Hulu's new series Washington Black brings Esi Edugyan's award-winning novel to life as a coming-of-age period drama set in the early 19th century. Sterling K. Brown executive produces and stars as a community leader in Nova Scotia, guiding the young protagonist's journey from enslavement in Barbados to intellectual freedom. The eight-episode show premieres on July 23, blending flashbacks and time jumps to explore themes of racism, colorism, and resilience.
Washington Black follows the life of its titular character, born into slavery on a Barbados plantation in the early 1800s. As a perceptive child played by Eddie Karanja, Wash becomes the mentee of his enslaver's brother, Titch (Tom Ellis), a science enthusiast opposed to slavery. The series uses flashbacks and time jumps to trace Wash's evolution into adulthood, portrayed by Ernest Kingsley Jr., as a free intellectual evading capture in Nova Scotia.
Creator Selwyn Seyfu Hinds adapts Esi Edugyan's 2018 novel, which won multiple awards for its bildungsroman narrative. The show navigates sensitive topics like the bond between an abolitionist white man and an enslaved Black boy, avoiding pitfalls of white savior tropes. It addresses racism, colorism, elitism, and alcoholism without overwhelming viewers, though some dialogue feels preachy and CGI is uneven.
Sterling K. Brown, an Emmy winner for roles in American Crime Story and This Is Us, embodies Medwin Harris, a Black community leader and father figure to adult Wash. Expanded from the book, Medwin protects his loved ones and intervenes heroically against threats. Brown's character reinforces the series' moral core, where upright figures deliver impactful speeches. As Tanna (Iola Evans), a biracial woman drawn to Wash, reflects: “It’s not simply about deserving more. One has to be more. Be better. Be more than what the world expects. Or that even you expect. Can you be all of that?”
Guest star Jamie Hector appears as rebellion leader Nat Turner, delivering stark lines on the horrors of enslavement. While not kid-friendly due to violence and murders, the series stands as a solid morality play centered on BIPOC stories. It arrives amid comparisons to Percival Everett's 2024 Pulitzer winner James and its forthcoming Spielberg film adaptation.
Critics received four of eight episodes, praising Brown's involvement in elevating historical narratives.
