Gregory Walker, Founder of The Brothers’ Network, responds to the news of Colman Domingo being tapped to play MLK’s right-hand man in new film.
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One of the lesser known civil right heroes of the 1960’s will be brought to life by a black male thespian – a star of film and stage – who was born and raised in Philadelphia, but made his mark in San Francisco and New York City.
Colman Domingo, one of the first faces you’ll see in the Oscar-winning film, Lincoln, will star as Reverend Ralph Abernathy in a movie that aims to tell a humanized story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., particularly from the eyes of his network and support system.
As someone who gave Domingo his first opportunity to perform on a stage in his hometown – during a one-night-only show of “A Boy and His Soul” at the Society Hill Playhouse – Gregory Walker, Founder of the award-winning arts and culture nonprofit organization, The Brothers’ Network, couldn’t be more proud of the Temple University graduate who sits on his Board of Directors. And despite the fact that Domingo’s new gig will mean Walker has to find a new star for his annual black-tie gala – which according to Walker has been taken care of already, he’s booked Philly jazz legend Alfie Pollitt – Walker is cheering Domingo on.
“Colman was selected because of his transformative ability to produce magic on both the screen and the stage. He posses the ability to move backwards in time, as seen successfully in The Butler, The Scottsboro Boys; and of course, in Lincoln. The opportunity to play Ralph Abernathy on the big screen is truly a once and a lifetime opportunity. The stories of our civil rights heroes are legendary and must be remembered. I’m proud of Colman because he continuously gives voice, body, and presence to those figures throughout history who didn’t have an opportunity to share their stories with the masses,” states Walker, who informed me Domingo is one of only a few black men to ever be nominated for a Tony award.
Considered a czar in Philly’s art and culture scene – and quite the black “history buff” – Walker says Abernathy was considered second-in-command in King’s organizational hierarchy, and this film presents an opportunity to show the importance of allies and friendship, but also King’s “full humanity as a leader and thinker.”
“Our leaders are always shown as superhuman, but they were all ordinary men doing extraordinary things. And when we think of Dr. King, we always think of him as the front guy – and sometimes as the only guy. But Abernathy was just as important as King to the civil rights movement; he was the strategist; King’s confidant; he served as a filter for King – determining what was authentic and what wasn’t.”
The movie, shot on location in Atlanta, will begin filming in June; which means Domingo also had to postpone his dates with The Philadelphia Theater Company.
Walker says the young actors in Philly – and anywhere in the world for that matter – can learn a thing or two from Colman’s life and his work ethic: “Know that the horizons are broad and the opportunities are everywhere. Colman Domingo’s life is about storytelling. Colman is a hard worker and the hard work never ends.”
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Photo: AP/Evan Agostini
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