Billy Porter is set to star in, and co-write with Dan McCabe, the biopic of renowned writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin. Byron Allen‘s Allen Media Group Motion Pictures will produce the film. Anticipated to be a deeply personal story for Porter to develop, the biopic will focus on the life and trials of one of the most prolific minds of our time. A black queer man whose works and words are still cited daily.
Porter, who rose to mega stardom for his Emmy winning portrayal of Pray Tell in Pose, quoted Baldwin during his viral Emmy acceptance speech. “James Baldwin said, ‘Took many years of vomiting up all the filth that I had been taught about myself and halfway believed before I could walk around this Earth like I had the right to be here.’ I have the right. You have the right. We all have the right.” said Porter.
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About James Baldwin
James Baldwin was born in Harlem in 1924 and became a profound voice in advocating for racial and social justice. His legendary written works and intellectually dominant interviews continue to educate the masses globally on racism, discrimination, LGBTQI+ rights and much much more!
During a highly circulated interview on The Dick Cavett Show, Baldwin said, ” . . . any white man in the world says ‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!’ The entire white world applauds. But a black man says exactly the same thing. Word for word. He is judged a criminal and treated like one. And everything possible is done to make an example of this bad Nigga so there won’t be anymore like him.” A sentiment that unfortunately continues to ring true today with glaring examples like Colin Kaepernick who remains blackballed from professional football for peacefully protesting police brutality.
Baldwin’s groundbreaking works include Go Tell it on the Mountain, Notes of a Native Son, The Fire Next Time and If Beale Street Could Talk.
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With the gross misuse of power by politicians like Ron DeSantis and his attempts to eliminate the study of African American contributions to society, there is no greater time for US to tell OUR stories. Stories that are American. Stories that are and will continue to be the very foundation upon which the true democracy of this nation should be framed! African American stories matter. Queer stories matter. And I have no doubt that Billy Porter, Dan McCabe and Byron Allen will get this right!
