Sterling K. Brown knows how to wear his vulnerability like armor. From “This Is Us” to “American Fiction,” the Emmy-winning actor has made a career of portraying emotionally complex men whose strength lies not in stoicism, but in how deeply they feel. Now, in “Washington Black,” Brown steps into the role of Medwin Harris, a man who has survived the trauma of slavery and rebuilt a life rooted in purpose.
Starring opposite rising talent Ernest Kingsley Jr., Brown also serves as executive producer on the series, helping shape everything from casting to the creative energy on set. Based on Esi Edugyan’s acclaimed novel, the eight-episode Hulu series follows George Washington “Wash” Black, an 11-year-old boy who flees a Barbados plantation and embarks on a globe-spanning journey toward freedom, imagination and self-definition.
In a conversation with HuffPost, Brown and Kingsley Jr. opened up about what this series means to them as not just artists, but as Black men navigating identity, expectations and legacy.
You’ve played some of the most emotionally layered men on screen. If you could write a letter to Black masculinity, what would the first line say?
Brown: Vulnerability is strength. Strength can manifest in so many different ways, and it’s not about being silent or stoic. There is something incredibly powerful about being able to feel your feelings because it allows you to go through them and it brings you closer to other people when they know that you’re just like them.
“Washington Black” showcases emotional survival. What’s a moment in your own life where you had to emotionally survive something, big or small?
Kingsley Jr.: What I’ll say is I had a tough time in secondary school and primary school… It was a lot for me emotionally. What got me out of that was my loved ones and family members pouring into me, but also showing me that it’s still possible for you to be loved, and this is how.
Tell me about the advantage of being an executive producer in addition to being an actor in a project like this.
Brown: Everybody treats you with a great deal of respect. It’s great to get the chance to have a say in the ingredients that make the stew. This means in terms of casting, the directors and the writers we’re able to bring in. Also, selling the show to the buyer and see who will vibe with the series. I like to know a little bit about everything. I really enjoy casting, and I trust whoever I’m partnered with as a writer to know that they’re going to be hiring the right people that they need for their writers room. Also, really trying to contribute to an environment where people want to work. From the producers to the showrunner, and from the top of the cast list on down, we’re sort of here to help set the tone for how things are going to go. Also, trying to have as few bad apples as possible makes things go smoother.
You’re about to share the screen soon with your wife, Ryan, on your other series, “Paradise.” How does it feel to work with the love of your life?
Brown: So I’ve worked with my wife for a long time because we went to undergrad together; we went to grad school together. She also had a recurring role on “Army Wives” and “This Is Us.” It’s always nice when we get a chance to work. A working Ryan makes for a happy Sterling. Anytime I can help this sister out, it’s like helping myself out, too. It’s a joy.
This series allows Wash to dream big. What are some of your biggest dreams for your future in Hollywood?
Kingsley Jr.: I think first and foremost, I just want a stable career. I would love to be a household name. I’d love to be in a position where I can choose the projects I want to be a part of, but also be a helping hand, similar to [Brown]. I’d love to own my own production company and create films that I’m passionate about, that I love, that can touch people, entertain people, and I can curate a place where I have the power to uplift others as well and bring them with me.
What creative decisions were made so that this historical series focused on depicting joy and triumph rather than Black pain?
Brown: I found a lead that is so full of love and light that it can’t help but transcend from his soul through the screen to the audience that watches. Also, making sure we structure the show in a way where our audience understands we are taking them on a globe-trotting journey. Even though it starts off on a plantation in Barbados, it goes from there to a flying machine to a pirate ship, to the States, to Canada, to the Arctic, back to Canada, to the U.K., and then ends in Africa. So we had to tell it nonlinearly so that people got a glimpse of what was to come.
“Washington Black” is streaming on Hulu.
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