.png)
Kansas City PBS is proud to announce the premiere of Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance. The film airs on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. on Kansas City PBS Channel 19.1. It reveals the controversial Highway 71 project and how real estate practices connected to the highway led to the displacement of 10,000 Kansas City families.
"This documentary sheds light on some of the historical injustices that shaped our city," said Kliff Kuehl, Kansas City PBS president and CEO. "We are proud to share this compelling exploration of resilience and community in the face of inequity."
Produced by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Nico Giles Wiggins, this powerful sequel delves into the toll of urban renewal, igniting critical conversations about justice, housing and the legacy of displacement.
“I wanted to go after an ambitious story about urban planning and the history of discriminatory real estate practices across the country,” Wiggins said. “It's important that we don't skim over these stories.”
Wiggins, whose first installment in the Land of Opportunity series shared the story of discriminatory housing practices in Kansas City’s historic Santa Fe Place neighborhood, provides a compelling lens into these issues through the history of Paseo Baptist Church, a 140-year-old community pillar that has endured the impacts of the Highway 71 project.
By weaving together historical insights and deeply personal narratives from community leaders like Paseo Baptist Church Pastor LaRon Thompson, 5th District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance challenges viewers to confront the lasting effects of urban renewal and join the fight to preserve the identity and spirit of impacted communities.
“For me, this story is a process of unraveling,” said Wiggins. “The goal of this is not to give a 30-second rundown of systemic racism, instead, I want you to join me in this journey of understanding.”
Don’t miss this thought-provoking addition to the Land of Opportunity series. To learn more visit kansascitypbs.org/landofopportunity.
Watch Land of Opportunity at the Reel Black Film Fest
Wiggins’ latest film will be showcased at the Reel Black Film Fest on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m. at The Truman. The event is designed to celebrate local Black filmmakers in Kansas City. Attendees will have the opportunity to shop with local vendors, watch three new Kansas City PBS films and hear from the filmmakers behind the lens.
Doors and vendors will open at 1:30 p.m. and screenings and panels will begin at 3 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m. The Health Forward Foundation proudly supports this event. For more information and updates, visit kansascitypbs.org/reelblack.
About the Filmmaker
Emmy Award-winning producer Nico Giles Wiggins is the founder and CEO of Nico Giles Media, a production company founded in 2017 with the purpose of developing documentaries, films and other works. Wiggins has produced several films with Kansas City PBS including Land of Opportunity and Heart of the City. Previously, he served as a producer on Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: A Legacy Brought to Screen.