“Hidden Figures” and “Underground” star Aldis Hodge tells us some hard truths about activism in America, and we can all learn from it
Aldis Hodge, who you have seen in films Hidden Figures and Straight Outta Compton, as well as on his show, Underground, has some very real words about being an activist in America, and we should all take them to heart.
The Underground star spoke to HelloGiggles at the Sundance Film Festival party celebrating the upcoming release of Underground season 2.
The WGN America show (John Legend is an executive producer and co-star) documents the lives of escaped slaves on their way to find freedom in the North, and Hodge had plenty to say about how the 19th-century drama relates to the major political battles of today.
"The reason this show resonates so loudly today is because we’re still dealing with the same issues today, they’re just repurposed, he told HelloGiggles. "[The show] takes a hard look at the slavers, as well as the people who aren’t slavers, but still live comfortably without doing a thing about it, because of their privilege.
This concept, Hodge said, has been a reality for most of his life: As a black man, he’s had to fight oppression that many people of other races never realized existed.
The current political climate has brought more overt sexism and racism into the limelight, so there are more first-time activists taking to the street than ever before.
Hodge said that’s good, because “the resistance” needs as many voices as possible to join together against oppression – but he hopes first-time activists recognize just how long this fight has been going on.
“We’ve always had a fight on our hands. That they realize they want to fight now is great, but the fact that we have a fight is nothing new. I’ve had to fight my whole life. Some people, because they don’t look like me, have been afforded the opportunity to stay ignorant," he said.
Hodge told HelloGiggles he’s hopeful that real social change can occur if the movement continues to stay engaged and energized.
“Now, with this election, we’re all feeling the pinch, and lots of people want to rise up and fight. That's great, I'm glad they're here. Every generation has had to fight for something, this is our fight now. This is one of the most hopeful times in our nation’s history, because people are waking up to the responsibility to themselves [and] to their country, and they’re going to put in the work. I have hope."
So do we, Aldis. So do we.
Underground premieres Wednesday, March 8th on WGN America.
