How Oil Millionaire Sarah Rector’s Legacy Continues to Empower Entrepreneurs Over a Century Later

Accompanied by her father, Sarah ventured into the segregated downtown, seeking partnerships with established oil industry figures. Initially met with skepticism, she persisted, armed with knowledge she acquired from a school for Black and Native children. She understood land valuation, specifications, and could navigate contracts adeptly. Eventually, a prospector named B.B. Jones uncovered oil on her land, revealing its massive potential. This discovery ushered in numerous challenges, including threats from oil companies intent on undermining the Rector family. The ensuing legal battles saw intervention from the NAACP, W.E.B Du Bois, the Black Press, and allies including oilman T.J. Porter, who became a business partner and guardian for Sarah.

After overcoming these hurdles, Sarah retained ownership of her land, which turned out to be a lucrative oil source. In 1914, she secured a partnership with John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, becoming America’s youngest Black millionaire.

Her remarkable story is now set to be portrayed in the film “Sarah’s Oil,” inspired by Tonya Bolden’s book “Searching for Sarah Rector.” This cinematic endeavor is being produced by Amazon’s MGM Studios alongside Wonder Project and Kingdom Story Company, with contributions from executive producers Ciara, Russell Wilson, Tony Young, Katelyn Botsch, Robert Scott Fort, and Sherry Kang. The screenplay is crafted by Cyrus Nowrasteh and Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh. Sarah Rector’s descendants have also played a crucial role in bringing this story to life on screen.

By the end of the legal battles, Sarah Rector maintained ownership of the 160-acre plot of land, and the oil flowed like water. In 1914, she struck a business deal with John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, making her the first youngest Black millionaire in America.

Sarah’s Oil

This is only one part of her story that is being brought to the big screen in the movie Sarah’s Oil, inspired by the book “Searching for Sarah Rector” by Tonya Bolden, by Amazon’s MGM Studios, Wonder Project, and Kingdom Story Company in partnership with co-executive producers Ciara, Russell Wilson, Tony Young, Katelyn Botsch, Robert Scott Fort, and Sherry Kang. The film is written and directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh and co-written with Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh. The Rector’s living descendants also played an integral role in the development of the film.

In an external interview with Diane Euston, a family historian who has long documented Sarah’s place in local history, she was quoted as sharing: “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.”

In a statement by the filmmaker, Nowrasteh shared, “Because so little is known about Sarah’s private life beyond public records and newspaper accounts, our story draws on both documented history and creative interpretation. We worked closely with Tonya Bolden, whose excellent book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America was found to be the most authoritative of all the reference materials we reviewed. We shared the film with members of the Rector family, historians, and cultural advisors to ensure we honored the spirit and memory of who Sarah was—an intelligent, resilient young woman of faith, shaped by her community, her heritage, and the extraordinary circumstances of her time.”

The cast stars Zachary Levi, Sonequa Martin-Green, Garret Dillahunt, Bridget Regan, and Naya Desir-Johnson, who plays young Sarah Rector.

At the Sarah’s Oil movie premiere in New York City, breakout actress Naya, Ciara, Russell Wilson, and media maven Bevy Smith spoke with ForbesWomen about how Rector’s life inspires them, their outlook on business, faith, family values, and resilience. They also shared why people should watch the movie.

Sarah’s Sacrifice

Lydia T. Blanco: What about Sarah Rector’s life made her say yes to auditioning and accepting the role? Ciara, what inspired you to co-executive produce the movie?

Naya Desir-Johnson: It was her bravery. When she knew something was wrong, she would just step back, upset. She would work hard to correct what was wrong, to be what was right again, to fix it. I want to send to black girls all over America. I want them to feel empowered, cared for, and respected, and feel like they can do anything.

Ciara: Sarah’s story is full of rich history. Her story is one that needs to continue to be told. There’s Sarah in me. The story of faith and love is an inspirational story, I feel like everyone needs to hear.

Russ (Russell) and I have the Why Not You Productions company telling the stories of faith. Having stories that have impact and inspire in such big ways and spark that ‘why not you’ energy and spirit in someone is important to us. So, for so many reasons, we were excited and gravitated to her story and wanted to tell it and be a part of telling each other on our platform to put her story out there.

Blanco: Are there any similarities between you and Sarah Rector?

Desir-Johnson: I think it’s the bravery, the love that she has for her family, and I have for mine. It’s the love that powers the bravery for me, it’s like an oil-powered machine that just to know there are people behind me, and the faith. The faith that she has in her friends and her family, also, again, just the people backing her up. I think it’s so important to have that support system behind you.

Blanco: ‘Why not you?’ is such a powerful statement, question, and business name. It also makes me think about your daughter, Sienna. Why not her? What are you teaching her about business?

Ciara: I like how you say that. I say, ‘Why not her?’ is something that I want to drive at some point. I want to really get deep into why not her for female empowerment. I have two daughters, Sienna and Amora, and both are strong forces. Even though Amora is almost just two years old, she’s a strong force already in this house, and I can’t wait to see how her voice is going to evolve and how big it’s going to be, because I know it’s going to be big.

I always want Sienna to know that she’s empowered by the gifts that God gave her and that she is fully equipped to be and do all that she wants to do if she simply believes in herself. The sky is the limit. She, too, can pursue her dreams and go and become everything she wants to be, with the same spirit of faith and hope that Sarah had within herself.

Russell Wilson: We’re here with the Sarah’s Oil sign behind us, telling a story about faith and this young Black girl who’s 11 years old, who becomes one of the wealthiest young girls in America. It’s all because she had faith, a ridiculous, unwavering faith, and that’s what Ciara has, and that’s what I want my daughter Sienna to have. That’s why I want my daughter Amora to have. I know my sons to Win and Future have (and whatever the fifth one is Cinco, if he comes too!), but I just think that it’s just this is a blessing to do this and be here in New York City for our premiere of Sarah’s Oil. It’s a great story. I can’t wait for families, kids, and people to see it all over.

Business Lessons Inspired By Sarah Rector

Blanco: Bevy Smith, you are an iconic storyteller, but you are also about your business. In learning about Sarah Rector’s story, what about how she handled business inspired you, and is there anything you’ll apply to your business practices?

Bevy Smith: Watching Sarah’s Oil taught me tenacity. It reminded me not to allow anyone to tell you how to run your business. Sarah Rector was minding her business. She didn’t let her mother, father, the people that were put in place to act as her guardians, nor the White men who were trying to trick her out of her oil, tell her what she knew to be true. She was negotiating her own deals.

If an 11-year-old girl in 1913 can have such agency and be in control of her own business, what excuse do I have?

Blanco: As you show up as your authentic self, what would you say to others as they get started in business?

Smith: People talk a lot about authenticity, but they don’t even know who the heck they are. So, how can you truly be authentic? If you’re looking to anyone else to learn about how to show up in spaces, then you’re not being authentic. If you’re trying to build a personal brand, find out who you truly are. That takes work. Most of us have a lot of layers on top of us that the world has told us that we need to wear to protect ourselves to be successful – and that’s not so. The best way to ever win in life is to be yourself.

Blanco: Ciara, you gave us the prayer. Your husband is right here. Now, what are your business tips for women?

Ciara: I’m still learning, to be honest. If I could share what I have learned along the way, it’s confidence in what you believe in. When you walk into meetings, never think you’re limited by your gender or the color of your skin. If you have an idea that you believe in, stand tall on it. Speak with conviction. Don’t be limited by what you look like or who you are.

Keep your shoulders straight and always leave your emotions at the door. There’s no gray; it’s black or white in your decisions and be defiant when you make them. You are a woman of faith.

Family, Faith, And Business

Blanco: What have you learned about life and business from being in business with your husband?

Ciara: What a blessing. I’ve learned that in life and business, the most important thing to me is to have goals. It’s important to have some kind of compass for what you want to accomplish and to stay the course of those goals.

It’s a blessing when you get to do things together with the love of your life. It makes it that much sweeter, like being here. You typically do your normal premieres, which are great. But then when you’re doing it with your love, it just makes it even more fun. We’re really doing something together. This is us. There’s just so much power in that and so much connectivity in that. I’m just so grateful. My heart is full. I’m thankful for moments like this. Like Russ was saying, we’ll never forget that we got to come to our premiere of a movie that we co-executive-produced together. We’ll look back on memories like this and be so proud.

Blanco: I asked your wife what she has learned while doing life and business with you? What have you learned?

Wilson: When we first met and on our first date, I said, ‘I desire love, a marriage that we can be equally yoked, spiritually, financially, goal-wise, vision-wise – and that’s what we are.

God put us together in a beautiful way, and we’ve been able to do so much business together. To be able to run Why Not You Productions and Foundation together is intentional.

On our first date, I also asked her, ‘What’s on your bucket list?’. She told me that she wanted to have a foundation, open a school, and I mentioned a production company. We started the production company and foundation. Now, we’re here with this big Sarah’s Oil sign behind us as the premier in New York City!

I can’t wait for families, kids, and people to see it all over

Blanco: What advice would you give to men as they support their significant others in business and pursue their dreams?

Wilson: You’re always better together. When you get to do it together, it just multiplies. I want to live in the overflow. We get to live in the overflow of each other and love. That’s the best part about it.

Finding and Owning the Oil Within

Blanco: What would you say your ‘oil’ is?

Smith: My oil is me. I am my own personal brand. I’ve often told people that I only make money in two ways, from communication and connection. That’s it. I don’t make money any other way. That’s a wonderful thing.

Ciara: The holy oil!

Wilson: God. God brings everything else. Ciara is definitely my black gold.

Sarah’s Oil is in theaters, and the cast and executive producers alike believe the story is one of unwavering faith. As Desir-Johnson portrays Sarah Rector, she hopes that people “feel and be with Sarah Rector through all the ups and downs” of the movie.

The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.