Opening Night: One Golden Summer

In 2014, Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West Little League became the first all-Black team to win the Little League U.S. Baseball Championship. Along the way, 13 twelve-year-old athletes from the South Side turned into media superstars—their faces were splashed across magazine covers and major TV networks, garnering them millions of fans around the country. They were even invited to the White House to meet President and Mrs. Obama. But it all came crashing down after a rival coach accused the team of breaking residential boundary rules.

Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Shaw (Let the Little Light Shine, America to Me) deftly investigates the story behind the headlines, shattering stereotypes and reframing the narrative. Through conversations with the charismatic young athletes, now adults, as well as reporters, coaches, and parents, One Golden Summer shines a vivid spotlight on the complex issues of race, power, and money all too prevalent in youth sports. Above all, Shaw’s sensitive film is a universal story about personal resilience, the strength of family, and what it means to be a true champion.