Morgan Freeman<\/a> and Ben Vereen have said telling the stories of overlooked Black historical figures remains a personal mission.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Morgan Freeman and Ben Vereen have said telling the stories of overlooked Black historical figures remains a personal mission<\/p>\n
As the pair promote their new historical drama The Gray House ahead of Juneteenth, actors Morgan, 89, and Ben, 79, spoke to PEOPLE about the Prime Video series, which focuses on three women whose espionage work helped influence the course of the American Civil War. <\/p>\n
The project arrives as conversations about representation, historical storytelling and the preservation of Black history continue across film and television. <\/p>\n
Morgan, whose career spans acclaimed films including The Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby, Se7en, Driving Miss Daisy and Invictus, serves as an executive producer on the series. <\/p>\n
Ben, meanwhile, remains widely known for his portrayal of Chicken George in the landmark 1977 miniseries Roots, based on Alex Haley\u2019s celebrated novel.<\/p>\n
\nBen said: \u201cIt’s about our ancestors, and our ancestors will not be erased (and) will not be put aside.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt’s important to me that these stories are told.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe actor explained portraying Isham Worthy in The Gray House felt like a continuation of the work he began decades earlier through Roots.<\/p>\n
\nBen added: \u201cWhen I was approached with this one, I had to really sit back and think about how I would approach him because he’s not Chicken George. He’s a conductor in the Underground Railroad.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAnd I think that’s an important story that has to be told.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe eight-part drama tells the true story of three women played by Daisy Head, Mary-Louise Parker and Amethyst Davis, whose characters transform an Underground Railroad operation into a covert spy network during the Civil War. <\/p>\n
\nThe story centres on a Virginia socialite, her mother and their formerly enslaved maid as they gather intelligence in support of the Union cause.<\/p>\n
\nMorgan echoed Ben\u2019s belief many significant stories remain absent from mainstream historical narratives.<\/p>\n
\nHe said: \u201cThe American history of Blacks and women. Those stories are almost completely disregarded.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAnd the mantra is, \u2018If you want the story told, you have to tell it\u2019. <\/p>\n
\n\u201cNobody else is going to do that, so that puts us on the spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nMorgan added: \u201cWe do want our stories told, (and) like Ben says, our ancestors are demanding, so here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBen also reflected on reactions he has encountered when discussing the series, saying he was surprised by some responses from people who felt there was no need for further stories dealing with slavery and Black history.<\/p>\n
\nHe said: \u201cHow can you (figure out) where you are, if you don’t know where you came from?<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThen you can’t even know where you’re going, so it’s important. It’s important. We cannot just erase our history.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe actor also praised fellow producers Lori McCreary and Leslie Greif for helping bring projects such as The Gray House to audiences despite what he described as resistance within the industry.<\/p>\n
\nBen said: \u201cWe need warriors like Morgan, like Lori, and Leslie, to go out and beat down the walls because there is definitely a pushback, and we’ve got to keep pushing forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe series has also inspired Morgan to pursue other historical projects. <\/p>\n
\nAmong them is a production examining the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the deadliest episodes of racial violence in American history.<\/p>\n
\nMorgan said: \u201cThat story isn’t told, and we’re going to tell it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe Gray House is currently streaming on Prime Video.<\/p>\n
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