Member Featured in Critically Acclaimed Documentary
Undergraduate's quest to be homecoming queen chronicled
'Bama Girl, a feature documentary film following the former president of the Alpha Kappa Alpha's Sigma Theta Chapter as she runs for Homecoming Queen at the University of Alabama has been selected as the Closing Night film of the prestigious Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, AL on Sunday, Sept 28. The film has screened all over the country to rave reviews and sold-out theaters, and will be broadcast on the IFC Channel Nov 2.
The film chronicles Jessica Thomas' campaign for Queen, running against not only 15 other co-eds, but a strictly segregated Greek system, internal Black politics, and a secret all-white association called "The Machine," that has been controlling politics at the university for most of the past century. Jessica is nominated by her chapter, and her campaign is run almost entirely by AKAs. Many of the subjects are AKA members, and a lot of the events take place at the AKA house.
As the director, Rachel Goslins says, "I was fortunate during the year of filming to spend a lot of time with the members at the AKA house and their advisors, and count many of them as friends today."
The film grapples with the dark and light side of tradition at the university, and also serves as a fascinating microcosm of some the electoral challenges faced in the presidential elections today.
Reviews of the film have highlighted Jessica's strong and appealing character. "Thomas' tireless effort and personal charisma comes across superbly on screen...an inspiring message," says Civilrights.org. "Jessica Thomas is a perfect model of leadership and involvement; with an unbelievable résumé of participation in clubs, academic excellence as a double major with an outstanding GPA, primary leadership roles in many organizations, and honors as a school ambassador," says Campus Progress.
Overall, the film reflects an inspiring and uplifting picture of AKA, and addresses many of the issues on which AKA has shown leadership and vision in the past.
For more information about the Birmingham screening, click here for the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival site.
For updates, to watch the trailer or to get the DVD, click here for the film's official site.