(The Dallas Examiner) – Black Ice: The Rhythm is a faith-based movie that tells the story of an African American man who found his rhythm in the world of hockey by transforming his obstacles into victory. Similar to the movie, director, Gerald McBride of Detroit and producer, Ashlee C. of Dallas united their backgrounds and created a compelling story to inspire communities of color.

“After hearing McBride’s idea, I immediately jumped on board. This is a story that needs to be told and heard.” Ashlee C. expressed.

The movie is based in Detroit, the Hockeytown of the United States. Detroit holds the highest population of African Americans in a U.S. city – with 79% of the city being Black, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While the city is recognized for its National Hockey League franchise, the Detroit Red Wings, there is underrepresentation of African Americans in the sport in the city and nationally. The movie works to highlight the relevance and talent of African Americans in hockey, as well as positively influence the community to transform this narrative.

Detroit, historically known as Motown, is also a city of music and culture. McBride focused the lens on the rhythm and flow of the city. A familiar theme of the movie, “Find your rhythm and use it,” can be used figuratively and literally. The movie encouraged viewers to drive forward on a steady path to victory, capitalizing on your grievances, according to the audience.

The lead character, Robert “Buck” Taylor, was driven by his praying grandmother to overcome the barriers he faced as a Black man. He used his God-given rhythm to transform a young group of Black roller-skaters into a formidable ice hockey team, unleashing their rhythm and potential. Buck had a story of his own and while overcoming adversity to become a pro hockey player, he cohesively taught the next generation the importance of faith and perseverance.

Though not entirely based on true events, the storyline was inspired by McBride, who attended an NHL game 15 years ago and noticed he was the only African American in the arena.

“Where are all of the Black players in hockey?” McBride pondered.

His curiosity led him to discover that there were very few African Americans in the NHL. There are only 34 active African American players out of the league of over 1,000, according to a 2023 study by Sportskeeda, a global sports and entertainment platform. McBride believed African Americans were capable of excelling in a predominantly White sport and too deserved the recognition and exposure.

The movie also visits other disparities to which African American adolescents can relate. The writer told the story of young Black men who are in environments that do not offer many opportunities to excel in their communities. In the movie, they are faced with temptations, racism, orphanhood, rage and whispering doubters that discourage their dreams of a fruitful future. Yet, with hockey at the core, faith in their hearts and Buck’s praying grandmother, the young men address their trauma by believing and persevering through adversity to achieve victory regardless of their situation.

“Faith does not mean the absence of adversity, but the presence of God’s love and His promises,” Ashlee C. said.

Her intentions were to inspire all people in communities with similar adversities to “just believe” in overcoming any obstacle they may face.

She and McBride visited South Dallas on June 25 to present the movie locally.

Black Ice: The Rhythm, a tribute to unsung heroes, was shown at the Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center with coequal intentions in relation to the vision of the filmmakers. The center connects with over 20,000 families annually to empower the futures of “today’s kids and tomorrow’s future.” Through purposeful programs, opportunities and events, the basketball center aims to prepare the community’s youth of ages 6 to adolescence for life beyond the court or the field, and possibly the ice-skating rink.

Trina Terrell Andrews, CEO of the Mark Cuban Heroes Basketball Center, emphasized the importance of exposing youth to mentorship in various aspects of their lives.

“The issue is we don’t see many ice-skating rinks in the southern sector of the country – I want the children to know that this is an option for them,” said Andrews.

Other community members, including the Dallas Police Department, attended the premiere and were motivated by the film to be leading contributors in promoting a community of excellence and exposure to a broader range of capabilities. The movie was shown all week at the Galaxy Theatres Grandscape. McBride and Ashlee C. will continue hosting viewings of the film in cities across the country. Viewers can also be on the lookout for it on streaming platforms soon.