theyre not out there trying to get famous and have all the spotlight on them. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. It wasnt told in the story, but when you research it, you see that Burt Reynolds talked about it [the muck]. "I got in contact with John and let him know the needs we had out in . Unemployment exceeds 25%. Executive Producer Sam [Pollard] did a documentary about Hurston [2008s. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. Yeah, Im very excited because this is such a powerful story that comes at a perfect time in this countrys history. Boldin and Antonio Wilson. "Outta the Muck" features longtime Pahokee residents seeking to dispel what they call media-driven narratives that make their home sound like a scary and violent place, while overlooking the communitys hospitality where residents welcome visitors with homecooked meals and families gather for barbecues. I don't know nothing about football, but I know who had the biggest pile of rabbits, and that means something.". The other part is that a lot of people dont tell stories of who stays in these communities. If you are not receiving newsletters, please check your spam folder. Lots of history if it's a town", "Pahokee Florida Profile and Resource Guide, City or community of Pahokee, Florida Facts, Information, Relocation, Real Estate, Advertising", "In Pahokee, football serves as a way out", "Storm Victims Filthy Black From Muck Water; Cabins Floating Coffins", "Dissolution talk once again a song on the jukebox in Pahokee", "K. E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary School", "A Town's Hopes (and Doubts) Ride on a New Marina", "Rick Scott Showcases Rural Road Improvements in Palm Beach County", "Legend of the Rabbits (ESPN Story) - YouTube", "[365Voice] Muck City Adidas "Chasing Rabbits" Commercial - YouTube", "The Sundance Film Festival is putting Pahokee on the moviemaking map", "Novelist James Patterson chronicles ups and downs in impoverished So. Season Preview: Pahokee aiming for Class 1A state football championship. People heard my cry and instead of me doing something detrimental and not productive, I got together with Bhawin and we used his people, his young people, to help produce it, McKinley told us. I didnt want to make another feature doc, to be honest with you [laughs], but I was convinced because Ira had a really incredible story. I dont think this is in the scene, but we were freaking out like, Yo, look at them. It took them four hours to play the game because everybody started cramping up. Thompson coached the Blue Devils from 1984-92, leading the small Palm Beach County team . Deputies found Johnson and other two shooting victims as the crowd began to disperse. They canceled everything after talking all this mess on social media. Alvin took him under his wing and mentored him, gave him a shot at being a football player. We saw them [the opposing team] collapsing and the coaches collapsing. It was Jim Crow. The population density was 1,109.4 inhabitants per square mile (428.3/km2). 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