Movies

Duster: The HBO Max Series That Challenges Stereotypes and Redefines Action!

BBG News

The series Duster, airing on HBO Max, features stars such as Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson, and Keith David. This entertaining and action-packed show follows the journey of the first Black woman FBI agent as she attempts to take down a notorious crime boss. Created by J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, Duster blends the charm of the 1970s, complete with fast cars, with an intriguing examination of law enforcement history from an unanticipated perspective.

Hilson portrays Nina Hayes, a Black woman who has just graduated from Quantico and makes history as the first Black female FBI special agent. In the storyline, Hayes is tasked with apprehending crime lord Ezra Saxton (Keith David). However, her mission takes an unexpected turn when she teams up with getaway driver Jim Ellis (Josh Holloway) to accomplish her goal.

The movie “Duster” doesn’t shy away from portraying the racial tension that was prevalent within the FBI during the 1970s. Hayes serves as a trailblazer in the annals of American law enforcement, with a real-life counterpart to boot. Sylvia Mathis made history by becoming the first woman to serve as an undercover agent for the FBI in 1976. The narrative of Mathis adds an extra layer of authenticity and intrigue to the film “Duster“.

Nina Hayes’ Character In ‘Duster’ Is Loosely Based On Special Agent Sylvia Mathis

In 1975, Sylvia Mathis completed law school, and the subsequent year, she joined the FBI Academy in Virginia. Recruited as part of an internal shift within the Bureau regarding women’s treatment, which took place following J. Edgar Hoover’s death in 1972, the year the story Duster is set. The first female agents were sworn in as FBI special agents mere weeks after Hoover’s demise, and when Mathis started at Quantico, there were only 41 women among the total of 8,500 agents within the Bureau.

In an interview in February 1976 in Jet, Mathis said:

I’m intrigued by exploring the connection between upholding rights and enforcing them. Joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) appeared to be a logical progression for me.

Mathis wasn’t the pioneer but the third Black woman to attend the FBI Academy. Preceding her, two other women hadn’t managed to finish the training successfully. Much like Nina Hayes, Mathis was tenacious and powerful. Despite having challenges in the gym and on the shooting range, as reported, she successfully graduated from the academy in June 1976.

Sylvia Mathis Spent Three Years In The FBI

Following her certification, Sylvia Mathis was placed at the FBI’s New York field office as her assignment. According to the FBI’s official site, this was the case.

Back on June 2nd, 1976, I was honored to receive my badge and credentials, number 2658, from FBI Director Clarence Kelley. I was equipped with a sleek leather attaché case, an understated handbag, and a Smith & Wesson revolver featuring a compact snub-nosed barrel, designed to fit neatly within the handbag.

Similar to her television character, Sylvia Mathis pursued organized crime investigations with the FBI following her graduation from Quantico. It’s said that she delved into gambling and extortion cases and even took on temporary undercover assignments.

In 1978, I was among the FBI agents who interviewed survivors following the tragic massacre at Jonestown in Guyana. This horrific event, which took the lives of approximately 900 followers of Jim Jones and his Peoples Temple on November 18th, also claimed the life of Congressman Leo Ryan and his delegation. Subsequently, I played a part in the FBI’s investigation into these deadly occurrences.

As a passionate cinephile, I find myself drawn into the haunting tale of events that unfolded on November 14, when I, too, found myself in Guyana. Four days later, as I prepared to depart, a group reminiscent of a cult – the Peoples Temple – expressed their desire to leave with me. Larry Layton, a devotee of Jones, boarded my plane and, tragically, unleashed a hail of bullets, taking Ryan’s life along with numerous others. The mystery remains as to whether Mathis was among those in Guyana or if he was one of the investigators who grilled former members of the Peoples Temple within the United States.

Sylvia Mathis Left the FBI in 1979 and Died in 1983 in a Fatal Car Accident

Following her departure from the FBI in 1979, Sylvia Mathis spent a short while at the Office of Legal Counsel before shifting to Florida. Born either in Florida or North Carolina (as she completed high school in Florida), Mathis chose to move to Jacksonville, Florida in 1982 since her parents resided there at that time, necessitating her relocation to care for them.

Mathis assumed leadership of the Downtown Ecumenical Services Council in Jacksonville, an organization that, as stated on its website, aids families and individuals facing tough decisions such as whether to prioritize shelter, food, electricity, or clothing. In 1983, Mathis was honored by The Metropolis, being named “Ms. Metro.” A volunteer commented in an article about her, praising her dedication.

She is a very caring person and has given a lot of her time to those who need help.

Mathis tragically lost his life in a car crash towards the end of 1983. The significant work that Mathis did, similar to that of the first African-American FBI agent, James Wormley Jones, has not been overlooked. In 2019, the FBI honored the contributions made by Black FBI agents, among them, the accomplishments of Mathis.

Rachel Hilson hasn’t left Mathis out of her thoughts either. The actress openly admitted that there may be some creative license involved, but she did thorough research on Mathis, as well as Jerri Williams, another former agent. Both women are Black and joined the industry in the ’80s. In an interview with the Boston Herald in May 2025, Hilson shared that she drew inspiration from Mathis and Williams.

Sylvia Mathis was the first Black woman to become a Special Agent in 1976, as her application had been rejected in 1972 due to policies that did not permit Black women to join at that time. In essence, Nina is a trailblazer, symbolizing the pioneering Black female agents of the ’70s, ’80s, and even the ’90s because a relatively small number of Black women served in the Bureau during these decades.

Hilson also noted that Nina is:

Without a doubt, her foundation is deeply rooted in the research I conducted earlier about that period… she’s there to fulfill her duties, primarily working alongside white male colleagues… by the end, she recognizes that she can contribute to this organization or institution, and in an unique way, she could possibly improve it. This sentiment mirrors Mathis’ own words to a great extent.

Duster is available to stream now on Max, with new episodes weekly through July 3.

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      2025-05-28 01:03

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