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“This film paints a vivid picture of the  numbers game and brings the reality of an  underground economy to life. “

– Audrey Davis, Executive Dir., Alexandria Black History Museum

Why This Film:

Black women had extremely limited options during Jim Crow.

Odessa’s story explores how an African American woman born in a time with limited options leveraged her incredible mind and quick wit to become wealthier than she ever should have been able to

This film takes a look at choices that were made, a wild ride Odessa had as an underworld queen, and consequences from her choices

Odessa Madre’s life was a mix of  resilience and bookend by the vicissitudes of luck, a contrast of economic success within

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Odessa Madre was a fascinating, courageous,  witty African American woman who made a  name for herself. She refused to fit within a  middle-class women’s narrative.

– Professor Sharon Harley, University of Maryland

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Odessa Madre and Attorney

Join Us:

The goal of the film is to engage diverse audiences in conversation about societal conditions that lead people to make choices – and the consequences of those choices, particularly in relation to organized crime.

We plan to focus on telling Odessa’s story in an exciting and engaging way, exploring questions around race, gender, and hustling your way to the top.

  • Community Screenings and Group Discussions
  • National Television Broadcast on PBS

For more information or to book a screening, contact me here:

the director

The Director:

Robin Hamilton is a 4 time-Emmy-award-winning  television host, producer, and moderator for town  halls and forums. She is the founder and principal  of the ARound Robin Production Company, where  she creates videos for non-profits to help with  fundraising, marketing, and messaging.

Working at  the intersection of media and policy, Ms. Hamilton’s  work is guided by the principle of providing  information that can promote transformation.

She has directed four documentary films about  pioneering female leaders, including This  Little Light of Mine: The Legacy of Fannie Lou  Hamer which chronicles the life of famed civil  rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. 

Her second documentary, Dignity and Defiance: A Portrait of  Mary Church Terrel, was awarded a DC Humanities  Grant. Odessa’s Reign is her fourth film and was awarded an Emmy for best Historical/Cultural Long Form Documentary.