‘My Omaha’ Documentary Demonstrates the Power of Listening

Documentary producer Nick Beaulieu (at left) and his father, Randy, talking at the Scatter Joy Acres, which provides animal assisted therapy. Image courtesy of author.

What does it mean to live an ethical life? Each of us will answer that differently, shaped by the experiences and injustices that powerfully affect us at different stages in our lifetime.

In 2016, the deepening political divisions ahead of the presidential election and the undeniable racial inequities in Omaha, Nebraska, broke my heart. Serving a large United Methodist Church, I felt compelled to act.

I reached out to leaders in the African American community, inspired by the 1966 documentary “A Time for Burning.” That film followed Reverend L. William Youngdahl, a white Lutheran pastor in Omaha, as he attempted to integrate his all-white congregation by encouraging informal social interactions with a nearby Black Lutheran church.

Rev. Youngdahl believed that personal relationships could bridge racial divides and foster understanding. But his efforts were met with resistance, ultimately revealing how deeply entrenched segregation was in Omaha.

A Change in the Willingness to Have Meaningful Discussions about Racism

Fifty years later, the city of Omaha is still divided along racial lines. However, Omaha’s church communities now seem ready to have open conversations about race. Monthly discussions began, tackling topics from redlining to Omaha’s history of lynchings.

The Inspiration Behind the Creation of the ‘My Omaha’ Documentary

It was in this space of dialogue and vulnerability that a young man and activist, Nick Beaulieu, was inspired to document our gatherings. He wanted to film not just our conversations, but also document Omaha’s racial history and the social realities that continue to shape the city.

Nick and I met, and he shared his vision of creating a documentary that would openly address racism in Omaha.

Fast forward nine years, and his film, “My Omaha,” is now premiering at the Slamdance Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. His film records a very personal perspective as the main story of the film explores the different perspective on politics he has with his father, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in 2020 and died within a year. Meanwhile, turmoil hit Omaha when a local white bar owner shot an unarmed Black man during George Floyd protests.

Why ‘My Omaha’ Is Significant Today

The timing of “My Omaha” in 2025 is significant. At a time when political and social discourse often feels impossible, the film demonstrates the importance of civil and compassionate conversation. If a dying father and his son struggle to find common ground in their opposing political views, how can strangers hope to build meaningful relationships across ideological divides?

Separation divides us. Compassion and empathy unify us. “My Omaha” serves as a bridge that challenges the rigid belief systems on both “sides” that fuel our nation’s polarization and invites us to meet one another with open hearts and minds.

This film offers a microscopic narrative that resonates on a universal scale. If we truly listen to one another without judgment, we can begin to heal the divisions that perpetuate discord.

This documentary is not just a film. It is an invitation to engage, to empathize, and to believe in the transformative power of understanding.

At its core, “My Omaha” is a testament to the importance of empathy and the strength that comes from human connection. It highlights how, by simply practicing active listening, we can break down walls of division and build bridges of understanding. When we choose to hear one another, without judgment or assumption, we unlock the potential for change, growth, and, ultimately, a more united and powerful human race.