King of Kings Produced By Award Winning Legends Quincy Jones & Debbie Allen Is A Must Watch

By: Emmanuel Guimier

The city of Chicago is known for many things, but did you know that one of the richest men in the United States during the 1930’s and 40’s was a black man from Chicago, IL? Edward Jones, the descendant of slaves, became one of the richest men in the United States thanks to the Policy business, an illegal numbers game, that ultimately became the modern state lottery, now played by millions nationwide. It’s estimated that Edward Jones amassed a fortune of $25 million in the Policy business (numbers game),  and put money in the pockets of Black folks who didn’t have many economic opportunities.

But in these times of segregation, his success and unfailing support to the African American community are a problem. In conflict with both the mob and the Feds, he is eventually forces into a life on the run!

Exploring the rise and fall of the most famous Policy King of all times, Edward Jones, nicknamed the “King of Kings”, his filmmaking granddaughter Harriet Marin Jones uncovers an unparalleled story, while showing the lasting repercussions of his untold story, both within her family, and for Chicago’s South Side where he once embodied the American dream. After speaking with Jones, it became clear that black stories in history need to continuously be pushed to the forefront of American history, in a powerful and educational manner. This is not only American history but her family legacy that she has fought so hard to preserve and protect.

To ensure this incredible story reaches the masses and gets in front of the right audience, icons Debbie Allen and Quincy Jones executive produced it, showing the magnitude of such an important film. I had the pleasure of speaking with Allen who gave me a deeper insight into the relevancy of this film, why it means so much to her, and what it was like working with her dear and recently departed long time friend Quincy Jones. Allen candidly talks about the influence of her HBCU roots, her historic mother and encourages people all over the world to dive into King of Kings.

 Love, success, violence, revenge, mafia, murder, betrayal, prison, kidnapping. . . Edward Jones’s story holds all the best ingredients of gangster movies. Dive into one of the best untold stories in Chicago and black history!