This is something we have been looking forward to for so long. K. E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary School, 37000 Main Street, Canal Point (grades K5). NFL . Birthplace: Pahokee, Florida. Pahokee's most recent local newspaper was A Better Pahokee, a free digital e-newspaper, founded in 2013 by Jessie Tsang and Minister Freddie Lee Peterkin. It was funny to watch because were sitting up there, were hot, were sweating, and were doing the work that these kids are doing, but we have cameras. Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. (Jason Beede) The 6-foot-3, 230-pound edge rusher was hosted by Miami native Divaad Wilson, who attended the . All they told me how many doors it would open if I got a degree from there in engineering, so I just knew it was the place to go," he said. Such was the tack of a man who had just fulfilled his community's dream of winning the Class 2A state football championship Saturday, beating Port St. Joe 24-7 in Daytona Beach. Pahokee football player heading to Ivy League school: Today is National Signing Day. Records[which?] Having been stung before, they were wary when McKinleys film crews arrived. Bhawin: 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. Pahokee football player heading to Georgetown University, Buc-ees to open third location in Florida, Kodak Black learns hell get drug treatment program, then gets Jolly Rancher, Hobe Sound surfer describes bloody mess after being bitten by shark, Missing Port St. Lucie man, 73, found safe on I-95 in Martin County, 3 men arrested in fatal shooting in November, Agents work to combat uptick in migrant smuggling, PBSO: Man arrested in fatal shooting during family gathering, DeSantis launches new book, ratcheting up 2024 speculation. I think it comes at a time when youre about to have the Super Bowl, so football is in peoples consciousness. I spent some weeks with the fam. Now you see three documentaries released this year that have woven Zora Neale Hurstons history, which is amazing because its so overdue. We thought it was going to be more of an ESPN. On December 18, 2009, Damien Cave, Miami Bureau Chief of the New York Times, wrote an article describing Pahokee's economic plight and the town's hopes that a new marina project might help rejuvenate business. When Ira was down there doing all that preliminary research, he had already known about this aspect of the town. Thats the significance of the story. 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 ". Bhawin: That became the core element, even in playing the title, Outta the Muck, as a double meaning. As Thompson darted toward the gym, a young student, apparently part of the junior high, ran up and yelled, "Aw right, coach!". Over the decades hundreds of players have left the 33476 zip code to play at colleges well beyond Palm Beach County and dozens of those have gone on to play professionally. SHARE. 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. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. I didnt want to just go in there and start filming. Theyre rich in resources. Thats something that I got. Ira reached out to Suchakwho runs. "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. Youll see people sharing their catch, or sharing the rabbits and the fruits and vegetables. Pahokee High School also known as Pahokee Junior Senior High School is a historic school in Pahokee Florida. They were selling drugs. Football is big. Digital Trends: This entire process has been a seven-year-long journey. Football is big. Thats when my family came up north [as migrant farmworkers]. 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.46% of the population. Gray's mother was not harmed. [26], A short by Aaron Kyle. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. To me it was the Garden of Eden. Home. Smith is one of three Pahokee players on the Demon Deacons' roster, including D.J. Credit: Maya Suchak / Football Team lined up, Credit: Maya Suchak / Directors Bhawin Suchak and Ira Mckinley, Credit: Maya Suchak / Willie Dean and his Family, Josh Johnson heads to therapy in new comedy special Up Here Killing Myself, The Big Paybacks Erika Alexander and Whitney Dow on reparations in America. Ira: The muck has always been about survival. High School: Pahokee (FL) Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 5, 2010 Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 7, 2010 Presenter: Tom Benson, New Orleans Saints Owner/President. They train in this. Didn't find what you were looking for on Hulu? His mom, Shaneka Lunford, is a teacher at Pahokee. Be more independent. There are other kids, you know, people I havent met. In the 1930s, it was known as the "Winter Vegetable Capital of the World".[11]. Butler paused. Then they came with this busload of people, with this entourage and the state troopers. More:How Muck City Sports Hall of Fame can serve as inspiration for youth growing up in the Glades. I think that's part of where that pride and resilience come from; it's a different form of life. I used to go there two times a year but never lived in that type of setting. There were 1,936 housing units at an average density of 358.9 per square mile (138.6/km2). Its really important for us that this film gets out there because people need to know about Pahokee. The population was 5,524 in the 2020 census. It is located about three miles east of Pahokee, on Muck City Road, in a former migrant worker facility, surrounded by sugar cane fields. It took them about two years to really get the feel of us," McKinley said. high school football has become more than a game - it's a way . Thats the reason why these people do that. I remember in the '60s and '70s and they had much more," McKinley said. This is not my place as an outsider. The children whomp the rabbits on the head with the thick end of a cane stalk and sell the carcasses (with one leg attached, to prove it's not a cat) for $2 apiece. Pahokee MiddleHigh School, 900 Larrimore Rd. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The reason why they go catch rabbits is to help the family eat. [I wanted to] show that story of me reconnecting to this place, a historical place [with] a lot of history, and going back there after 35 years of being gone. Enrollment is 68% black, 39% Hispanic, 2% white, 1% other. "The J.V. The victim of a fatal shooting at a Nov. 6 post-Muck Bowl football game block party has been identified as former Pahokee High School football standout DeJoshua Johnson, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office announced Friday. We had a media club. 93% are from low-income families. Teams AFC East: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets Ron] DeSantis trying to kill education. There was a book called Muck City that came out. But even in the community, you couldnt find people who know who Zora Neal Hurston is, and the kids dont read her books. Thats why the town went down. Everybody cant be a football player. "Outta the Muck" premiered for public viewing on Feb. 6 as part of PBS' Black History Month programming. Theyre maintaining that history. Despite the poverty and violence, 'The Muck' has forged over 40 NFL players. 2023 EDGE DeeJay Holmes to officially visit Ole Miss. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. I will tell you that the number one response from people was, How come were not even being taught this history in our own towns. It was important to him [Ira] to bring the narrative of Zora Neale Hurston into this film. G.A.P Christian Academy, 183 S Lake Ave. (K12 Education), "James Patterson headed west to ask 'What the hell happened here?' Even if some of them are the protagonists, these characters are so insufferable that they made audiences want to see them bite the dust. 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. Joe Spears 02/01/23. They have a lot. Its no secret ESPN provides some of the best sports coverage on the planet, and its ESPN+ streaming service is an extension of that. Boldin has earned scholarship offers from some of America's most prestigious universities. Please provide a valid email address to continue. He had come close to fulfilling his football dreams in past seasons, winning four district titles and three consecutive regional titles. The way Alvin mentored and cared about these young men was important to showthat masculinity can be expressed in many different ways. It was a chance to tell that story. 91. The median income for a household in the city was $26,731, and the median income for a family was $26,265. 2022 PAHOKEE BLUE DEVILS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Pahokee Blue Devils are classified in 1R- for the 2022 Season . "This time, the whole town stood up and gave an ovation. I wanted to make sure I had peoples trust and a level of understanding of what we were trying to do. Pahokee's football team will be forced to forfeit all 14 of its wins from this past season, including its state championship, for using an ineligible player. Pahokee is known as the Muck because of the nutrient-rich soil on the shores of Lake Okeechobee. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. It seems the only way they can get that energy out is through sports and football. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males. Then 30 years later, Edward R. Murrow talked about migration, and thats how my family moved to New York. Find out more. The opportunity arose to spread a spotlight on a place that has produced many NFL players, but its still poor. I used to go there two times a year but never lived in that type of setting. Our documentary tells the story of Pahokee, FL. And through it all, the three players have worked toward an eventual common goal a scholarship to the University of Michigan. And we just had to figure it out. A standalone ESPN+ subscription is $10 per month. I work with young people across different genders, but for the young men I work with, one of the things theyre craving is people in their lives to hold them accountable in a way also backed by care and love, and a level of grace. Watch the India vs Australia live stream on ESPN+. "I think at the end of the day, we're making a film that's about community, and football essentially is the foundation and backstory of what we're talking about. There were 1,710 households, out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 22.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. But more importantly, taught him about being a man, being accountable, and doing it with love. Outta the Muck makes its broadcast debut on Independent Lens at 10 p.m. Facing a full day of classes to teach, Thompson spent second period in a meeting with an assistant principal planning pep rallies for today and Thursday, tracked down an administrator to discuss football video tapes for the players, left a letter-jacket salesman waiting for him in the teachers' lounge and just missed two calendar salesmen, who managed to detain Athletic Director Gary McEntire. In Belle Glade and Pahokee, football is not just a game. I don't know nothing about football, but I know who had the biggest pile of rabbits, and that means something.". That became the core element, even in playing the title, Outta the Muck, as a double meaning. Wile E. Coyote got the Road Runner. But Pahokee lost in the state semifinals the past three years, twice to Avon Park and once to Wildwood. This is a story of what has been happening for centuries there. "We're showing you what happened. We didnt have anybody. 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. Days after its release, it was shown on ESPN,[28] and an Adidas commercial was made using footage from it.[29]. 2023 EDGE DeeJay Holmes commits to Ole Miss over Colorado and UCF. The defense, led by James Jackson and DeeJay Holmes Jr., played to the tune of Muck Bowl's traditional physicality, the former tallying two interceptions and the latter notching three sacks. [6], According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 57% of the residents of Pahokee were African American and 33% were Hispanic or Latino. When youre down there and you spend time, it doesnt really exist in any way thats any different from any other place. There is no ESPN+ free trial available, but its offered at a significant discount as part of the Disney Bundle. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. Georgetown is not the only premier university that recruited Boldin. Alumni include Jackson, Andre Waters of the Philadelphia Eagles, two in the Canadian Football League and at least 27 on college rosters around the country. It seems the only premier University that recruited boldin hispanic or Latino any. Pride and resilience come from ; it 's a different form of life no ESPN+ FREE trial,! Standalone ESPN+ subscription is $ 10 per month us that this film Murrow... To go there two times a year but never lived in that type of setting 68 black! To Ivy League school: Today is National Signing Day there were housing. 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