The documentary Kokomo City premiered at Sundance and took home two awards; it follows the lives of four Black transsexual sex workers. D.J. Qualls helmed the movie. Since she was forced to start over following her transition, Smith is a deeply personal effort for the Grammy-nominated producer, performer, and composer. Rasheeda Williams, also known as Koko Da Doll, the film’s commentator, was shot and killed in Southwest Atlanta when she was 35 years old. Koko was a well-known transgender hip-hop musician who dropped her album “BULLETPROOF” in the first month of 2022. D. Smith expressed her sorrow and sympathies on social media, where she also reaffirmed the documentary’s original intent. Instead than focusing on the trauma or statistics of transgender existence, she wanted to convey the personal and natural side of Black trans women. Koko had thanked D and conveyed her appreciation. Thank you to Smith and to Dustin Lohman, associate producer, for letting her tell her tale. Koko claimed she would be the catalyst for transgender women to receive greater acceptance and visibility in a recent Instagram post. Kokomo City celebrities who knew Koko also shared their sorrow online. Koko was the subject of heartfelt tributes from both Daniella Carter and Dominique Silver, the latter of whom assured Koko that she would always be remembered as a sister to her. The film’s producer, Harris Doran, posted a video of Koko celebrating the film’s triumph on the Sundance red carpet. He said Koko was the nicest, gentlest person in the world and that he will miss her dearly. For the transgender community, Koko’s death is a tragic reminder of the continued violence and discrimination they suffer. The tenacity and perseverance of the transgender community is demonstrated by Kokomo City’s success at Sundance and the effect Koko’s narrative had on those who knew her. D. Smith and her group are committed to making the world a better place for transgender persons by sharing Koko’s story and motivating others.
